y2kiah's A-10C cockpit build

[Deadman]

I am not sure what you mean here?

 

I'm still not exactly sure how I will mount these switches on this panel. The "quick connect" panel mount brackets can't be used here, so I'm thinking they will have to be back mounted on a perf board set on standoffs.

 

on the real IFF the thumb wheels starting on the left (1) 0-7 ,(2) 0-3 ,(mode 3/ A) 0-7

Mode 1 has 32 codes, so in octal the highest code is 37, meaning the first switch should be 0-3 and the second 0-7. Not sure if the real panel's switch is 0-3. Deadman, Gus, maybe one of you knows?

 

my panel look like this light plate is not NVIS

http://www.warbirdsite.com/SkyhawkIFF.jpg

Edited August 17, 2010 by Deadman

[y2kiah]

ok so mode 1 codes are 00-73, and not 00-37 like I thought - thanks that clarifies it

[Deadman]

here is a manual on the unit

http://www.tpub.com/content/radiosets/TM-11-5841-268-25/index.htm

[Mr_Burns]

Interesting post on your displays, 50" front screen and 2x22" for sides?

 

So you will have this awesome pit no doubt, and the physical interaction will be second to none, how much do people think the visuals drive the overall experience.

 

I dont want to hijack the thread or think I know anything, when I worked for BAE I was lucky to know some people who let me fly a few sims.

 

A Hawk LIFTA with only a 20 something" CRT, (was a full pit but the CRT was used whilst it was being built until it was moved into the 'theatre') was still emmense. Flew a Typhoon sim on a smallish screen and ended up chasing the bogeys shadow into the deck, again, very immersive. Then I flew in the combat dome, 360 view two pilots in two domes and another Hawk sim with a 180 screen and 3 projectors by VR Solutions and finally one by CAE.

 

But, they are all really intense even though the 360 and 180 (with control loading devices) were obviously visually amazing, I dont remember being any less immersed with the lower end displays.

 

How much do you think the visuals could affect your hard pit building work?

[y2kiah]

You bring up a good question Mr_Burns. IMO the visuals are very important for the type of flying we do in the A-10, which is primarily visual flying. We should be scanning the ground looking for glowing golf balls or flying telephone poles headed our way. If this were an instrument trainer (which I suppose it could be as well) the outside visuals wouldn't be as important. In real life I'm a flight instructor and have a couple hundred hours teaching in Level 6 FTDs, which are basically the real aircraft cabin sitting at the center of a very large ~200 degree curved screen for visuals. It is very convincing, and the visuals add a lot to the experience.

 

My Samsung DLP TV's color wheel bearing destroyed itself last week, so I broke down and got a new Plasma for the living room. So once I replace the part, looks like the 50" main screen is going to happen after all.

[obotNapalm]

here is a manual on the unit

http://www.tpub.com/content/radiosets/TM-11-5841-268-25/index.htm

 

Nice. Thanks. Anyone know how you download it as a PDF?

[y2kiah]

max7219 test

 

I made a video of some electronics that I've been fooling around with, based on the Arduino. The chip driving the 7-seg LEDs is a MAX7219. I wired up a rotary encoder with a pushbutton. The encoder is hooked up to the real-time interrupt pins of the mc.

 

The program running is a simple counter, rotating right increments, left decrements. When I push and hold the button, all 8's appear for a lamp test. I made it so when I rotate as I'm pushing the button, it will dim or brighten the LEDs. The last bit just shows the wiznet ethernet shield that I'll be using throughout the pit for communication between cards if necessary, and back to the PC.

 

This isn't anything official yet, just a test, but the same concept will be applied on a slightly larger scale to run the Comm, UHF, ILS, and TACAN panels. The last digit on TACAN needs a 14-seg LED for the X and Y characters, so I have a couple MAX6954 chips for that purpose.

 

[Deadman]

join the site and pay the fee

 

Nice. Thanks. Anyone know how you download it as a PDF?

[y2kiah]

Pit design is nearing completion. The side console structure is much more refined now, all of the pieces fit together like a puzzle. It should stand solid just dry fitting the pieces together without any bolts. Still lots of work to do, main instrument panels included. Nice thing is, I can start building now that the tub dimensions are pretty much finalized.

