The New, Improved, upgraded Cockpit Ground Station

For thoes of you that have not seen the build artical of my Cockpit Ground Station (CGS) here on Flite Test, it is a good place to start so that you can understand the total transformation of my CGS project here is the link to that article....

 http://flitetest.com/articles/fpv-full-scale-cockpit-ground-station-w-42-tv  

(or just see the related article section below for a hot link titeled "FPV "Full Scale" Cockpit Ground Station"!)

 

So here is the continuation of the CGS story.

     I am now at a point where I can call this project 90% complete.  In otherwords it is about 90% of what I had in my head when I started.  There will always be ways to improve or expirment with ideas to make it better but for now it is out of the concept stage and onto the fun of flying stage.

 Check out this "walk around" video!  

 

Before Upgrades

 You can see the interior upgrades by just comparing the above picture (before the upgrades) to the bottom picture (after all the upgrade).

After Upgrades

As you can see I put in a new more realistic control stick and throttle (the newest picture was taken before I had installed the new throttle quadrant.  You will see the throttle in the below video but it is a dual split throttle that can either work independantly (twin engin airplanes) or locked together and act as one throttle for single engine planes.  

You will also notice the addition of a few more and different gauges.  You will see in the video that some of them are actually animated with servos and servo drivers and move in conjuction with the stick and throttle.  

Also on the left hand side just in front of the throttle in the latest version you see a gauge.  That is the LCD screan of the Turnigy 9XR that has be hacked and modified to not only fit in the console but to be a integral part of the whole flight control system.  

Next to the landing gear lever you see a new flap lever and a ''tow release'' knob that is just another channel that could be used for tow release or bombs or whatever you would use a non-proportional channel for.  All the buttons work on the joystick and are wired in as well to a channel in the 9XR.  The flap handel is on a proportional channel as well as the 5 position switch in the dash right next to the artificial horizon instrument.  

Here are some pictures of the external upgrades.  Basically I covered the whole thing in aluminum sign board to make it more durable and weather proof incase I end up having to tow it in the rain or other weather.  Juan at Circular Wireless ( www.circularwireless.com ) donated some graphics to me of his logo.  I am looking for other graphics as well to dress it up further.  I would like a flite test logo on it......(hint hint....lol)

External Upgrades

 

 

I would LOVE an opportunity to get the Flite Test Crew in this and give it a go!  I think they would love it and make for a great episode.  Email them and let them know you want to see more and I will do my part to make it happen......LOL!  

Please let me know what you guys think and I am always open to new ideas for it.  I have ALOT of ideas still swiming around in my head like motion and improved visuals that have come from my own imagination as well as friends along the way.  

Thanks for reading and enjoy these other videos below!!

C'ya for now!

Brett Hays

 

This is one of the best test flights of the CGS before the upgrade.  I thought I would re-post it here.....It is in the first article I wrote about the CGS build as well.

Best test flight EVER!!  I had so much fun!!

 

These Videos are of the upgrade bench testing and build.  They are mostly less than one minute each..