www.737NG.net

THE SIMPLE FORMULA

Dream to Fly + Flight Deck Solutions + Project Magenta + Flight Illusion + CP Flight = Reality

Scroll down to read the FLIGHT DIARY and track the progress of the 2008 www.737NG.net project.

Port of departure

YBCG

Scheduled for takeoff

30 January 2008 (commencement of project)

Destination

Full Scale enclosed Boeing 737NG Flight Deck simulator with functional:

· MIP

· MCP

· CDU

· EFIS

· OVERHEAD

· THROTTLE QUADRANT

· PEDESTAL

· COCKPIT

· IMMERSIVE PROJECTION SYSTEM

E.T.A.

30th June 2008 – Maiden Flight with all systems operative.

FLIGHT DIARY

January 2008

After nearly 10 years of sim flying and accumulation of bits and pieces cobbled together around a desk to approximate a 737NG simulator experience, including Project Magenta Software, Engravity panels, Command Flightware CDU, CP Flight EFIS and MCP, Symulatory Throttle Quadrant, Cougar Hotas Throttle and Stick, Flight Illusion Radios and Standby Instruments and Flightlink Jet Rudder Control Module – the time finally came to take it to the next level.

Having closely followed the development and release of various sim products over the years, one thing was clear – the handful of really great companies out there were marked by their commitment to continually developing new products and improving upon their existing line in pursuit of flight sim excellence.

There are many reasons why the following companies stand out well above the rest and their products were chosen to shape the heart and soul of my 2008 Boeing 737NG project.

A few of the particular reasons each is on board is encapsulated briefly in the following…

Project Magenta because in all the years I have been using their products, Enrico and his small team have always gone the extra mile to update, bug fix and improve – never satisfied to rest on their laurels as the undisputed King of the Hill for glass display software and systems integration.

Their relatively recently released PM Systems overhead panel software was a watershed for builders everywhere – laying the foundations for affordable and accessible hardware integration of some of the most complex electrical and hydraulic sub systems modern jet aircraft had to offer.

Similarly, their PM Instructor suite meant the kind of flight sim control capabilities once reserved for the multi million dollar airline simulators was now available to everyone. The Primary Flight Display and Navigational Display screen shots on this website are also theirs.

Flight Deck Solutions because Peter Cos and his team have never stopped improving what were already world beating products, developing top shelf components and doing it at a price point that was friendly to non-commercial cockpit builders everywhere.

The evolution of their Main Instrument Panel line is an example – zenithing with their amazing new Integrated Back Light (IBL) products and now releasing a complete full scale B737NG cockpit nose cone. This kind of fidelity is extraordinary at any price point – the fact that the guys keep it within reach is a great credit to them.

In addition, Peter’s product line is about much more than panels and shells… Flight Deck Solutions do PnP CDU, NAV & COMM radios and even a PnP Overhead (on request) – and that really does make the company the best high fidelity all under one roof solution in the business. What this translates to is a level of product support that is difficult to replicate with the typical collimation of disparate parts approach we’re all used to.

Have faith that the few critical items they haven’t yet publicly released are either in development or are already fully supported by a few highly commended third parties who have specialist skills in those areas and work closely with the FDS team to deliver top notch results.

CP Flight because Claudio’s Italian company was at the vanguard of providing complete and realistic products way back when I was looking for my first MCP. Today he is still kicking goals with new products that push the boundaries for desktop pilots and serious simmers, including his new industry leading 1:1 scale Pro Series 737NG MCP with servo controlled Auto Throttle disengage. Having long since ordered one of the very first products Claudio ever released with his 85% scale MCP, I shared the journey with many others as more great CP Flight products came on line… + if you’re an Airbus afficianado , you owe it to yourself to check out his 2008 offerings.

Flight Illusion because Mark and his team are one company that has tracked Enrico’s progress step for step with super hardware products that really bring the Project Magenta software innovations to life. Check out Mark and his teams Boeing 737 overhead gauges, MIP standby instruments, Boeing style Chrono and other products to see what I mean.

Flight Link deserve a special mention also for creating one of the most balanced, accurate and realistic feeling Boeing Rudder units ever. Each one is hand made to order and the results speak for themselves. Easy to integrate and link – an absolute pleasure to use!

There are plenty of other players out there these days, but when it comes to parting with hard earned cash in exchange for the dream, the above brief list of companies is simply the best… best products, best support and best people!

Based on these superb products, my personal journey and a burning desire to finally get it right, I have gone for the Big Kahuna and relaunched my old www.737NG.net to mark the retirement of some old components and chart the arrival, assembly and deployment of the new parts that will combine to deliver the flight sim experience I always really imagined.

Ready for Pushback

February 2008

…to be continued (check back soon for the Feb08 update) or email me