(Original thread started on 01-04-09 by Dave Ault) Thought it was about time I posted an update to show what progress I had made with my Simulator Build. Well, Tonight, I have done a complete systems check, with FSX, the Glass Cockpit software and the interface boards all running together and I am pleased to report that it worked very well. In case you are wondering, The PFD is from FreeFD and the ND, EicasA/B & FMC are from P8R's Alpha FMC package. The RMU, CWP, Standby Altimeter & Standby ADI were written by me and the Standby Airspeed Indicator is one of Jason's FlightDeckSoft excellent gauges. All of these gauges & displays are either Freeware or Shareware. The large monitor on the left will eventually be used as a view out of the left hand window. The next job ( as well as programming the Standby Airspeed Indicator ) will be to configure AutoHotKey & WideClient so that I can use the circuit board from a standard USB keyboard to provide inputs for the buttons that are not being fed into the K8055 Interfaces. (Posted by Eric Tomlin on 01-04-09) How are you finding the P8R to work? Does it allow Learjet specific data to be put into a database or is it geared toward Boeing only? (Posted by Dave Ault on 01-05-09) The P8R FMC works really well and the course that you enter is correctly displayed on the P8R ND. The P8R EFIS is also required as this controls what is displayed on the ND. The FMC comes with an .ini file for different Aircraft but does not have a Learjet 45 Section so I have added one although I am not 100% sure I have the values set up correctly. Here is the section I have added: [Learjet 45] Ivap_ACTYPE=L45 Ivap_EQUIPMENT=SDRWY Ivap_OTHER= Ivap_MTL=LJ45 Ivap_SPEED=320 Ivap_SPEEDTYPE=N Ivap_LEVELTYPE=F Ivap_EET=0 Ivap_DEPTIME=0 Ivap_ALTICAO=0 Ivap_ENDURANCE=0 DefaultAP_VS=1800 DefaultAP_Speed=220 DefaultTrim=80 DefaultFlaps=2 Fuel_tanks=3 Engines_type=2 No_off_engines=2 FuelFlow=1.9 MaxclimbVS=3500 Econclimb=80 Clbspeed=270 Crzspeed=270 Maxflightlevel=420 Maxspeed=464 Descspeed=290 MaxdescVS=2800 EconDesc=80 SplArmed=170 Stallspeed=107 BankAngle=30 MaxGross=21500 If I am reading the Learjet Manual correctly then it should be possible for the Autopilot to follow the route set in the FMC. As the Learjet 45 model in FSX does not support an FMC it looks like this is not possible. What do you think to the possibility of exporting the route from the FMC and loading it into the GPS to get around this problem ?. Will the Autopilot follow the GPS route? (Posted by Eric Tomlin on 01-06-09) Thanks Dave. The GPS will certainly follow the route. This is done by creating a flight plan and loading it. Then you need to have a key/button assigned to tell your autopilot to switch from NAV to GPS. I have done this by assigning an unassigned button (SPD) on my *current* FGC to do this switching but in the future it will be the actual FMS button on the EFIS controller. I then hit the NAV button and the aircraft doesn't follow the VOR1 but the actual flight plan that's displayed on the PMRJ ND screen. My only issue is that with P8R it sounds like you may have to use the EFIS it comes with but for those of us building full pit (not unlike yourself) how would that work, unless you can assign its functions to an offset? And, you are right. The LJ45 has LNAV and VNAV capabilities. I use Friendly Panels to emulate my CDU, although it's just a Universal FMC bitmap that actually uses the default GPS. It does this quite well though in my opinion and is much better than having nothing at all. If you'd like to learn more, look at my post on the FP LJ45 package here in our forum. (Posted by Dave Ault on 01-06-09) Yes I will have to use the P8R Boeing EFIS and that works directly with the P8R ND so offsets wont be a problem. When I design the panel all I can do is make it look as similar as possible to the Learjet panel. I have decided to use P8R instead of PM simply to keep the cost down to a minimum. It will look and function differently to the Learjet system and act as a stop gap until I find a better low cost solution. I have had a play around with the P8R package and the FMC works really well with the Learjet once you know how what to do. On the Learjet I enabled AP, HDG, SPD & ALT. Then for the FMC I followed this tutorial http://members.home.nl/rkruijer/FMC.htm I set up a flight plan from EGNX ( East midlands Airport ) to EGLL ( Heathrow Airport ). Once the plan was in, I just had to go to the Takeoff screen on the FMC and press <ACT>. It then took off and once I had retracted the gears I pressed LN & VN on the FMC then just sat back and watched it fly the route. Just before touchdown VN ( VNAV ) was automatically released. I assume PM can do all this, but for anyone wanting a FREE fully working NAV system with a realistic FMC I would recommend that they give the P8R package a try. UPDATE: After a year of planning, Interfacing and programming I am almost ready to start construction. I have limited room and a limited budget so I am not having a co-pilot side. Visuals will be a Plasma HDTV and I'm hoping that the latest 600Hz ones will support 3D shutter glasses but still looking into it. Just been finalizing my connectivity layout: Next job is to plan my MIP layout and I'm working on a cheap way to create backlit panels but more on that if it works ( involves photoresist ). I was going to make a Throttle Quadrant