 

 

 

 

[pitbldr]

Awesome work man! Mine will never be that detailed.... I just don't have time, space, or knowledge! :lol:

[Avilator]

Nice deal, man! Best of luck.:pilotfly:

[Deadman]

great job looks really accurate are you going to add the compass/refueling lights,and accelerometer/AOA indicator boxes that are supported on the windshield arch?

[sweinhart3]

Wish mine was gonna look that good. Cant afford the expensive machinery to do that tho.

[y2kiah]

Thanks guys! Design is one thing, but actually building it is another thing completely. The CNC certainly helps, no denying that. At least I get to rework/refit things in software, then I can just build to spec. I already think I need to add more depth under the instrument panel for rudder pedals, seems too cramped right now. I wanted to keep the length of the pit at 4 ft. but I think I'll need to bump it up to 5. I fully expect this thing to take me a year or more to finish, but it's an awesome hobby and a great way to spend time.

[y2kiah]

great job looks really accurate are you going to add the compass/refueling lights,and accelerometer/AOA indicator boxes that are supported on the windshield arch?

 

I've been wondering about that as well as having room for the HUD (not planning a working hud, just maybe a mock-up). I would love to incorporate those things but doing so would really increase the length of the pit. I guess I could hang them off of the overhead arch and extend them back with an arm to get them in the right position. What do you think?

I believe I'll have to add another 12 inches or so ahead of the panel for legroom, so that should be enough space to incorporate a basic hud structure, even if it isn't as deep as the real one, it would still look cool.

 

edit: btw that whole thing I mentioned with the arm to extend them back is because the real instruments are supported from the windscreen and not from the arch, and they are set back from the arch a pretty good distance. This pic shows what I mean pretty well.

 

 

it also shows how deep the real HUD structure is. doing that to scale would about double the length of the pit.

Edited August 27, 2010 by y2kiah

[sweinhart3]

I made my base structure 5' x 5' and it seems to be just the right size. I for one will not be building a full size hud if any at all, however.

[y2kiah]

I made my base structure 5' x 5' and it seems to be just the right size. I for one will not be building a full size hud if any at all, however.

 

Yeah I think you got it right with those dimensions. Mine will turn out to be about 5x5 after all. Same here on the hud, but I may put a smaller look-alike up there just for the visual effect. I feel like any structure placed overhead or within field of view of the outside visuals is worth its weight in gold when it comes to adding immersion to the pit. The overhead arch will be a pain in the ass to build, but I think well worth the trouble. The overhead panels that the KA-50 builders have done here look great.

[Deadman]

I was thinking more in line of what is used on military simulators

[Sarge55]

There's those bungee cords again (cockpit photo). Don't forget those in your pit .... which by the way sounds awesome.

[sweinhart3]

that definitely looks cool

[Duckling]

Look super y2kiah. I see that space left pan is adjusted for TMs new throttle :-)

The arch size is the quiz. I got no possibility to verify but the dimensions of the real thing but it "feels" slightly oversized comparing with seat height and rest of the pit. If it's been verified, can you share the dimensions of the frame/arch ?

 

Looks the outer frame is wood based. What is your plan to access the Pit ? (external ladder, opening one side section, a sliding chair or climb in and out using the seat) ?

 

Cheers

Gus

Edited August 28, 2010 by Duckling

[Oscar]

This looks great! I can see though, that I would have to add a 6 inch high platform base to this unit as I would plan to power the main panels from an HP Proliant DL380 w/ VMware 4.0. This unit would be placed under the center section flooring. It should provide enough computing power for all the heavy-lifting. As for the canopy hoop - probably won't implement that. With a 6" base under the unit, it may be possible to make the left panel and console a 'car door' swing-away assembly, hinged at the front, for clean entry and exit.

[sweinhart3]

hehe as it is right now I have to step over the sides onto my seat. Kinda pain in the ass and I havent even built the exterior shell yet. That will probably be last. Right now I have good access for wiring and prob best keep it that way till its done.

[Pogo]

....I already think I need to add more depth under the instrument panel for rudder pedals, seems too cramped right now.

 

Great job on the pit so far!

 

I believe that the floor drops about 1" or so in the rudder pedal area.

 

 

Cheers,

pogo

[Deadman]

The floor is level or Flat. The stick is elevated in the pit I am not sure how much.