What would it cost to duplicate the kiwi? How much gas could one buy for
that?

Good question. Since this is a prototype for the sim(s) we're planning
to build at the Iowa Children's Museum (Google for the Big Kids Toy
Show that I helped organize last spring, and you'll see why), I've been
trying to keep costs as rock-bottom as possible.

I haven't come to a final figure yet, but it really depends on how you
slice it. For example, the projection system was something we needed
for our meeting room. If that was something you bought for your home
theater, would you count it as part of the sim price? Same goes for
the computer -- if you've got one in your home now, should you count
*that* as part of the sim? And the stereo system?

I don't think so, for the purpose of this discussion.

So, if we eliminate those three (admittedly big) items, we're down to
the "fuselage", the flight controls, and the various extra cables
(which are NOT insignificant, BTW). The flight controls are around
$200. The fuselage...is anyone's guess. My A&P thinks he can build
one a day, when the time comes, so figure eight hours at his shop rate,
so call it $480. I scavenged the seat out of my Mustang, but any seat
will do, really, and I had the 12 volt power supply (for the electric
seat) sitting in my workshop for a decade. Figure an extra $100 for
cables, and various other stuff I'm not thinking about.

So, for around $780, you can build yourself a world-class flight sim.
Eliminate the "fuselage" (you *can* sit at a desk) and you're down to
$200 - $300.

Add everything in, including computer, projection system, etc, and
you're probably over $3500, cheapest. Basically, for 2/3rds the price
of installing a GNS-430, you've recreated the world, and every aircraft
in it.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"