Learjet 45 Simulator Project » Video

Yaw Coordinator

Captain — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 23:58:14 +0000

I’ve got my software working reasonably well, so I decided to build a quick and dirty mock up of a yaw coordinator and test it out. The ball shakes a little too much, because the connection wire to the servo is a little too thin. The final design will be more complex, due to the slight curve of the glass tube the ball sits in, but this gives me something to play around with while I’m finishing up the software interface. Sorry for the low-quality video.

I need to get back to finishing the shell exterior. One of these days I’ll get back to it.

Motion Control II

Captain — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 03:04:23 +0000

I converted the Z acceleration data into a tilt angle that can be used for simulation. The max angle I’m using is 45 degrees, which is too much to be practical, given that the linear actuators aren’t that quick. It makes for a good test though. I’ve also converted the yaw coordination ball into data that a servo can deal with. I’m working on a home-made yaw coordination ball instrument for the Learjet 45. Next up, as I said before is to get a servo controller card and hook it into the software.

An image of the Turn Coordinator on the Learjet 45 is shown below. The video illustrates what happens to the sim base when taking off. The angle increases as the acceleration rate increases.

Learjet 45 Turn Coordinator (white ball) shown above the Flight Display

Another Quick Update

Captain — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 03:28:11 +0000

Hi all,

I’ve been doing quite a bit of reorganizing and finishing up projects around the house. I’m contemplating a move, for several reasons, but one of them is to give me more room to play with my airplane. That said, I have actually finished cutting out the windscreen templates, but that’s about it for the sim right now. The basement is finally uncluttered enough now for the process of glassing the shell. I want to finish that mess before taking it apart for the move.

If you’re interested in panels for the Learjet 45, Hangar 45 has some great forum posts on progress with this. I have a set of Reversion panels on the way as I write. After what turned out to be quite the drama with my first attempt to get panels for the sim, I am extremely happy and grateful that progress is being made. While I would love to jump in and get a CNC and laser engraver of my own, I don’t have the time or patience right now to walk that road.

On another note, I’ve been bitten by the RC helicopter bug as of late. I bought a E-Flite CX3 last year and have been having some fun with that. I even purchased a software RC simulator to practice when the weather is bad.

Unfriendly Skies

Captain — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 04:35:27 +0000

Sorry for the lack of updates. I’m finishing up a few house projects before old man winter arrives and also cutting my teeth on some new development software. Work on the pit is continuing, however. I’ve hardened the foam on the port side and have started the process on the starboard side. The light at the end of the tunnel is visible, at least for the shell exterior.

I’ve been flying low and slow in a Beaver float plane for a change of pace. My last flight was quite the adventure as you can see below. Apparently I wandered into restricted airspace or something…

Shell pictures soon!

FSX Testing

Captain — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 03:21:28 +0000

While doing a few upgrades and tests on my FSX machine, I got a little too close to a 747 while on final approach. This is what happens when a small plane gets in the wake of a big plane.

Users who are unable to see the embedded video, click here.

One Last Video

Captain — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 00:32:27 +0000

OK. One more video. I couldn’t resist. This is some pretty amazing flying!

Learjet over Duluth Harbor

Captain — Sat, 30 May 2009 19:55:25 +0000

I’ve been doing a little more flying lately. I also got my hands on a new version of After Effects. Why not have a little fun with my video camera while I’m at it? I promise to not bore you with any more random videos. I will be adding more video at some point, but more likely when my full pit is finished and I can record some ‘real’ simulated flights.

For users who can’t see the embedded video, click here.

How Not to Fly Your Simulator

Captain — Sat, 16 May 2009 17:12:47 +0000

I spend all this time and effort trying to get this simulator to look and feel like the real thing and look how I treat it.

For users who can’t see the embedded video, click here.