Post Your Flight Sim Cockpits

lukefinch · 3 Nov 2010 at 18:21

First off, i didn't really know where to put this so mods, feel free to move it to the appropriate section of the forum if it isn't there already.

Anyways, I am an avid flight sim fan, specifically flight simulator X, and i know there are many others here too.

I am slowly setting up a home cockpit for practice when my flying lessons get cancelled due to the glorious british weather. I was wondering if anyone else on here has an area specifically for playing flight sim? If you have post here and we can share ideas and tips on good peripherals, accessories, software etc.

Here is my FSX corner in my bedroom

Here is a closeup of everything

Here is a closeup of the screen and the autopilot

And my British Airways Boeing 757 model

I have...

- Saitek Pro Flight Yoke and Throttle
- Saitek Pro Flight Panel
- Cheap wireless keyboard and mouse
- 32" Samsung LCD TV
- Custom PC made by me (Parts from OCUK)

I am also getting a DVI-VGA cable so i can also use a 19" monitor for GPS, ATC etc.

What do you think?

jim5000 · 3 Nov 2010 at 18:23

needs more screens.....

QlimaxUK · 3 Nov 2010 at 18:38

and they say pc gaming is dying

scrlk · 3 Nov 2010 at 20:28

Default 737-800 with that kind of setup? Son I am dissapoint.

(should have gone for the PMDG 747-X :cool:

)

lukefinch · 3 Nov 2010 at 20:59

jim5000 said:
needs more screens.....

I'm working on it

QlimaxUK said:
and they say pc gaming is dying

Not for me, you cant get anything like this for a console. can honestly say i use this PC every day and haven't used my Xbox 360 or PS3 in over a year!

Vinni3 @H|H said:
Default 737-800 with that kind of setup? Son I am dissapoint.

(should have gone for the PMDG 747-X )

That is my next buy for sure! I do have some other payware planes but i just used this one for the photos

Devrij · 3 Nov 2010 at 21:30

I'm waiting for that exact setup to go clearance at work (we have an ex display that I know will never sell). Sadly, my "cockpit" is simply my desk with an xbox pad. Multi monitor is the way though. I use my secondary for gps/comms/ap. The idea of eyefinity for FSX gets me erect, but I've yet to see a rig that can handle it!

btw, you may find some other like-minded types in this thread http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18172358

lukefinch · 3 Nov 2010 at 22:49

Devrij said:
I'm waiting for that exact setup to go clearance at work (we have an ex display that I know will never sell). Sadly, my "cockpit" is simply my desk with an xbox pad. Multi monitor is the way though. I use my secondary for gps/comms/ap. The idea of eyefinity for FSX gets me erect, but I've yet to see a rig that can handle it!

btw, you may find some other like-minded types in this thread http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18172358

I took a quick look at that thread. I posted in it a while back promising videos and screenshots from my new PC that I forgot about so thanks for pointing me back there.

As for eyefinity. I would love to get another 32" tv and use both side by side with the 19" display for GPS, ATC etc. But then I'd have to get another graphics card, then a better PSU and I'm only 16 and have no job so I think I'm doing very well as it is!

Fr0dders · 3 Nov 2010 at 23:16

QlimaxUK said:
and they say pc gaming is dying

well it is as a big budget platform chock full of massive new games.

Instead it caters now for specific niche's that consoles cant cater for. Namely:

Flight sims, Strategy Games, MMOs and the last refuge of Die Hard FPS gamers.

Its no longer got anything like the numbers console games do, but its still there.

Boozebeard · 3 Nov 2010 at 23:29

lol, cockpit.

Nate--IRL-- · 3 Nov 2010 at 23:36

I don't see a TrackIR.........

Nate

lukefinch · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:38

Nate--IRL-- said:
I don't see a TrackIR.........

Nate

Never needed it so i haven't bought it.

iv-tecman · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:42

QlimaxUK said:
and they say pc gaming is dying

lol no one told this chap...

To the op, so is that like flying a real plane? How the heck do you know what to press etc..? Do you fly for real?

Looks confusing, agreed can't see the xbox360 or PS3 doing anything like that, but then what you're doing isn't standard. What it needs is two more screens, like you see with those driving cockpits..

I tried one of those once, where you have three screens and see more of the track etc... Was amazing.

If you turned your head, the view moved to the left or right, it was using this tracking system, I was very impressed....

Bah... edit - he's taking flying lessons, I looked at the pictures first and didn't read all the text. Teach me to not read correctly..!! lol

craptakular · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:50

iv-tecman said:
lol no one told this chap...

To the op, so is that like flying a real plane? How the heck do you know what to press etc..? Do you fly for real?

