Greetings! I'm new around here. I hope my input isn't too basic for you folks....

Although I would enjoy a cockpit that looks more like the inside of an actual airplane, the restrictions of the world have intervened,  so I found myself working out a compromise. I wanted something low in cost, and taking advantage of readily available hardware that wouldn't need any modifications other than clever mounting and labeling. Because I want a system that's simple and affordable enough for my grandsons to duplicate in their homes, I had to keep it very simple. I've been very pleased with the results.

I ended up developing 3 different versions of my basic cockpit, which is oriented toward WW2 online air-to-air combat.



One version can sit in my lap as I sit in a couch or easy chair looking at the flight sim display on a big-screen TV.



Another version was built into my main, open-framed computer desks (which is on wheels for easy access).



The final version is a bit more sophisticated, and was only developed last month. It, too, is built into my main, open-framed computer desks, but it includes more than 140 fully programmable pushbuttons. Total cost for the electronics used by the first two versions came to about $90.00, including a joystick, 3 joypads, and a powered USB hub. The final version cost about $120.00 more.

In the process of my research, I made two particularly useful discoveries that others may find useful:

1- I can treat simple $10.00 "joypads" as groups of pushbuttons for use with flight simulators. I can mount them upside down, sideways, etc. and I can relabel their individual buttons to match aircraft functions. I can lash them to appropriate parts of my desks or spread them around on my desktop for access that can somewhat mimic the layout of an aircraft cockpit. Most flight simulators can support several of these simultaneously, and readily available software can be used with them to emulate keyboard buttons.

2- The "Point of Sale Terminal" industry makes hardware-programmable keyboards whose keycaps can easily be relabeled with custom colors and legends permitting sensible grouping for common flight sim functions like views, radar, navigation, flight surfaces, weapons, etc.

You can learn more about my setup from vid clips at this site:

http://techvideoreview.com/FlightSimMovies/General/ControlsAndCockpits/Joysticks...

GREAT stuff guys, THANKS!

A bit of a different tak on the "cockpit" idea....... but certainly one approach to take when constraints get in the way of a full sized 747 shell in your living room and a Trust Fund in your life.   

best,

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

Why are you running YSFlight on there?