Built by Saul Midler…
Of course if you’re building a simulator in your house, you need to have the catering cart to go with it. But who spends three years building such an incredible machine? The worlds biggest AvGeek, and technically brilliant human! Keep reading if you want to learn how he did it.
2007 – Aero L-29 Delfin.
Hands-on including barrel roles and 3G turns.
Saul tells me that he has always loved aviation and has dabbled in flying. He even took lessons and learned how to barrel-roll a fighter jet. But as he said, “Sadly I didn’t make it my career.” At first I thought he hadn’t made a career of military flying. After watching his expertise flying the B777, I knew he must be an airline pilot.
But he’s not a pilot. Saul said, “I’ve flown desktop sims since Microsoft released their first version in the 90’s. By 2017 I had three screens on a shelf (outside world), one screen centered on the desk (MIP), a basic yoke fixed to the desk and no pedals. Then a friend showed me some youtubes and dared me to build something better – I hate being dared to do something better!”
How to Build a Simulator
Step 1 – Build a prototype.
- Cleared out home office (a room not quite 4m x 4m)
- Designed a layout to maximize the space. Unfortunately the room was too small for all 6 windows.
- Purchased and installed 3 second hand projectors.
- Built a wooden frame for Pedestal and MIP
- Built a curved screen 2.4 m high and 8.5 m long providing 220 degrees of field of view outside the aircraft
- Yoke on a block of wood
- Bought two car seats from a car wrecking yard ($40 each!!!)
- 2 x reasonably good PCs
- Learn lots of different software product
6 months later: Prototype successful
Step 2 – 2 year tear-down, rebuild. and upgrade
- Purchased a new more powerful PC (total 3 computers)
- Purchase 3 new brighter sharper projectors
- Seats sliding mechanism (currently version 3)
- Throttle quadrant (currently version 3)
- B777 Yoke (currently version 2)
- MCP upgrade
- Sound (upgrade to 5.1 surround sound)
- Lots more software including real weather interface
Overhead is a computer screen driven by a mouse
Step 3 – Overhead rebuild.
12 months slow construction during 2020:
- MCP: FO EFIS control panel
- B777 overhead panel
- Wet-compass
- butt-kicker in captain’s seat
- 4 air-con ports into the flightdeck
Overhead on work bench (dining table)
showing wiring to interface card
The Final Product
Ingenuity, Creativity and Time,
There is nothing Saul can’t do.
All I can say now is ….
Saul, I dare you to build me a better an A330!
Enjoy the Journey!
XO Karlene
