On Thursday, July 4, 2013 7:36:32 PM UTC-4, flgliderpilot wrote:
Hi, I'm interested in building a (Condor) glider simulator in my garage to introduce the local neighborhood kids to flying gliders, and to get my own daughter more into flying. I wish someone had introduced me to flying when I was a kid, I might have made a career of it instead of discovering it at 40!



Anyhow, would anyone happen to know of a destroyed glider in which I could possibly purchase the cockpit, in the USA? I don't need any instruments, just the cockpit. Stick, and rudder pedals would be nice ... but I could fabricate them if needed anyway. If I can't locate one I'll just build something with my CNC machine from wood, but I figured I'd ask.



Thanks

Tom

St. Pete, FL

If you look at the "cockpit builders" discussion boards in the Condor community http://forum.condorsoaring.com/viewforum.php?f=14 you will find some very nicely done PORTABLE stick, rudder, and spoiler setups. Some of these can be quickly folded up and put in the trunk of a car and taken to various places where you can promote soaring.

When I first got involved (simultaneously) with Condor and real gliders I thought that a realistic cockpit would be important, but then I learned that once you start to "fly" in Condor, the cockpit completely disappears. I quickly discovered that a joystick fastened to the right armrest of a chair was a heck of a lot more enjoyable than a stick positioned awkwardly between my legs. A joystick on the armrest is a lot nicer than a joystick on a desk in front of you and rudder pedals greatly boost the realism. I agree that realistic control feel has some value (but it is by no means essential to enjoying Condor). The rest of the cockpit has extremely marginal value.

I think that realistic cockpits are overrated in terms of getting people interested. Rather than building a cockpit, your time might be better spent working through some of Scott Manley Condor flying lessons with your daughter.

That said, there are few souls who really get a charge out of building and sitting in a realistic cockpit. Just don't expect it to be magical for the majority of people. I don't mean to rain on your parade, but I thought it useful to share how my perspective on Condor cockpits evolved over a period of a few weeks.

Perhaps some of the outstanding Junior pilots who got started with Condor will chime in with their perspectives.