[simpits-tech] XB-70?

[Rob Hommel]

Matt

I am the seldom spoken other half of the team working on Gene's F-15 cockpit
see http://www.f15sim.com
for more information on that project. There are images available of me on
the site working on the cockpit.

The work required to build a general aviation sim are the same ones needed
to build any sim. Learning is something which never ends in this hobby. Once
you have learned a new skill it is time to learn another, and another
follows that. If you are starting college this fall I would recommend any
engineering classes which are available, then I would try and find out how
to gain access to any machine tools which are available and learn to use
them as well as any computer classes and electronics classes. Oddly enough I
would also recommend theatre arts specifically those dealing with crafting
sets and lighting. This hobby is a college degree in and of itself, talk to
your teachers early on in your college career about your interest in this
hobby. Most will be unfamiliar about it and you can be your own teacher
before long. Craft your college around this as opposed to a degree program
and you will still get a four year degree and lots more.

Keep 'em Flying
Rob Hommel
----- Original Message -----
From: "Matt Bailey" <mattb@rtccom.net>
To: <simpits-tech@simpits.org>
Sent: Tuesday, July 23, 2002 5:39 PM
Subject: Re: [simpits-tech] XB-70?


> 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 lear
n)
> > 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
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