Well, unless you actually build a 'real' cockpit.  Then you're not missing out

 

I haven't gone there (yet), but I'm quite tempted.  FlightDeckSolutions has the "happy meal" (JetMax) approach all the way up to full-scale 737 and 777 cockpits for 150 to 200k.  At some point, you have to decide what level you want to fly at...simulation-wise.  From there it's just one hop, skip and telephone call to your new best friend John Travolta, and you're flying in his 737 BBJ.

 

Ah, to sleep, perchance to dream...

 

FDS full mip including the glareshield comes to about $5000. You'll be able to build it with the MIP+Glareshield+Yoke+rudder pedal+throttle+MCP+EFIS for about 10000 CAD total. This excludes the overhead which can add another 2000-3000 for a plug and play version. Doable with a 5 year plan at about $1000-2000 /year.

 

 

There are also alternatives and affordable options out there. Flyengravity.com, Simworld.com, etc.

FDS full mip including the glareshield comes to about $5000. You'll be able to build it with the MIP+Glareshield+Yoke+rudder pedal+throttle+MCP+EFIS for about 10000 CAD total. This excludes the overhead which can add another 2000-3000 for a plug and play version. Doable with a 5 year plan at about $1000-2000 /year.

 

 

There are also alternatives and affordable options out there. Flyengravity.com, Simworld.com, etc.

 

Well, it's "do-able" - but for a guy like me, nearing retirement and living in an apartment, it's a little 'much' to build something to scale the size of a full-on 737 cockpit.  My landlord saw my current triple screen setup, with a total of 5 monitors and 4 computers, and there was some mini jaw-dropping going on with her, let me tell you.

 

Still, if you can imagine it, it can happen.  And as I always say:

 

If you think you can or you think you can't, you're right in either case!

 

Thanks for the suggestions!  

Great set up Robert, Was it difficult to set up? I have a spare i3 with lots of ram and a decent video card in it, I would certainly consider this route and am thinking of picking up another computer and giving it a try.

 

 

Thanks,

 

Scot

Great set up Robert, Was it difficult to set up? I have a spare i3 with lots of ram and a decent video card in it, I would certainly consider this route and am thinking of picking up another computer and giving it a try.

 

 

Thanks,

 

Scot

 

Well, you need to assess your commitment level.  I was happy for 2 years with one monitor flying my desktop and using the 3D cockpit graphics.  Then I realized that  switching  back and forth to try to see what was what in the virtual cockpit and trying to look out the windows was an issue.

 

This setup is wildly better (for me), but it had a cost associated - both in dollars as well as time.  I encourage you to try it... in XPlane it works really well.  XPlane renders more smoothly, and the glass cockpit displayed on the new 20" HP ROVE all-in-one (see my videos) is a game changer, because the PFD and ND are directly below my outside view, all information is available all the time during flight.

 

This takes the immersion levels to a far higher level than before (for me), and makes landing using complex maneuvers such as circle-to-land a real joy because now you can line up and roll out much easier.

 

What I did was get 3 PCs, the 'main' one and 2 happy meals (from Sam's club, Dell 8500s i5s).  The Sim-Avionics is running on the network on my old i7 (not the main XP pc), and the glass cockpit is on the HP Rove 20" all-in-one, which has a nifty tilt base so you can set it below your monitor array.  All monitors are elevated about 4" above the desktop on black metal stands from Staples.

 

CDU is on an actual FlightDeckSolutions hardware CDU, also controlled by SimAvionics.

 

Airplane model is the XPlane 737 supplied by Sim-Avionics.

 

PM if you have questions.

 

The happy-meal wing PCs did not come with monitors, and they had GTX620 video, which is garbage.  I bought a pair of MSi GTX660s, which provide decent frames from Amazon.  Even 2 pcs will up your game.  I encourage you to pursue your dreams.

Hi, I am fasinated by your setup. I'm on the cusp of deciding Xplane or P3D. I have a few questions if I may?

 

Are you running Sim Avionics with Xplane 64 bit? I cannot find any documentation about support on their site.

 

Are you using Xplane Pro to do the screen warping?

Those graphics just blew my mind!!  Water effects, lights and runways, scenery everything! enjoyed it.

Thanks for the kind words.  Blew my mind too  :dance:

 

See glass cockpit at 0:39

 

 

 

Hi, I am fasinated by your setup. I'm on the cusp of deciding Xplane or P3D. I have a few questions if I may?

 

Are you running Sim Avionics with Xplane 64 bit? I cannot find any documentation about support on their site.

 

Are you using Xplane Pro to do the screen warping?

 

I want to encourage you to go XPlane.  Long-term, it's the 'right' move if you're thinking of the triple display IMHO.  Part of that is the fact that the displays can be done over a network, and each monitor can have it's own controlling PC.

 

Recommended MINIMUM VRam on each video card:  3GB MIN,  4GB is better.  The Titan680 on my main PC has 6.  You need a lot of Vram for the HD rendering and large photorealistic textures.  I haven't shot any footage yet with the new HD Mesh V2 for XP10, but it is beyond superlatives.  

 

Not knocking P3D, but just saying.  If you want to someday build your own cockpit with the real deal instruments and MIP panel and glareshield, yada yada, you will be happier long term with XP, IMHO.

