PIK-5b vintage glider simulator

[Cessna172sim]

Here we go again :) After C172 I manage to find a real classic, PIK-5b glider cockpit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PIK-5

Few pictures as it is now:
http://lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b%2520-%2520OH-PAY/

The sim is going to run with Silent Wings simulator:
http://www.silentwings.no/

The gauges are going to be made with Simmeters-software
http://www.simmeters.com/

At the moment I am busy developing the original flight model for the sim.

True classic:
http://www.mikkelinlentoasema.fi/en/kuvat/06_historia/02_kuvahistoria/15_pik5b_oh_pav_pohjanvirt.jpg

Here is also short software test:
http://lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b%2520-%2520OH-PAY/MVI_0924.MOV

In the final version there's only virtual yaw string in the outside view.

[skino]

Great project! Thumbs up

I'm also working on a glider cockpit. Some of it is read here http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/showthread.php/22832-Wallpaper-searched-for-Glidersim

I'm building the yah string as well with a servo for the movment and a small fan for the "fluttering" effect

Looking forward to new posts and project images to your new Sim :)

[No Longer Active]

I second that, a great project indeed!

Glider sims are definitely on the Up, would be great to see a silent wings sim, you also have Condor available too, plenty of great sims based on that!

Keep us posted.

Cheers, Alex

[Cessna172sim]

p.s. the last marking in the logbook is from 60's. :)

If you are wondering what it says in the tail, it means:
"Always use Eura (a place in Finland) paper products". :p

[Cessna172sim]

I second that, a great project indeed!

Glider sims are definitely on the Up, would be great to see a silent wings sim, you also have Condor available too, plenty of great sims based on that!

Keep us posted.

Cheers, Alex

I also considered should I use Condor or Silent Wings but when I heard that there are no any Finnish scenery packages for Condor and for Silent Wings there is a brand new Finnish scenery package available it was quite easy choice.

I also love the 'open' source enviroment of Silent Wings. You can basically edit everything in this program, starting from the front end to the models, etc.

[Cessna172sim]

Great project! Thumbs up

I'm also working on a glider cockpit. Some of it is read here http://www.mycockpit.org/forums/showthread.php/22832-Wallpaper-searched-for-Glidersim

I'm building the yah string as well with a servo for the movment and a small fan for the "fluttering" effect

Looking forward to new posts and project images to your new Sim :)

This looks also very pro. Great to see that you are building all gauges yourself. :)

[No Longer Active]

I have done a few glider flights myself and it is fascinating how these things fly, I cant wait to see how this works out for you...

[Cessna172sim]

Since I am not so familiar with Silent Wings simulator I would like to ask your opinion about my latest innovation :)
As you all know, old gliders are really noisy and the wind really affects to the old wooden cockpit if you fly a bit faster.

My idea would be to add a normal computer cooler fan to the PIK-5 cockpit, behind the rudder pedals. Once you are airborne and you fly a bit faster
the computer cooler fan would blow air inside the cockpit. The amount of airspeed and the speed of the cooler would change depending how fast you are flying.

Here's the tricky part: how do you bring out the airspeed indicator data and connect it to the computer cooler fan. I would really love to see this working.

[skino]

A RC servo connect to the USB port rotate a potentiometer which adjusts the speed of fans depending on the speed and the wind in the simulator. So I'll do it.

[Cessna172sim]

A RC servo connect to the USB port rotate a potentiometer which adjusts the speed of fans depending on the speed and the wind in the simulator. So I'll do it.
Could you kindly explain this a bit more. For FS9 and FSX there are plenty of servo interface cards (for example OpenCockpits servo card) but as far as I know
for Silent Wings there's no any interface cards or servo gauges available. Only external software gauge provider seems to be Simmeters:
http://www.simmeters.com/

I received email from Simmeters sales (it seems that they are still in business although the website is at least partially down) few days ago. The sales person adviced that they are about to launch a servo gauges also. This could be one solution.
"we are finishing the development of mechanical instruments, also will have instruments for gliding, in a few days will come to RTM on the website."


I think that the main problem is not controlling the speed of fan itself but to get the actual data out of the sim software somehow.
Once the data from airspeed indicator is somehow guided to a servo the problem is solved.

[skino]

Sioc and the Servocard of OC now run with most simulators, including Condor. I had not seen that you want to run the Glider with Silent Wings . Sorry. I will look at the Silent Wing Demo if I can extract any data. Otherwise look here, http://www.x-simulator.de/forum/ because the data are read in many simulators. Maybe you will get it work with Silent Wing.

