Piranha Flight Simulator Training System

• 06Dec

  My parents took the Flight Simulator for a ride!

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (Read 4 Comments)

  In an effort to test fly the new overhead panel installed in the Flight Simulator System, my parents took the Flight Simulator on a flight over the skies of Lima, Peru flying a Boeing 737-800. Taking of from Jorge Chavez International Airport, flying over the Pacific Ocean along the coast, over the San Lorenzo Island and landing on the Las Palmas Military Base. My dad flew as the co-pilot while my mother, following “detail” directions from my dad flew as the pilot getting a little motion sickness. They made a safe landing. I was the only passenger on the flight and I really enjoyed seeing them in command of this virtual airline.

  Here are a few pictures of the event:

  

  My parents test flying the Flight Simulator.

  

  My parents test flying the Flight Simulator.

  

  The new overhead panel being operated by my dad.

  

  My dad, test flying the Flight Simulator after installing the new overhead panel.

  …and then I switched places with my mom…

  

  Test flight of the Flight Simulator after installing the new overhead panel.

  

  Me, test flying the Flight Simulator after installing the new overhead panel.

  

  Test flight of the Flight Simulator after installing the new overhead panel.

  • 
• 05Dec

  Overhead Panel installed!

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (Read 1 Comment)

  The new overhead panel has been installed, wired and programmed. I also added a new ventilation system for the pilot and co-pilot and new detail to the lateral windows. The re is also new illumination systems that provide with the proper illumintation to the middle console. Here are a few pictures:

  

  View of the new overhead panel and ventilation system

  

  View from the co-pilot's seat

  

  View of the lateral window

  

  The new ventilation system. Co-pilot side.

  

  View from the pilot's seat

  

  View of the over-head panel

  • 
• 03Dec

  Overhead Panel – Construction Progress

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (Read 1 Comment)

  Here are a few pictures of the Overhead Panel. All switches have been installed and wired. The next step is to mount it on the Flight Simulator.

  

  Overhead Panel with all the swtches already installed.

  

  Overhead Panel - Close up

  

  Location on the Flight Simulator where the overhead panel will be mounted.

  New Ventilation System:

  On the weekend, I installed a new ventilation system for the pilot and co-pilot. I used small electric fans powered by a 12 volt power supply. Here is a picture:

  

  New Ventilation System.

  • 
• 26Oct

  Building the Overhead Panel

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (Read 2 Comments)

  I began building the overhead panel for the flight simulator. I based the construction on the drawings I found on this excellent web site: http://users.skynet.be/jcordon/cockpit/index2.htm and pictures of the Boeing 737 cockpit. Most of the switches on the panel will be operational. My objective is to make it look as real as possible. All indicators will be illuminated. My panel will be a scale down version. A little smaller than the original. I am using 1/2″ Plexiglas to allow for transparency. I processed all the drawings in Adobe Photoshop and printed two version. One on sticker paper and the other version as a negative (inverted with the indicators colored) on transparency paper. After I finish laying out the complete panel I will cover it with another piece of transparent plastic, then drill the holes for the switches, install them and wire them.

  Here are a couple of pictures of the initial layout:

  
  

  • 
• 21Oct

  New Multi Panel and Radio Panel

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (Read 1 Comment)

  Today I finished the installation and configuration of the new “Saitek Pro Flight Multi Panel” and “Saitek Pro Flight Radio Panel”. I mounted both panels in the location where I had the previous Automatic Pilot Panel. I added a red light below these two panels to help illuminate the switch panel below. Here are a few pictures I took after I finished the installation.

  

  Simulator with new Multi Panel and Radio Panel

  

  Saitek Pro Flight Multi Panel & Pro Flight Radio Panel

  

  Saitek Pro Flight Multi Panel & Pro Flight Radio Panel

  • 
• 13Sep

  Demonstration Video

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (Read 1 Comment)

  My latest demo video showing all 10 screens working!

  • 

  Tags: demonstration, video

• 27Jul

  10 operational screens!

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (Read 1 Comment)

  I am still in the process of calibrating the new side view monitors, but they are already installed as well as the third computer that drives the two new 19″ monitors for the side views.

  Here are the latest pictures of my Flight Simulator:

  

  Flight Simulator with all 10 monitors installed and operational

  

  Dark View of the Flight Simulator with all 10 monitors installed and operational

  

  Flight Simulator with all 10 monitors installed and operational

  • 
• 25Jul

  Progress on the installation of the two side views

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (Read 1 Comment)

  I tried connecting the two new 19″ monitors to a new PCI based graphic card connected to the main system. The graphic card did not perform correctly and one of the ports refused to work under Windows Vista 64 bit version. I spent several hours trying to make the second monitor work and still the performance obtained on the one that was working was less than adequate.

  I decided to opt for the second option; which was to acquire a new computer system (ASUS Essentio Desktop – CM5570-AP002) to drive the side view monitors. I got an Intel Pentium dual core based system running at 2.6Ghz on each core, 6GB of RAM, 640GB 7200RPM ATA hard drive, Windows vista 64 bit and installed an Nvidia 9600GS with 512MB of memory.

  The idea is to network this computer and install a new copy of Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe Edition together with WideView (http://www.wideview.it) on both the main system (server) and the client computer. As stated on the WideView manual, WideView is a plug-in module that can be used to create simulator cockpits with panoramic external views on multiple monitors through networked computers. Each computer can be easily configured to show a particular direction through a user’s defined view angle.

  Here are some pictures of the progress so far:

  

  View of one of the 19" LCD panels mounted for the side views (Right Side)

  

  New monitor for the side view (Right, Co-Pilot)

  

  Monitor array for the external view of the flight simulator.

  

  Updates to the center console: New flashlights!

  • 
• 23Jul

  Installing two new monitors for the side views

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (No Comments)

  I am in the process of installing two new monitors for the side views, task that I started this past Monday. Yesterday I finished mounting two 19″ wide screen LCD monitors using metal mounting arms. I had to reinforce the side walls of the cockpit with two pieces of wood to make them strong enough to support the weight of the monitors and mounting arms.  The two new monitors will get connected to a new graphic card which I will install on the main computer system. The new card is a Nvidia 9400GT with 1GB of memory and a PCI interface.

  After setting up the hardware I will proceed to configure the software which includes the installation of the video graphic card drivers and the configuration of Microsoft Flight Simulator X.

  I will post pictures soon.

  • 
• 23Jul

  The Piranha Flight Simulator System is featured on a couple of Web Sites

  Home Flight Simulator Project News Click here to leave a comment - (No Comments)

  FSBreak: (May 13, 2009) The exact spot when they start talking about my simulator is at 00:36:22. Thank you FSBreak for talking about my project on your audio podcast!
  

  http://www.fsbreak.net/podcast/16

  FlightSimX: (March 9, 2009)
  

  http://www.flightsimx.co.uk/hardware/piranha-flight-simulator-system/

  • 

« Previous Entries