At my visit to FlyEngravity, last Saturday, I noticed that they have a cockpitshell in production.

This "shell" is made out of plastic (polyester ?) where the ‘interior’ is also integrated such as the ceiling, window liners, and sidewalls.

It was, above all, this ‘shell’ compact is made and that you so easily can fit in a standard room.

Price : Unknown.

Another novelty is the production of a completely new CDU. This will be made out of metal and equipped with a colour display.

Price and release : Unknown

Their planning also includes the construction of cockpitstoelen and the corresponding J-rails.

Price and release : Unknown

So ‘wait and see’. We are curious ...

Yesterday I with son Kenny, a trip done to our neighbors. What were our ‘targets’ :

• FlyEngravity in Alphen a/Rijn for the pick up of the radio modules for my pedestal;
• Aviation Megastore in Aalsmeerderbrug for the purchase of a ‘Steering Tiller’;
• Spotterscorners of Schiphol Airport.

That last was very impressive, especially if there is a B747 flies over your head shave ...

Cold and windy ...

The attachments are the different parts that one can find against the ‘Rear ceiling’. Which are composed of panels and shutters.

For the F/O side, we can distinguish :

• Speaker;
• Panel, Circuit breakers, lighting;
• Section ‘Emergency escape rope’;
• ‘Air vent’ grill;
• Liège ‘Spare Bulbs’.

The dimensions are according to ‘estimate’ happened and this, after studying various photos and drawings.

They are made out of PVC Foam board and MDF.

Most of the attachments are ‘dummies’ and serve only for the view.

More info : http://www.flightdeck737.be/hardware/platform/ceiling/rear-ceiling/

A difficult part in the construction of the cockpit is the path of the films of the ‘Rear Ceiling’ or the rear part of the cockpitdak.

It is a collection of bows, pleats and angles that are correct and that everything is in one piece.

After some trials and errors in the carton is the final part made from aluminium of 1 mm thick.

The explanation of the ‘Rear Ceiling’ is to be found on the following page : http://www.flightdeck737.be/hardware/platform/ceiling/rear-ceiling/

The intercom is a collection of pre – and power amps that are all built into a plastic (bakelite) receptacle.

This container will later be placed at the bottom of the pedestal (Aft Electronic Panel).

When the radio modules of the pedestal will have an additional VHF-panel will be built with 2 potentiometers (volume control Capt and F/O) that are connected on the receptacle with a 5-pin plug.

On the outside of the receptacle, there are connections provided for various connections :

• Power supply 12V (PC power supply);
• Headset/Speakers Capt;
• Headset/Mike Capt;
• Headset/Speakers F/O;
• Headset/Mike F/O;
• PC Speakers;
• PC Mike;
• Connection 5-pin plug.

Further info is to be found on the following page : http://www.flightdeck737.be/hardware/avionics-pedestal/intercom/

During a standard onlinevlucht, with an operating cockpit in full action, it is in the cockpit in a very ‘noisy’.

The communication (with headset) between Capt and F/O (or visitor) is very difficult and often unintelligible.

In order to resolve this issue, I had the idea to use an intercom to the building as we can also find in the real aircraft.

The CPFlight-radio modules or other FS modules are not equipped with an intercom system therefore, look for other possibilities :

• A real aircraft intercom system to use;
• An intercom building with specific side-of-the-box intercom PCB's;
• Itself an intercom system in each other, tinkering with all the necessary electronics.

In our Simclub we formerly had a democockpit with built-in intercom that is not used anymore. So the ‘know how’ is there, and therefore I have chosen to itself an intercom to ‘let’ build.

Our electronics ‘guru’ Marnic (the man with the ‘know-how’) has agreed to make me a prototype to tinker to your own wishes. The parts not used any more demo copies can be used for this purpose so that the cost is very minimal.

What should this intercom system can :

• Speaking between Capt and F/O (or visitor) using the headset and each has its own volume control;
• Speaking between Capt or F/O, and Air Traffic Control (IVAO via TS) and this with a push-to-talk switch (volume control via headset-volume control);
• Uitluisteren Air Traffic Control, or other sounds through eenProsim audio module (e.g. Push back comms).

The first tests are behind us and are very promising.

The regular visitors will have noticed that there are little news to sight on my website.

Anyway, I'm not with my fingers to turn. Currently I am working on several projects :

– The closing of the rear section of the cockpitplafond Capt and F/O (rear ceiling);

– Making an intercom between Capt and F/O;

– Preparation pedestal to provide with CP Flight radio modules and intercom;

Another component that is not directly to do with the cockpitbouw, is flying with the cockpit.

I notice that I often fall into the trap staircase in which each cockpitbouwer kicks and that is that there are not flown but is built just.

I want to now what to change on a regular basis what onlinevluchten (IVAO). Especially to the "basics" to maintain self-imposed company rules, and cockpitmanagement. Also the training of the various IFR procedures such as takeoff, SIDS, STARS, holding, go-around, etc.
It should also not be forgotten that the maintenance of the R/T procedures (blabla).

So, if flown, not built. M. a.w. time is too short ...

The window frames are now fitted with plexiglas. The front windows (windshield) and side windows are fitted with acrylic glass of 4 mm.

The side windows I have on the outer edges make covering with foil to clad (shades) and the effect of a black stained glass window.

Afterwards, I was still always the possibility this foil is partially or completely remove it.

The plexipanelen are in the window frames, secured with bolts, 10 to 12 mm long and 4 mm thick.

The front windows are on the inside finished with a afboordstrip.

The side windows are on the internals at a later stage completed with the placement of the window liners.

Further info is to be found on the following page : http://www.flightdeck737.be/hardware/platform/ramen-en-koepel/

For the ‘Rear Ceiling’, I have 2 speakers with mini-amp bought (tip Martin van Liempt).

This wall/plafondspeakers will later be installed in the rear plafondgedeelte (left and right of the Forward Overhead’).

This Speaka speakers have a diameter of 70 mm and are slightly smaller than the original copies (+- 80 mm).
The load capacity is 15/25W with impedance of 4 Ω.

They come from Conrad.be number 301996.

The Kemo mini-amplifier that I have to go connect is a plug-and-play of 12W with speaker impedance 4 – 16 Ω. This should be well enough in the cockpit.

This amplifier also comes from Conrad.be article 191512.

I have both not yet been tested.