If you have ever been an avid Microsoft Flight Simulator fan, you probably have fantasized about having a home simulator. Multiple companies offer full ready-to-go simulators, as well as individual simulator parts. Opencockpits (https://es.opencockpits.com/en/) and NCInformatique (https://store.ncinformatique.ch/en/) are two companies from which I recently purchased simulator parts. I opted to go with a A320 Panel Desktop Captain, meaning just the captain side of controls. Ordering went smoothly; shipping was a little more complicated for the items coming from Switzerland due to import tax into Spain. The assembly of the structure took two days. A TV screen was mounted to the frame and the panels were attached by lots of cables to a powerful computer. I initially opted not to have the pedals or a chair but soon after changed my mind and ordered them sent. After I had connected everything and had obtained and installed all the necessary software with the corresponding licenses, such as PREPAR3D by Lockheed Martin (https://www.prepar3d.com/), one of the companies helped me set up the remaining configurations. Initially I had trouble with the moving throttle quadrant and needed two weeks to determine that the software and settings were not correct.
With everything now working correctly, I must say that the flying experience is almost as good as in a full motion simulator which I experienced at the Lufthansa Flight Training Centers in Frankfurt and Munich, but this is at home within your own four walls! Some of my pilot friends told me to try out some flights such as a real stall by turning off two ADRs and, I must say, the software was remarkably realistic. From time to time there are some bugs with the simulator but again, as some friends say, a real Airbus also has its own issues from time to time.
Recently I had the amazing opportunity and privilege of having a retired Cathay Pacific pilot go over standard operating procedures in the cockpit with me and we had some amazing short flights together. He then flew me around Hong Kong on some of his usual approaches. The retired Cathay Pacific pilot was amazed too with the simulator.
Even famous YouTube pilot Captain Joe recently flew in one of the simulators made by NCInformatique and he also was amazed by the simulator.
So is it possible to have a good flight simulator at home? Well, yes, if you have the space and the resources. It is cheaper than a full motion simulator which costs a couple million. So, whoever has a full motion simulator at home, please write me an email 😉