Looks confusing, agreed can't see the xbox360 or PS3 doing anything like that, but then what you're doing isn't standard. What it needs is two more screens, like you see with those driving cockpits..

I tried one of those once, where you have three screens and see more of the track etc... Was amazing.

If you turned your head, the view moved to the left or right, it was using this tracking system, I was very impressed....

I have played DCS blackshark a bit and after a few youtube videos and a few practice sessions it's fairly straightforward.

Simulation games are good as they keep the mind active and are way more of a challange than something like say Hawx, which I imagine would get boring fast.

Why not give it a try? It's really hard to fly with a cheap as stick, you would need an X-52 minimum.

mark66 · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:51

Looks fun, what is the device in front of your monitor? Some sort of Airplane steering wheel (Yoke?) with extra buttons and readouts?

I used to love flying games many years ago (Micropose F-19 and F-117A) but I know these will be nothing like what you are flying.

Genuine question; does it not get a bit boring flying commercial airliners? Do you accelerate time once you are in level flight so you are doing the landing pretty much straight after the take-off? I know if was me I would end up trying to do loop the loops etc in no time

craptakular · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:52

mark66 said:
Looks fun, what is the device in front of your monitor? Some sort of Airplane steering wheel (Yoke?) with extra buttons and readouts?

I used to love flying games many years ago (Micropose F-19 and F-117A) but I know these will be nothing like what you are flying.

Genuine question; does it not get a bit boring flying commercial airliners? Do you accelerate time once you are in level flight so you are doing the landing pretty much straight after the take-off? I know if was me I would end up trying to do loop the loops etc in no time

hehe this is why you want a combat simulator.

Nelson Santos · 4 Nov 2010 at 10:53

Really want to give this a go, but dont know were to start

.

iv-tecman · 4 Nov 2010 at 11:04

Nelson Santos said:
Really want to give this a go, but dont know were to start .

I really want to build a racing cockpit, but think the gf might have something to say about that.. Erm along the lines of 'over her dead body' followed by 'get a life'.

I have a steering wheel that I hardly use, but anyhow.. lol

ThomasTheTankEngine · 4 Nov 2010 at 11:23

Nelson Santos said:
Really want to give this a go, but dont know were to start .

Start with a flight sim and a simple cheap joystick. FSX if you want civil airlines or il2 1946 if you want ww2 combat.

After that, the next things you'll want will be more controls. Keyboards don't exactly cut it as far as realism goes and with the more complex sims there are just too many commands to remember. You can get various panels (check ocuk peripherals section) and lots of people use pedal systems too, normally just the ones used for driving sims.

If you want more controls and are serious about flight sims, you'd want a hotas joystick, and for the immersion factor you want trackir or a webcam with tracking. A BIG screen is also pretty essential..... especially on combat sims where you're constantly looking for enemies which show up as tiny dots on the horizon.

lukefinch · 4 Nov 2010 at 11:33

mark66 said:
Looks fun, what is the device in front of your monitor? Some sort of Airplane steering wheel (Yoke?) with extra buttons and readouts?

I used to love flying games many years ago (Micropose F-19 and F-117A) but I know these will be nothing like what you are flying.

Genuine question; does it not get a bit boring flying commercial airliners? Do you accelerate time once you are in level flight so you are doing the landing pretty much straight after the take-off? I know if was me I would end up trying to do loop the loops etc in no time

Yes, in front of the screen is a Saitek Pro Flight Yoke. I used to use a joystick however i mainly fly Boeings like the 737, 747, 757 and 767 so this makes it way more realistic.

It does have buttons to change view and mode. It also has customisable switches and a hat switch for moving the camera view. It also has a screen with either the time or a stopwatch displayed.

As for the question, yes, a lot of the time i do takeoff, get to cruise altitude then go at 16x speed until it is time to start the descent.

Nelson Santos said:
Really want to give this a go, but dont know were to start .

Start like i did. First off, using your PC you have now. Install FSX. Also buy a cheap joystick, nothing fancy just a basic one to start with.

Then test the game, use the missions and lessons, fly on your own and on multiplayers and determine whether you like the game.

If you do and want to take it more seriously, you could upgrade your PC like i did, buy a better joystick or yoke like i did. Also, if there are specific thing you use a lot, like the autopilot for me, buy a real panel for it and sit it on your desk.

Also, buy payware scenery and aircraft as some out there are amazing and make this unbelievably realistic.

lukefinch · 4 Nov 2010 at 11:36

Here are some videos i have made using my PC.

Hope you like!

Test Video...

Boeing 747 Landing At Kai Tak...

Mallorca Photo Scenery And REX

Boeing 747 Takeoff At Manchester

Palma De Mallorca Scenery And Takeoff