Super Constellation Sim

[SuperConnie]

I'm planning to build a Super Constellation simulator. I have all the original panels, instruments and controls.

I'd like to use the Simkits instruments for that but there is a problem... I need to have the same instruments for pilot and copilot and therefore two central control units (CCU). According to Simkits support it is not possible to have 2 CCU's on one PC, therefore I need 2 PC's... no problem so far.

But how can I synchronize these two PC's? Is WideFS and FSUIPC the correct choice?

Some people say this and other say that. WideView was also named but according to it's inventor it will not work.

It seems that no one has ever built such a big cockpit with mechanical instruments.

What do you mean? Will the instruments on the second computer work correctly if it is linked with your software?

Have you ever seen an installation like I plan to build? Maybe tried yourself something like that?

Christian Mueller

http://www.superconstellation.org

mueller2000@swissonline.ch

[Pete Dowson]

I'd like to use the Simkits instruments for that but there is a problem... I need to have the same instruments for pilot and copilot and therefore two central control units (CCU). According to Simkits support it is not possible to have 2 CCU's on one PC, therefore I need 2 PC's... no problem so far.

But how can I synchronize these two PC's? Is WideFS and FSUIPC the correct choice?

Really Simkits are the folks who should advise on this. Certainly WideFS extends the FSUIPC interface, which Simkit's drivers use, to the other PCs on your network, but you need to be sure that the separate instruments will still work without conflicts even so. I really couldn't advise on that.

It seems that no one has ever built such a big cockpit with mechanical instruments.

Really? I'd be surprised if that were the case. Though certainly it is generally easier with glass instruments, surely the information they are processing and displaying are the same? I'd be more concerned over other matters, like separate Altimeter settings (QNH) for each pilot, separate NAV settings, and so on. Stuff like Project Magenta is designed for two pilot operation -- do Simkits actually do separate pilot and copilot controls?

What do you mean? Will the instruments on the second computer work correctly if it is linked with your software?

Not sure what you mean when you say "what do you mean"?

Instruments will work the same on any number of computers, but in a real aircraft the instruments don't necessarily show the same things to both pilot and copilot -- it depends on their own local switch settings. If all you want is duplicate instruments that is easy, if not, you need to check with SimKits.

Have you ever seen an installation like I plan to build? Maybe tried yourself something like that?

I use Project Magenta for a full 737NG glass cockpit. That works fine. it uses six different computers in the cockpit alone, plus the one driving FS and the external views.

Sorry, but you need to check the nitty gritty details with Simkits. Certainly WideFS and FSUIPC can support whatever is needed, but it depends upon their implementation whether you can achieve a truly realistic cockpit environment.

Regards,

Pete

[SuperConnie]

Thanks for your answer Peter

Realistic simulation is only a secondary goal in this simulator. The primary is to build a cockpit with original parts that looks like the real Connie inside. The instruments for the copilot shall only copy the data from the pilots instruments. All settings will be done by the pilot only. The copilots instruments are only "for watching"... slave instruments one could say.

This simulator will be mobile to take it to airshows and events where our real Connie is. Visitors will have the possibility to try a short flight themselves. Most of them are people who use airplanes only to fly into vacation... there is no problem if some parts don't work perfectly like real.

After this explanation, would you say that WideFS and FSUIPC is the right choice to link the two computers?

[Pete Dowson]

After this explanation, would you say that WideFS and FSUIPC is the right choice to link the two computers?

Since the SimKits driver interfaces to FSUIPC for its data, and since WideFS is merely an extension of the FSUIPC interface to client computers, and since you appear to need two computers to run two SimKits controllers, thenyes, it seems logical to me.

Regards,

Pete

[SuperConnie]

I got an answer from Simkits and they say basically the same... I think I can start building now. Thanks again for your patience...

Christian