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Matt's Multi-Mission Military Flight Simulator
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SIM various
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James & Ted visit 2003
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Sim pilots 1999-2004
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Basement tour 2004
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Canopy & projector
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Sound system enhancement
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SIM TV studio
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Instructor's station
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Flight controls
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Instruments
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Control heads
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HUD & MFD Functions
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Misc.
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Childhood sims to present
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Evolution of current sim
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Ejection seat progression
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Planned upgrades
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EPIC interface
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Instrument interfaces
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HUD development
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Other projects
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Software
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Parts sources
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James Price and I have worked on each others’ sims since 1997 when neither of us really had much of anything, nor did we know how far we could take this hobby. Well, in James’ case, he took it to the ultimate extreme by actually cutting the nose off of a real 737 and completely rebuilding it into a 737-NG configuration with multiple networked computers, functional control heads (all of which are real, but modified) three projectors, air circulation system, 8x8 displays, etc. As far as home-brew sims go, there is no better example that I know of that shows this degree of independent ingenuity, dedication and technical prowess. The only problem I can see is that James has gone too far and actually may be getting to the point where there simply is nothing left to simulate. I mean the whole thing works! REALLY works! Check his site out at:
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Matt Ford, an Emmy award-winning lighting director, is another sim builder I have worked with. Like James Price, Matt cut the nose off a real 737 and put it in his garage. For years he’s been meticulously rebuilding it with painstaking attention to detail. Also, his ingenious software programming skills have contributed greatly to my project in the form of a touch-screen operated instructor’s station. Matt is another critical link in the chain of hard-core sim builders. Check his project out at:
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Chris Woodul is the Curator for the Frontiers of Flight Museum in Dallas, TX. Before that, he had worked at various companies making both real and simulated aircraft parts. He has one of the most extensive private collections of restored ejection seats in the world, and his crown jewel would have to be his F-111 crew capsule. I had the pleasure of wiring up his F-111’s internal lighting and activating primary cockpit instruments many years ago during his restoration process. I don’t think the word “restoration” adequately covers what he did with this crew capsule. I mean this thing was redone to the point where it actually looks like is just came off the General Dynamics assembly line! Every single edge-lit panel, knob, handle, inlaid letter, warning sticker, instrument, etc. is truly beyond perfect. It’s filled with new-old-stock parts too, so it looks like it was frozen in time for 30 years. He doesn’t have a website, be a few pictures of his cockpit are above.
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