592: My Cockpit Rev #18 – Full Cockpit Trial

I bought a full scale C172 glare-shield for my cockpit rebuilding back in 2017.  After setting up the FIPs and Avionics stacks two weeks ago, I found out they didn’t fit to each other.

Since the FIPs were leaned backward on their original plastic frames, which didn’t match with the vertical avionics stack at all, I then decided to replace them with a one-piece wooden frame just like the one I made for the avionics.  Moreover, as the avionics in one stack format would leave many empty spaces on the right, I decided to put them into a B58 style layout as well.

In addition, two 12-push button switch arrays from iflysims.com were added to the cockpit for general functions, such as open doors, etc.

Followings are the pictures during the makeover:

553: A 6-Part “How-To” Video from Father Dane

After the cockpit video, Father Dane further sent me the following information regarding the objectives of the simulator project that he built.  It also includes a 6-part tutorial explaining the very basics of flying.

Although Father Dane mentioned that most followers of FSX Times (many are real pilots) should not need these simple information, and some of the followers might have seen them in his channel already, I am still very happy to putting them here as they are very inspiring.

I built the C172 simulator as a Lenten project last year for the use of some local young students who wanted to find out if they really had the flying “bug”.

As it happened, they did and now they are all involved in taking real flying lessons on their way to earning a PPL.

COCKPIT: Father Dane (EGCN, UK)

Many months ago when Father Dane purchased my C172SP gauges, I asked him if he was interested to post his cockpit photos to this section.   We had a few communications after that but ceased then.

Yesterday Father Dane sent an email with a YouTube link for the Cessna 172 simulator that he built in his spare bedroom.

Builder: Father Dane
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK
ICAO: EGCN, Doncaster Robin Hood Airport

552: Video Preview of A36 GEM

Happy New Year !

Edit: The gauge is now available in the FIP store

Have been wanting to make the Graphic Engine Monitor (GEM) of the A36 Bonanza for a long time.   Here’s a video preview of the finally created instrument running on the Logitech’s Flight Instrument Panel (FIP) next to the same instrument in the virtual cockpit on the computer monitor.

It took me quite some time to figure out how to make it right.   It is under fine-tuning and will be my first gauge to be released in 2020. 

538: G5 Update for FSX/P3D is Coming

My original update plan for the G5 FSX/P3D version was June or July this year so I can spend more time on my cockpit rebuilding.   However, since many G5 FSX/P3D users asked when the update will be available, I have pulled the plan to the top of my list.

Following is a quick video of the G5 (with dual flight directors) on B58 in motion.

In terms of appearance and operations,

535: Garmin G5 for XP-11 Video Preview

Following is a video showing the current status of the Garmin G5 gauges being developed for X-Plane. The ATT and HSI from the XPL B58 in the middle are used for comparison.

The G5 gauges on the FIPs (Flight Instrument Panels) look pretty nice as they closely resemble the real one in terms of physical dimensions.

523: My Cockpit Rev #08 – TV Surround

I don’t want to wait another day or another week and therefore spent the whole afternoon yesterday hanging up the TVs.  Luckily I am using warehouse racks, installation was a lot simpler than I thought.

Here are some photos of the cockpit before and after the installation.   A quick video of my first flight with the new TV setup is at the end.

My room before installation

517: C172R and C172SP Annunciator Panel Released

The Annunciator Panels for the A2A C172R and default C172SP are now ready.  Below is a video capture of the panel added to the Compass on the A2A C172R.

Similar to the C172SP one previewed in Post 515, the C172R annunciator panel will only pop up when error warning lights or equipment status indications are turned on, so that it will not affect the design and functions of the Wet Compass as well as the overall layout of the FIP gauge setup.

However, since the contents and reactions of each annunciator panel

515: Annunciator Panel Video Preview

Logitech (previous Saitek) has an Information Panel but I never like it as it looks odd in almost all virtual cockpits due to its huge size and footprint.

That’s one of the reasons why I developed the Integrated series of gauges for the C172SP in the first place, on which the annunciator panel fits nicely to the Attitude Indicator (ATTAN).

Since the release of the C172SP Standalone gauges many years ago, I’ve been trying to create an equivalent annunciator panel that looks as good as the one on the ATTAN.   There were dozens of idea tried over the years but none was satisfied, no matter they were rendered onto a separate FIP (Flight Instrument Panel) or incorporated into any existing standalone gauges.

Finally, here comes the most satisfied annunciator panel design that I am quite happy with at present.  Following is the video preview of it.

With the target in mind that