but have just purchased this Quadrant from a Tornado Simulator off eBay for the bargain price of £57. Its built like a tank. I have managed to get this working with FSX via the K8055 interfaces and FSUIPC. Here is a video of it in operation: UPDATE: Well its ages since I worked on my sim due to various reasons but I have dragged all the bits out of the shed and started working on it again. Its only going to be the Captains side plus standby's, CWP & RMU's. There was some space left to the right of the 2nd monitor so it will also have the FMC display, Clock & AOA on there. The plan is to cut out the holes for the displays and panels next and then make the bezels and panels on the CNC. Due to limited space ( corner of the dinning room ) I cannot have a projection system or 3 large monitors so I have been out to the Xmas sales and bought a 32" LG 32LD450 Television. I tried it with the HDMI lead first and was very disappointed as it was not very sharp. I then tried connecting it via the 15pin VGA connector it was great. I will be using FreeTrack in order to give me a full field of view. Finally started to learn CAD and have designed a couple of my panels. After looking at the available CAD programs and seeing how good Kris' drawing were, I invested in Rhino 4.0. Really glad I did as its so easy and quick to use. I can't wait to see these being cut on the CNC. (Posted by Kris Stow on 02-17-11) Dave, nice choice on the Rhino you wont be disappointed. I also use RhinoCAM for my CAM program draw it in Rhino and then it shows how it will cut it out! Rhino to Mach3 perfect! Let me know if you have any question on some commands. (Posted by Dave Ault on 02-20-11) I got a cut down version of ARTCAM with my CNC but have decided to get RhinoCam as I want something that integrates into my CAD program. I decided that as I'm not trying to build an exact LJ45 replica then I would only have instrumentation that was functional. I'm also on a low budget so I'm using lots of things I found in my shed. e.g. my Gear control is a Turbo Outrun Arcade game gear shift. UPDATE: My panel set is finished: Full panel set FMC, Start, APU & Parking Break Panels Illuminated by a single bulb in the console box section I finally worked out how to use RhinoCam to generate some Gcode and have knocked out the first panel. This one is my EFIS panel. As you can see I'm going for functionality rather than trying to get it to look like a Learjet 45. Its a hybrid anyway and the EFIS software I'm controlling is from P8R which I think is actually for the 757 so quite a bit different. The material is cast acrylic and I ran the CNC at 10000RPM with 300mm / min movement. For the lettering I used a 0.4mm End Mill and for the holes I used a 1mm End Mill. (Posted by Per Alm on 08-02-11) Very nice! I also focused on the functionality as you know and ended up with a "Bombardo-Lear-Gulfbraer" pit. I'm satisfied with the result. When you scratch the surface most modern cockpits have more or less the same systems on board. I think all the projects aimed at coming as close to the real thing as possible are fantastic! However it's also nice to see some custom pits emerging too. Very nice indeed! Thanks for sharing and many thanks to you guys who started this fantastic site! (Posted by Dave Ault on 08-16-11) Thanks guys. I was quite surprised to see how well it worked with a single bulb. I will probably use a florescent strip for the final lighting as I think that this will give a more even spread. Within the next couple of weeks I should get these wired up and properly fitted into the MIP. I'm aiming to be flying before Xmas. Well that's the Start Up panel wired up. Here's a short video of it in operation: (Posted by Dave Ault on 01-18-15) Hi guys, it's been ages since I've posted on the forum. Just announcing that my Lear45 sim building has come to an end. I never really got the time or had the space to finish it. Was great fun designing it and writing the software for the panels. Would be nice to see it eventually finished so tonight it goes on eBay UK. Going to use the money to fund my new Astronomy hobby. I've bought an 8" Celestron SCT and a Vixen ED80SF refractor for both visual and astrophotography. I like the idea of radio astronomy and I'm planning to build a meteor detector. I've joined a local club which gives me access to a couple of dark sites. Light pollution at my house is a problem as I live next to the airport but still get good results. In any case, my Learjet45chimera.co.uk website has been down now for a number of months but you can still find my Standby Gauges HERE at Hangar45. Will still pop in from time to time to check on your progress! Good luck with your sim building! Cheers, Dave P.S. Even though I'm giving up the building I'm not giving up the Learjet flying. Still got the extra PC and two monitors for the MIP gauges and will get a small yoke and TQ that I can bolt on my desk. Who knows, one day I may come into some money, get a bigger house and buy one of Ron's shells. The sim sold on eBay but has gone to a good home ( Brooklands Museum ). I got an invitation to go and see it when it has been completed and also to have a go in their Concorde simulator. smile. Plenty of room now for my telescopes smile. NOTE: This build thread has been retired. Lear45 Chimera Project (Retired!!)
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