[skino]

http://forum.silentwings.no/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1319

http://wiki.silentwings.no/index.php?title=UDP_Output

Apparently it is possible to get the speed data over UDP. Then it works well with the servos, but with a different card: http://www.lipoly.de/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=114457

[Cessna172sim]

Thank you so much for the info. I had already browsed my way to the UDP part, but from that on I was still lost. :)

[Cessna172sim]

If I would use this card you suggested..
http://www.lipoly.de/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=114457

..do you think that this could be best software for exporting the airspeed data to the servo card above:
http://www.x-simulator.de/forum/

Do I still have to write down some code to make it work?

[skino]

This card I had originally planned for my project because it is a Visual Basic API for its existence. But then I just chose the "easy solution" sioc. If you have some time I'll read in the next few days, the UDP data even with a small program (which I still need to write ;)) and see if they are suitable for further processing.

Whether X-Simulatorcan also read the data from Silent Wings I do not know. Was just an idea. Since you have to there in the forum by asking again. And then, still lacks the connection to the servo.

[Cessna172sim]

This card I had originally planned for my project because it is a Visual Basic API for its existence. But then I just chose the "easy solution" sioc. If you have some time I'll read in the next few days, the UDP data even with a small program (which I still need to write ;)) and see if they are suitable for further processing.

Whether X-Simulatorcan also read the data from Silent Wings I do not know. Was just an idea. Since you have to there in the forum by asking again. And then, still lacks the connection to the servo.

Yes, absolutely. Take your time to test this. All possible help is very highly appreciated.

BR,
O-P

[skino]

Short progress report: I can read UDP data from Silent Wings and processed with Visual Basic. Unfortunately I do not know what I actually see, speed, altitude or something else. :?

[Cessna172sim]

Hi,

Thank you for your help. I actually found a friend from Finland who might be able to do the fully working solution for me. I will advice all of you when we are finished with this project. ;-)

[skino]

Good news. :)
Please poste some pictures

[Cessna172sim]

We are making some progress, but still small problems. From some reason I cannot get UDP data out from the Silent Wings program.

I have up and running UDP client that tries to sniff the data coming out from SW but I'm guessing that my setting under SW/data/options.dat file is not correct:
Here is a snapshot from the udp client and also from SW options.dat file:
http://lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b+-+OH-PAY/settings.jpg

I have understood that at least you can change the output protocol (binary, simmeters, condor)

also it is possible to change the udp address (127.0.01 or local host)

Any suggestions?

[skino]

You can change the IP an the Port if running on Network. The same way as WideFS in the MS-Simulator. You can try FreeCondorInstruments http://condorsoaring.ru/projects/FreeCondorInstruments/ with the Condor-Protocol in your UDP Out. Maybe so you can check whether your DAT is not working or your UDP client.

I'm not sure if that really works together. Is just an idea

[Cessna172sim]

I will try this also. Danke schön! :)

[skino]

Paljon menestystä :)

[Cessna172sim]

FreeCondor Instruments are only for Condor. It seems that there's nothing similar available for Silent Wings.
I try to get a demo version from Simmeters. I am using only one computer so I don't have a networked computers.

[skino]

FreeCondor Instruments reads UDP-Data von any UDP-Server, not any Simulatordata. Silent Wings can send Condor-Protocol over UDP. Like FSUIPC and Glascockpitsoftware.

[Cessna172sim]

FreeCondor Instruments reads UDP-Data von any UDP-Server, not any Simulatordata. Silent Wings can send Condor-Protocol over UDP. Like FSUIPC and Glascockpitsoftware.

I tried to link Silent Wings and FreeCondor Instruments. No luck. Here is my setup:
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b+-+OH-PAY/silent_wings_free_condor.jpg

Please advice if this is even possible and if you notice if something in my settings is incorrect.

