Hi there from South Africa

[Conri]

Hi guys & girls

I have been surfing MC for weeks, and just thought i need to introduce myself!

I live in Bloemfontein (FABL) South Africa and are 32hours into realworld PPL.
But with the rising cost, i have decided to rather spend my money with cockpit-building. Much cheaper!!(Believe Me!!) 33 years of age, maried (Depends on the time its going to take to build the cockpit! LOL) and proud
father of one 18 months old daughter!

I'll be posting alot of questions, because i'm totaly computer illeterate! But
must admit that i have connected 20 toggles using the boards of desktopaviator.But that's it!!

Current fs setup:
Computer1: Intel core 2 due cpu 6600 @ 2.4GHz
2gb RAM, Windows XP Pro SP3

Computer2: AMD Athlone 64 3000+ 1.81GHz 3.00 GB RAM
Windows XP Pro SP3

FS9 + SP2
PMDG (ALL)
To many software to mention,
Hardware: CH Yoke
CH Throttle Quadrant
MS Sidewinder Joystick
Opencockpits Multi-radio
Homemade centre pedestal with desktopaviator's usb card

Questions to follow, and many thanks!

Regards

Conri du Toit
CEO - South African Airways Virtual
www.saavirtual.org

[Kennair]

Welcome Conri to the wonderful world of simming. There are a few other South Africans here also. Looks like your well on your way with all that desktop sim hardware, now it's just a small step to the panels and pedals. Feel free to ask any questions but I'd recommend many hours surfing and searching to gain information and inpiration.

What sort of aircraft are you looking at building?

Cheers,

Ken.

[Conri]

Hi Ken

Nice to meet you, has seen a lot of your post!

My idea is to build a enclosed cockpit of the 737-800, but i don't want to
go 100% realistic, it is simply to expencive with the R/$.

Idea is to build the MIP, OVERHEAD, Centre, out of wood and then paint.
As we speak I'm 95% sure that I'll go for the OPENCOCKPIT set-up, but are
very scared for the "SIOC" programing! As i said, I'm very slow when it comes to programming.

The OC MCP/EIFIS does draw my attention though!
What Hardware/Software combination do you recomend?

Regards
Conri

[Kennair]

Hi Conri,

It's a good choice to build the 737 as you'll get plenty of knowledge and support due to its popularity. Money is nearly always an issue, however it does inspire creativity when you build yourself, so that's a good thing. I built the base structure of my pit based on 737 plans and tailored others to suit my needs. The possibilities are endless.

Opencockpits hardware is a good and very cost effective choice, and don't stress too much over the SIOC programming. You can start off with the the IOCards software which is an easy to use graphical interface allowing you to setup switches and lights etc. without all that programming stuff. The advantage with SIOC is that it will allow much more sophisticated programming far beyond what FS can provide. Once you get the simple system up and running, you can research SIOC more to incorporate it, but it's not necessary for the beginner.

As for the OC MCP, I have just purchased this along with the Boeing radios kits, so I'll let you know how good it is in a few weeks time (currently being shipped!). Certainly if you are building the 737 to any degree of reality, then the MCP & EFIS are essential, and as far as my research, the OC variations are the cheapest around. They do require backlighting yourself however, but if that's not an issue, then just use them without it. I intend to backlight mine based on Joe Cygan's tutorial out soon (I hope Joe???? :))

As far as hardware/software recommendations, it all depends on budget. As I said, the MCP/EFIS is the first start along with radio's, but you could quite happily survive without them and just use a mouse to start with (that's what most of us do anyway). You've already got a good store of hardware there so I would get the basic panel done first and then extend your PC with extra monitors. You'll need at least 2 for instruments and 1 for outside view. Then expand that as money allows. Also you'll need to learn about panel modifications so you can tailor the PMDG 737 (one of the best and most used addons) so you can move your PFD/MFD & EICAS to separate monitors.

Fun, fun, fun,

Ken.

[Conri]

Hi Ken

Thanks for your reply, please pm me when you get them!

Forgot to mention the monitors:
2 x 19" LCD
1 x 19" CRT
1 x EPSON Projector

Now that you confirmed that the OC rout is worthit, I'll be taking that road then!

Thanks Ken

Regards
Conri

[Kennair]

Excellent Conri. Looks like your half way there.

Don't just take my word for OC stuff, others here swear by different manufacturers that they've gone with, so I'd recommend checking them all out if you haven't already. They all do similar things but to varying degrees with their own strengths and weaknesses. Sounds like you've probably already sorted that though ;)

Good luck,

Ken.

[fweinrebe]

Hi Neighbour,

welcome to mycockpit.org.

[fweinrebe]

I was wondering why your name is so familiar. Nice to see another VATSAF member here.

[Conri]

Hi Fritz

The net is a small place!!

Nice to hear from you again!

Regards
Conri

[CocnutAir]

Hi Conri,
A belated welcome.
I did some flying at FACT (Cape Town).
Great airport to become familiar with lots of different wind conditions.
I can remember one time the wind dropped to nil and totally messed up my hand-flown approach.

Fritz,
Found this post while looking at your response to Andy's request for CNC info. Spent few months at Rooikop. Anybody who hasn't taken a trip to Namibia has missed out on one of the most beautiful places on Earth.

Ken,
I really need to make a trip to Perth one day. Heard great things about the west coast.

Regards,
Alan

[Kennair]

Ken,
I really need to make a trip to Perth one day. Heard great things about the west coast.

Regards,
Alan

Hi Alan,

Be sure to look me up if you do. Some of the best beaches in the world (just 10min away!!). You'll find WA very similar to Texas; lots of desert and really, really BIG! However Perth is still a big country town by US standards, but I like it that way.

Ken.

[CocnutAir]

Ken,

Where I live in Central Texas there is not much desert. Is rolling hills, oak forests, lakes and streams. Mainly grassland. Great cattle country. I live on a 5 acre ranch near a small town. Prefer it that way. Lived in the San Fransisco bay area for 8 years. Too big. Dallas and Houston are also too big. The movie "Second Hand Lions" was shot a few miles from where I live.

Although I sometimes like to get out west and into the desert. My daughter and her husband took a road trip this weekend to New Mexico to hunt deer and quail. I am hoping to score a nice leg or a bird for the BBQ. Australians and Texans are cut from the same cloth. Both like to bbq and enjoy a cold beer at the end of a hot day. Guess both are from pioneering stock.

Rugby is quite big at the Texas universities. Most of the good players on the American Eagles rugby team are either Texas Rugby Union, ex-Australians, ex-New Zealanders, ex-Wales or ex-South Africans. The local football (not soccer) players can't play rugby for s**t. Maybe the Eagles will take home the Rugby World Cup one year.

Regards,
Alan.