[simpits-tech] XB-70?

[Matt Bailey]

Oh I am not planning an XB-70 anytime in the near future, it's just one
of those projects I'd like to MAYBE do after I get a lot of experience
and a complete cockpit or two under my belt. As I said, an XB-70 is well
out of my current resources. I did not know about the restricted access
of the XB-70 though, I thought it was still open to the public. :(

Software, you mean ro drive the instruments etc or to simulate the
XB-70's flight performance? Actually my flight sim of choice is X-Plane,
and an experimental supersonic bomber is right up its alley. In fact, I
made an XB-70 in X-Plane about two years ago or so, and there are I
think 2 or 3 more by other authors. I think this sim even supports
variable dihedral now.

I have found several resources on the web, like a site that has cockpit
pics (it is in Ido's message with the links). Not enough to build a
cockpit from, but helpful for the X-Plane model.

Yes the GA cockpit is definitely the way to go right now, but even that
will have to wait a bit (starting college in the fall). I figure I can
at least start experimenting with control devices, like yoke box,
throttle, etc, and maybe try to do some working instruments using
phidgets.

Have you also built an F-15?

	-Matt Bailey

Rob Hommel wrote:
> 
> Matt
> 
> While there may indeed be an XB-70 still in existence access to the pit may
> be less than available. The Air Force Museum has the only one. They like the
> Smithsonian restrict access to some objects, while your ambition is great
> you have no idea what obstacles you would need to hurdle to overcome.
> Contact the folks at the Air Force Museum and see if they will open it up
> for you to see the interior and take photos and measurements. I would love
> to see an article on the Simpits site on your experiences.
> 
> I undertook the challenge to get the Museum at McChord to open the cockpit
> on the F-15 there. (They are part of the Air Force Museum) After a couple of
> dozen phone calls they agreed to open the cockpit for Gene and myself to
> take a look into. There was only one person on the Air Base authorized to
> open the cockpit so we had to do it according to his schedule and access was
> monitored closely. They made certain we knew that the ejection seat was
> operational and we knew enough not to launch ourselves into oblivion.
> 
> Take it slow at first doing a generic general aviation cockpit is a great
> idea. After your first couple of hundred feet of wiring you might begin to
> think a second project is not in your future.(some of us just don't learn)
> Even if you built the cockpit of the XB70 what software would you use to fly
> it under? I may have a photo of the XB70 cockpit in my archive. (No promises
> there)  That rare bird I spotted as a young boy, while it was undergoing
> tests at the climatic labs at Eglin AFB. Only to see it again as an adult at
> Wright Patterson AFB. Sure wish I had seen it fly.
> 
> Keep 'em Flying
> Rob Hommel
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Matt Bailey" <mattb@rtccom.net>
> To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
> Sent: Monday, July 22, 2002 10:17 PM
> Subject: [simpits-tech] XB-70?
> 
> > Just curious, have any of you ever heard of anyone building an XB-70
> > pit? It's crossed my mind before but is very much out of my resources
> > and current skills/knowledge (I have built NO cockpit yet!) obviously
> > nearly all of the parts would have to be fabricated, but at least there
> > is still one plane left for getting dimensions etc.
> >
> > My initial plan is a small, generic, general aviation-style single seat
> > cockpit, but one of these days I'd like to make something based on a
> > real plane. The XB-70 is fascinating.
> >
> > -Matt Bailey