...to reality!

 Prototype has been finished!

Busy weekend. We had a great time yesterday at Cosford RAF Museum showing the latest developments to the public. Thanks to all our visitors for their interest and a lot of nice conversations.

http://justflight.com/articles/flight-sim-2015-thank-you-for-coming

We have finalized our prototyping and closed shell with lining kit has been transfered into 3D. We are now preparing series production.

Shell prototyping in progress. Shortly we will have all openings closed and production of the final parts will start.

We have completely redesigned the MIP structure. More metal, more stability, more durability but still the same great real look and feel.

Ben demonstrates stability of our new side bases. Probably you can also throw them out of the window without any damage, but we did not try... ;-)

We often get the question, how to install a side stick on a joystick mechanic. Markus from Austria has kindly taken the trouble and documented the whole procedure for cockpit builders:

 Tools you need:

• Wood Saw
• Wirecutter
• telephone pliers
• Dremel (alternative: file)
• Soldering iron (15W) + solder
• Allen wrench

1. Remove of the original handle
Remove all the screws on the handle, (there are two screws below the rubber sleeve). On the bottom part of the handle there is a tap that holds the two parts of the handle together.

2. Unsolder the connector of the original keys of the handle
Use the soldering iron.

3. Prepare column for placing the side stick (see image)

Cut the spar as far as possible, the wire with the jack for connecting the buttons should be able to be bent. Remove all in the picture pink inked parts (use a cutter, plier etc.).Finally sand the remaining part of the spar carefully so that you can put on the sidestick. Before you do that, do not forget to remove the grub screw (use the allen wrench) from the sidestick.

4. Solderwires of the sidestick to the connector
Connect the joystick to the PC. Open the control panel for game controllers. Use a Jumper to find out which hole on the jack must be connected to the corresponding cables. This can vary from joystick to joystick, mine was as follows:

• Left socket: minus pole for both buttons
• Very right and second from right socket: plus pole for each button.

Unplug the joystick. Now solder the sidestick cables to the connector you have unsoldered from the joystick's original circuit board (as described in item 2 above). One red and one black wire together on the minus pole and one red on the one and one black on the other plus pole. Do not forget to use shrink tubing and cut the cables as shot as possible.

5. Check the buttons
Plug the soldered connector into the joysticks Jack and connect the joystick to the PC. Open the control panel for game controllers. Push the buttons and check if the control panel shows that they react properly. Disconnect the joystick from the PC.

6. Final assembly
Put the sidestick on the spar. The farther the sidestick is put on the spar the more realistic is the feeling and the the more power you need to operate the joystick. I have put the sidestick as far as possible onto the spar, it now is only a few millimeters above the rubber sleeve. Ideally, the postponement is very strict and the sidestick holds as good at the handle.

7. Align sidestick
and tighten the two set screws.

Bear in mind that the side stick is heavier than the origial handle. So the spring force of the stick should still be very high. The higher the sidestick is attached to the spar, the better. In general this is all done within 30 minutes.

The new side bases have lots of details like the structured surface, floor light preparation, lamp holder, etc.

But the most important difference is that they are now made of fiber glass. This makes the side base very stable! We will soon proof this... ;-)

Dear Cockpit Builders!

We currently think about a DIY product line. This line will consist of - more or less - unfinished professional parts. These parts will be unpainted and not assembled, but from the same high quality like or other components. We are still doing the product definitions. If you have any recommendations or request - please let us know. We will be happy to consider your ideas if possible.

Thanks to a very kind A320 captain we now have an official waypoint to fly to...! ;-)

We continue working on the shell and the interior lining kit with high priority. Meanwhile 3D becomes a reality...

We will participate at this years Flight Simulation Show in Cosford.

Especially if you live in the UK or you plan a trip to England let's meet there: http://www.flightsimulationshow2015.com/

We recently had a couple of minutes to make a small movie of our current A320 prototype in Dresden.

Watch on Youtube in HD quality

Many thanks for visiting us at our first Open-Day in Dresden. For us it was fantastic to meet you and have you with us.

Have a close look...

Discuss and look behind the scenes...

Learn what we do and how we do it...

This little box and a lot of testing brought us near to the side base as PnP (plug and play) version. This solution will have an USB connection only per sidebase. Quick and easy to connect without any more technical issues to solve.

So please press thumbs and we soon will have your headache by building it. ;-)