How to plan your simulator

The world of flight simulation is full of possibilities. A hobby with the potential to be an exciting and broadening challenge for years to come. Hardly any other leisure activity offers more possibilities to unfold than a flight simulator cockpit. This document will help you to get started with your own cockpit. If you have any questions - please do not hesitate to contact us. 

If you don't have enough space you can easily start with our shell frame solution. There are many options and sizes available that fit every room. Most parts of the open construction can be used later for a closed shell. If you prefer to start small you can upgrade in the future. We also have solutions for single seat cockpit.

Shell Frame Mini

This shell is for minimum available space and can hold the front overhead section. It uses the same fittings as all of our shell frames and can easily be extended to a larger size.

Shell Frame Pim*

"Pim" is the name of our customer who had the great idea for a shell frame with minimum size, but can hold front and aft overhead section. Thanks, Pim for the great idea!

Shell Frame Light

This shell frame has the original size. It can be extended to a 1:1 size fully closed shell. 

Two of the shell frame types can easily be extended to a fully closed shell. The shell frame standard and the shell frame size M. The shell consists of a Shell Frame Standard to which the various Lining Kit Elements are attached. The combination then results in a closed cockpit, which corresponds in its dimensions to an original cockpit.

We designed the Shell Size M to enable a closed cockpit even in slightly smaller rooms. This cockpit consists of a combination of Shell Frame M and various shell elements. In contrast to the standard shell, the Shell Size M ends in front of the rear side window. All proportions correspond to the original. Due to the shortened shell, the Aft Overhead Panel has to be dispensed with, but this has practically no effect in regular flight operations.

You will find all dimensional details for your planning in our download section.

How the simulator is best placed in space is of course subject to an individual planning. However there are a few things you should keep in mind.

The simulator generates a lot of heat. And also two pilots, who fight with the plane depending on the weather and situation, increase the heat in the cockpit.

Especially with a closed shell, you should consider ventilating or - even better - an air conditioning system, so that you can enjoy the cockpit for a longer time.

If you plan to use windows in your ventilation concept, make sure that they do not interfere with the projection due to the light coming through.

The access into the cockpit is usually done from the back. Make sure you have sufficient space behind the cockpit entry. A good figure is 120cm or more.

In case you plan passenger seats behind the cockpit you can always ask us to extend the flight deck floor.

As an idea you can connect the door switch in the cockpit with an access light outside. Green means come-in, red means door locked. However, access to the cockpit should be possible at any time for security reasons.

Make sure you can still access the cockpit from the front. Under normal conditions you will not need to work in the front but for maintenance it's a important that you can reach all areas.

Did you know that our full shell cockpits have an optional fabric cover? This cover protects the cockpit from dust and prevents any light from the outside. But the biggest advantage is that you can easily access all areas of the cockpit.

There is one aspect you should not underestimate. The color of the wall. Less reflections from the areas outside the projection area significantly improve the overall impression of the simulation. 

Consider painting walls and ceiling in a matte black color or wallpaper.  Due to the small reflections you should integrate several strong maintenance lights.

You should mount the projectors on the ceiling and not on the simulator. Otherwise, the image will wobble when you move around in the cockpit.

In our experience, the projectors are located above the cockpit. So make sure you have positioned the projectors before assembling the cockpit. You can find more information about the assembly strategy in our download area.

We recommend to place the computers on the left or right to the cockpit shell. This will allow an easy access.

Cable lengths of up to 10 meters are no problem, but make sure you don't buy the cheap ones. You should use active USB cables for longer distances. In addition a maintenance monitor is always a good idea. 

Your computers should be connected to the internet. Consider a separate router to interface multiple computers.

Depending on the computers used and the number of projectors, a simulator can be operated on a single line (220V with 16A).

Since a power line is heavily loaded when the devices are switched on, we recommend an inrush current limiter as standard. This limits the power consumption to the maximum permissible value. In case of doubt, please consult your local electrician.

Air conditioning should be connected to a separate power line.

The use of three projectors is the best option to create a great flying experience, because it allows the arrangement of a surround view through the cockpit windows. There are several options available from 180 to 220 degrees or horseshoe. All projection areas can be delivered in various dimensions starting from 4.0m diameter. 

The projection needs to be individually calculated for all customers. The possible dimensions depend on the room dimensions, the ceiling height and the type of projector. However so far we always found an impressive solution for all of our customers.

In general you will need two computers. One for the outside view and one for the avionics. While many people discuss frame rates for the outside view it's also important to consider higher refresh rates on the avionics screens especilly under IFR (instrument flight rules). If you use a single display for the outside view you may use a single computer. 

Audio effects are very important for your flight experience. Engine sounds, butt-kickers, aural warnings and intercom have a large impact on how impressibe your simulation will be. The schemes below show some options from easy to advanced. In case you are interested in further details, please let us know.  

Previously, the wiring of flight simulator components was a real challenge. Today, all this is relatively easy and the times when you need a soldering iron are a long way off. We have taken particular care to ensure that cables can be plugged together without any technical knowledge. For the commissioning, all cables are already largely pre-configured.

The computers are connected via a local switch to ensure are fast network communication. All of our components have USB-connectors. Industrial high quality USB hubs and active USB cables ensure a stable connection. We will provide all needed power supplies for the electronics and the backlighting. 

You need various software packages to run a flight simulator cockpit. In former times installation was quite bumpy. However this has changed and today everybody with the will and the patience can set-up the software. Basically the simulation runs on a Windows 10 or 11 operating system. In addition you will need an environmental simulation and an aircraft simulation software that is suitable to be interfaced with the cockpit hardware. Below you will finde the most common options.  

The warping and blending software is required if you want to operate your simulator with multiple projectors. The software ensures a distortion-free and seamless transition between the projection surfaces of the individual projectors.

We recommend Fly-Elise Immersive Calibration and Display Pro. For more than one projector you should use the Ultimate Version with a hardware dongle. The installation can be done by an average experienced user. However you should read the instructions carefully.

Despite of the mandatory software you need to run an A320 flight simulator there is a couple of additional software you can use to increase realism and flight experience. Here are some ideas for additional software you might like. This list is based on our personal experience without claim of completeness.

We hope the information on this page was helpful. Whether you want to build your own simulator, invest in a step-by-step way or head for a turnkey solution. Please contact us. We are happy to help.