 

Yes, Sim Avionics with XP64.  Using the x737 64-bit flight model that is free download on XP org site, remove the interior cockpit plugin (Sim-Avionics does that task).  You no longer see the cockpit view on your display.  Your DESK is your cockpit.  Thus I have the glass cockpit (shown in my daytime video I think).

 

The glass cockpit is on a HP Rove 20" all-in-one PC.  Amazing tilt-stand base, works ideally to place the displays at a 45 degree angle below the main view.

 

The 'networking' feature that is standard in XP 10 is golden.  I have each monitor set for 60 degrees

Left: -60  Center: 60  Right +60

 

XPlane 10 must be installed on all 3 display PCs, and you need XP DVD1 in each PC or an XPlane USB key in each PC.

 

When you add new scenery packs you must add them to all 3 PCs.

 

The FDS CDU alone looks and feels like it came out of a real 737.  (They also make a 777 model).  FDS also makes an amazing 737 Overhead.  It's CAD 4k, so it's not sitting above my monitors.  But it's to RW scale.

The FDS stuff is amazing.

 

Nice people too.

 

I regard Sim-Avionics as a game-changer and the 'key' to making it all work.

 

Cheers.

Hi and thank you for your feedback, its much appreciated! Unfortunately I'm building an A320 so cannot use Sim Avionics and Xplane but if I was building a 737 i definitely would.

FDS full mip including the glareshield comes to about $5000. You'll be able to build it with the MIP+Glareshield+Yoke+rudder pedal+throttle+MCP+EFIS for about 10000 CAD total. This excludes the overhead which can add another 2000-3000 for a plug and play version. Doable with a 5 year plan at about $1000-2000 /year.

 

 

There are also alternatives and affordable options out there. Flyengravity.com, Simworld.com, etc.

 

According this this document its $13,495.95 for the MIP+MCP+EFIS+FMC: http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/assets/pdf/B737NG-DSTD-PRO-MX-Nov1213.pdf

According this this document its $13,495.95 for the MIP+MCP+EFIS+FMC: http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/assets/pdf/B737NG-DSTD-PRO-MX-Nov1213.pdf

 

The FDS MCP EFIS is for their PRO customers.

 

I suggest you take a look at CP Flight - http://www.cpflight.com

The FDS MCP EFIS is for their PRO customers.

 

I suggest you take a look at CP Flight - http://www.cpflight.com

 

I have tried to buy FDS stuff before but they said their products are not for enthisiasts?? They advertise on their website:

 

 

Whether you are looking for fully plug and play devices or one of our ‘DIY’ packages, FDS supplies a vast range of components for your very own flight simulator.

I want to encourage you to go XPlane.  Long-term, it's the 'right' move if you're thinking of the triple display IMHO.  Part of that is the fact that the displays can be done over a network, and each monitor can have it's own controlling PC.

 

Do you have to install add-ons on each PC too?

I have tried to buy FDS stuff before but they said their products are not for enthisiasts?? They advertise on their website:

 

If you look at alot of the builders out there they go with the FDS MIP and CP Flight EFIS+MCP and radio panels.

 

Here is one such blog -- http://www.flaps2approach.com/

If you look at alot of the builders out there they go with the FDS MIP and CP Flight EFIS+MCP and radio panels.

 

Here is one such blog -- http://www.flaps2approach.com/

 

yes his blog is a great resource! Unfortunately I'm building an A320 so cannot use Sim Avionics or Xplane.

Hi and thank you for your feedback, its much appreciated! Unfortunately I'm building an A320 so cannot use Sim Avionics and Xplane but if I was building a 737 i definitely would.

 

I understand.  Best of luck on your project.

 

According this this document its $13,495.95 for the MIP+MCP+EFIS+FMC: http://www.flightdecksolutions.com/assets/pdf/B737NG-DSTD-PRO-MX-Nov1213.pdf

 

 

The FDS MCP EFIS is for their PRO customers.

 

I suggest you take a look at CP Flight - http://www.cpflight.com

 

The PRO line of FDS stuff is really breathtaking.  Pricey- but really worthwhile, if you have the means.

 

Do you have to install add-ons on each PC too?

 

Yes, for the triple displays, in essence your are running 3 copies of XPlane.  All of  the SCENERY must be mirrored, and the ATC plugins must be mirrored as well.  XPUIPC is the exception.  It only goes on the MAIN PC, and can NOT be on the wings.  Also, if you purchase the XP HUD, it ONLY belongs on the CENTER screen (you would never have a "heads up display" on a left or right side-window)!

 

If you're going XPlane with networked displays and you are going triple PCs, you'll want good VRAM on ALL 3 PCs used in your display.  My center PC has a GTX Titan w 6GB Vram.  To do it right, I should have 2 more Titans on the wing PCs.  I don't yet have that.  I have 2GB GTX460s.  In very heavy photo-real scenery I occasionally encounter a stutter on the wings because the VRAM buffers flood and have to be flushed.  4GB VRAM would likely be enough.  That's going to be around $380 per PC plus a new Power supply on each PC to do that, just to gain 2GB extra VRAM.  All told that's approaching $1000 to add 2GB of Vram on 2 pcs.  I'm waiting on that one!  $2500 to do it right with a pair of TITANS and a lot more power.  Then I have a heat concern as the 'happy meal' wing pcs have consumer cases, poorly ventilated and poorly cooled.