[Cessna172sim]

Quick update: I finally managed to get UDP data out from Silent Wings software via UDP Client. I even tested the udp export with two different formats: Simmeters and Condor. The data flow looks very different between the two:
http://lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b%20-%20OH-PAY/Simmeters_vs_Condor_UDP_info.jpg

Next we will code interface between hardware and UDP data. Soon we will have a cooler fan that is controlled via changable airspeed from Silent Wings. 8)

[Cessna172sim]

Some progress here:
I have now ordered interface card for the control you and for the push buttons:
http://www.leobodnar.com/products/BU0836X/

Also the SimMeters software gauges are tested, up and running in a temporary display:
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b+-+OH-PAY/IMG_1311.JPG
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b+-+OH-PAY/MVI_1316.MOV

The soundsystem is also ready to be installed:
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b%20-%20OH-PAY/small+and+compact+audio+system.JPG

Silent Wings user interface can be easily modified so I created a vintage slideshow, only for PIK-5 plane:
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b%20-%20OH-PAY/SW_frontface_test.jpg/full

One challenging thing was to modify the model by removing all other virtual cockpit parts but the yaw indicator. This was possible with a Silent Wings 3D program. Here is the result, up and running:
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b+-+OH-PAY/modified+virtual+cockpit+with+yaw+indicator+rope+only.JPG
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b%20-%20OH-PAY/yaw_indicator.MOV

The most challenging part so far has been to find a right size LCD display that fits behind the original instrument panel. I only had to slighly expand the bottom section of the instrument panel to make the 10,1" LCD screen to fit. Here is a rough paper scetch, ver. 1.xxxxxxx ;)
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b+-+OH-PAY/kuva3.JPG

Here is the display: (sorry, in Finnish lanquage)
http://www.data-systems.fi/product_info/4025/149012

The original canopy was in a really bad shape so I have to build it again from the scratch.
Luckily I got the original model from a local vintage soaring plane builder:
http://lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b%20-%20OH-PAY/malli.jpg

The actual restoration, fixing and painting is also about to start soon. I have only cut the fuselage shorter, behing the cockpit part.

My friend is also designing me an interface where a normal computer cooling fan rotating speed is changes depending of the airspeed indicator data. We will place this cooling fan inside the cockpit, behing the rudder pedals. Since oldtimer sailplanes where not so sealed there will be some "wind" blowing inside the cockpit when flying faster and no airblow when the plane is stopped.

Still plenty of work but hopefully someday the results should be something like this:
http://lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b+-+OH-PAY/ohjaamosuunnitelma_1.jpg

One more cool thing was that I was able to go to a Jämi Internation FlyIn and meet some of the real vintage PIK-5 flyers. Here are some pics and video clips of the real thing. (sorry about the strange mumbling, it is called Finnish lanquage) :)
http://lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5+ohjaimet/

The original flight dynamics /model is also under construction. I am more than happy that the original PIK-5 pilots are designing the flight model for me. :)

At first there will be only one wide LCD screen for outside view and TrackIR for sideviews.

[Cessna172sim]

First prototype of the 2 x cooling fan with a changing rotating speed, guided by IAS gauge: http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=MGunFMN42H4

[Cessna172sim]

More test bench flying until moving the instrument panel to the final 10.2" inch LCD screen.
Silent Wings sim works really well.
http://www.lentosimulaattori.1g.fi/kuvat/PIK-5b+-+OH-PAY/MVI_2452.MOV

[Cessna172sim]

5980598159825983
Some progress here also. Small amount of fuselage repair, LCD gauge display, cooler fans that runs according to airspeed.

[Cessna172sim]

Few video clips from the current test bench. I have now fully working LCD instrument panel with SimMeter software gauges.
Also in the clips is our prototype: computer cooler fans that runs according the airspeed indicator data:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DN-bPtCbx0&feature=channel_video_title

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH-3teewHI4&feature=channel_video_title

[iwik]

Olli,
Looks great, sure does offer another dimension.Keep up the good work.
Les

[360kal]

just curious. why did you choose to use silent wings instead of FSX or condor. is it cause it simulates gliding better or cause its flexible and allows you to use more third party tools?

[Cessna172sim]

Hi,
The main reason is that I want to use local Finnish sceneries and this is not possible in Condor. Compared to FSX, Silent Wings simulates gliders better. Silent Wings also works with SimMeter gauges.

During the spring Finnish land mapping institute will release very sharp and detailed satellite maps free of charge. This way it's possible the create very precise local sceneries.

Few pics about Matrox Dualhead test (will use triplehead in the final version) and the third prototype of LCD gauge panel. Please note that the instrument bezels are cutted from the plastic yoghurt can rims. ;)
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[Cessna172sim]

This project is now 95% ready. Still some work to do with the plastic polycarbonate canopy.
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