The structure has become quite involved, but I finally have the last head-scratcher figured out: how to have the stick right by my left knee when flying, yet still be able to get in and out of the door on the left side of the enclosure.

The first sketch shows the problem (stick smack dab in the middle) and the solution:
A spring-loaded hinged armrest with a cheap but effective screen-door latch holding it down.

     

To release it, all I'll have to do is reach under and depress the little handle (and get my arm out of the way). Might rig a cable release someday, but this will work just fine for the moment.


     


Might have to actually pay for the right spring, or maybe a bungee... hmmm, a bungee would be quieter...and cheaper. Much cheaper. 
I have a couple of 45-lb gas springs, but even one of them would be too much, unless I made the armrest out of cast iron.




Open... and closed. Simple, and it will reveal a little cubby for charts, etc.
Two birds with one stone... I love it when that happens!

Of course, old Archimedes might have to intervene, here... I may need to have to set the spring back a ways more, to provide enough leverage without having to have the spring so tight that this thing whips up too quickly. Thge lighter the armrest, the less need there will be for that- but I can't make it too flimsy, as it will be abused more than any other part of the simpit.
But I've got a foot or so beyond the fulcrum, so it'll work one way or the other.







The cables from the stick(not shown here) will most likely run out a hole in the end and go down alongside the spring or bungee or whatever...

Well, concept-wise, it's all downhill from here... pretty much just have to get down to it and finish building this sucker.

flyboy 28 wrote on Jan 26^th, 2007 at 1:17pm:

Gonna be a while building it... can't seem to find the time, and meanwhile every time I'm working on it, something about my shop space annoys me so I have to start changing that...and of course the inevitable design changes... too late to turn back but man, do I wish it was finished!!

Maybe this Spring it will be operational.

JBaymore wrote on Jan 27^th, 2007 at 5:26am:

Ain't that the truth...

I'm not really in a hurry so much as growing irritated by the fitful nature of the whole process...too many lateral moves, abrupt changes, etc... the nature of this specific project, but annoying nonetheless.

But lately when I can't work on it, I'm figuring things out or acquiring parts. Soon the work flow will be smooth again; I'll be able to just hunker down and build the damn thing, which is something I enjoy.
It's stressful being designer, engineer,  fabricator, and technician... even if there's no real deadline!

But it's gonna be great... some interesting update pics coming soon...got an electronics tray in place, have almost all my switches, etc. in hand or on the way; main ventilation system is complete and actually works;  finally (finally!) figured out the trickiest part of the wooden substructure (but have to get more sheet goods); and finally started hacking up that aluminum tube to get the shell underway (I've decided I need to sort of fit the final structure pieces into the shell, not the other way around).

Lots of fun building... I guess my real impatience comes into play when I'm sitting here at the office, wishing I was in my little shop at home while I still have some energy...