I started building the Cessna sim in 2004. Due to certain real life changes (our first child!) I had to finally dismantle the cessna sim. I liked the cessna sim because it was rather easy at the time to build and get flying with products from simkits.com.

Now 5 years later, Flight Deck Solutions has provided several interface cards, with backlit hardware, that allow you to build a heavy sim with ease. With the expenses of having a child, my budget for the new 737 sim is much lower then it was when I started my cessna sim. So, for now, I’ve used material I had lying around to build a make shift MIP. There is no F/O section due to space, and also due to that reason, I won’t be able to use a real control column.

But like any other sim builder, you improvise with what you have available. I’ve got a long way to go, no lower eicas/cdu yet, no throttle quadrant, etc yet. Cardboard boxes to the rescue! Have created a temp upper glare shield that is holding a couple goflight units until I start ordering my FDS hardware.

So far I’m using my old cessna sim box which is a core 2 duo rig. I picked up the Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System and have the throttle, along with my goflight radios, mounted in a temp. cardboard box. (Hey, it works! heh) I’ve got two of the saitek throttles so if I want to fly a 4 engine unit (or use 4/6 levels for throttle/spoiler/flaps) I can. Using my CH rudder pedals still. I did however mount my gear level that I bought from FDS 5 years ago. (When I initially was going to build a 747 sim) Later on I’ll probably order a captains flight center from FDS but for now, this is working well for 2 weeks in.

Here is some starter photos!