Recently I purchased dedicated 737 cockpit software for my set up( Aerosoft from Australia).  Up until now my set up was very universal and I could fly what I wanted from a C172 to B747. I like that aspect of flight simulator but with the new software it requires separate computers to generate the 737's glass cockpit. The monitors are already in place but now hooked up to a separate computer and so switching back and forth would be a large hassle. I use to drag the 2D instrumentation from FSX into these monitors located under my outside view screens.

My set up grew up on top of a large video editing desk I build many years ago. It kind of just evolved into what it is today as I could afford to get new stuff. With this new software and CDU addition I am at a crossroad where I can build a dedicated 737 simulator or some how figure out how to keep the universality of being able to fly anything.
I am awaiting a CDU for the new 737 project and I will see how it fits into the current set up but my set up is at a tipping point as there is no more room to add anything without a major renovation.
I believe Jbaymore, you have a dedicated 737 Simpit and the Towerguys have a dedicated Beech King air Simpit 

Any thoughts?

Mark   

Hi Mark... :)

I myself like the idea of being able to use the Game Microsoft Flight SimX for a number of different simulated aircraft.

Not sure if you or I would be bored using just one type of simulated aircraft.

My son and grandson who are both aviators are building a motion simulator to simulate a four/three/two/single radial engine aircraft.
...RPM, MP, Carb Heat, Mixture plus guages.
They should be done mid summer.

They have obtained a Vickers Cockpit from somewhere and that will be the bases of the unit.

Much too large for me here in the Condo.... ;D

Mark are you going to use a motion seat or chair of some sort?

I think it would be wise to retrace the type of simulated flights you have done say in the last sixty to ninety days and use that as a base to make your decision.

If seventy-five percent were 737 jet flights than that is the way to go... :)

Oh are you at Comox by any chance and do you get up our way?

P.S.  sent you a PM... :)

Mark,

My simpit is quite "generic".  It is actually LOOSELY modeled on a BAe 146-200 aircraft.  But I am runniong "Boeing glass" for avionics.  I'm not a pursit  ;).

The only time it feels weird is if I load uop a Cessna 172 or something like that.  ;D ;D ;D

I spend 95 percent of my time flying the 146 model anyway.

best,

....................john

I am thinking towards somehow keeping the general sim-pit concept.
The new software runs on a separate computers linked with by a server connecting them all together. It is using the same two monitors mounted below my "out the window View" screens and I just need to find a quick way of switching the inputs to these instrumentation monitors and that would keep the general sim-pit concept alive. I still need to build a new desk system to hold all of this as my current desk/setup is maxed out.

Peace
Mark :)

Mark.

If you are going to drive the "instrument" computrers from different machines running different software, a simple VGA A/B switch on the monitor cables will do the trick.  I use that idea for one of the pilot's CRTs in the pit to switch displays.

best,

.................john

Thanks John

I will try and source that out. That would be ideal for my application

Mark

I have just recieved a new KVM switch and I will see how that plays out. It's perfect as I have 3 computers running right now and that means 3 mice and 3 keyboards. That will bring it back down to two.

:)
Mark

Yeah... all the networed computers a sophisticated pit takes starts getting complicated.  I wound how many miles of wire my pit uses  :-??

best,

...............john

I just fired up my flight sim computer with the new KVM switch hooked up and my FSX computer is back to its old self. I like to do things in little steps as it makes working the bugs out simpler. I also moved around some Go-flight modules and I will have to reconfigure a few of those but over all a successful transition.
The next step is to fire up the avionics computer and test out the switch and new CDU. I received the CDU on Tuesday and it looks great.
I hope it works as well as it looks.
Updates to follow

Mark :)

Looking forward to some shots Mark... :)