Hardware

Flight Illusion has added a new gauge to their collection for home cockpit builders - a turn and bank co-ordinator:

Flight Illusion is proud to present it’s latest addition to the range of analogue panel gauges. The turn and bank co-ordinator was the missing piece in the basic 6 setup. With this new gauge, all kinds of setups, from general aviation to military aircraft can now be made. The gauge is based on a dual stepper motor configuration, allowing one axes to drive the ball and the other to turn the small airplane.

The turn & bank co-ordinator is truly a piece of master engineering. the GSA-69 (also called primary flight display) comes completely assembled and tested. With this new gauge, all kinds of setups, from general aviation to military aircraft can now be made. The gauge is based on a dual stepper motor configuration, allowing one axes to drive the ball and the other to turn the small airplane.

Now this looks like fun - a wireless chair

For getting the most out of your computer gaming experience, trash your regular desk chair and upgrade to the newest Pyramat chair - with dual built-in full-range speakers and a 4-inch sub woofer that rock your bones with awesome digital sound! Connects wirelessly to your PC via a 2.4GHz transmitter. Mouse-wheel touch controls are built right into the armrest.

• Add an exciting dimension to your flight simming experience with the personal Surround Sound of the Pyramat® Wireless PC Gaming Chair!
• Connect wirelessly to your computer via the 8-channel 2.4GHz pure digital transmitter.
• Features a full-range channel digital selector and an LCD display.
• Pushes out amazing sound with two full-range speakers and a 4-inch subwoofer; the full-range speakers also feature cool illuminating blue LEDs.
• Comfortable seat features a built-in headrest, plus gas piston height and tilting seat adjustments for those long flights.
• Runs on built-in rechargeable battery. A full charge will provide you with 4 to 5 hours of use, so you can enjoy great sound even when you are using the chair outside with a laptop.

This most unusual office chair sits on a five-wheel swiveling base with tilt and height adjustment. Measures 30.75″ x 17″ x 28″ and weighs 55 lbs. No need to plug it in; the chair is powered by a built-in rechargeable battery (plug-in charging adapter included). Enjoy up to 4 to 5 hours of play on a single charge.

For the ultimate realism in your home cockpit, it’s hard to beat the GoFlight range of products. Their Integrated Communications Console System is now available from the FlightSim Pilot Shop:

The GoFlight Integrated Communications Console System combines the best of the GoFlight line of modules into a full-size COMM and NAV stack… containing all the modules required to accurately recreate the center COMM and NAV console of a modern jetliner or twin prop or turboprop. The modules are mounted behind an “airliner gray” panel with engraved lettering for the communciations and navigation radios. The system also comes prewired to an included USB hub. Just plug in and use the easy-to-configure GF configuration software.

This system is designed to fit in the GoFlight Flight Deck Console rack or the GoFlight AC rack (see screen shot - *rack not included in price). It may also easily be mounted in a custom cockpit.

Contains:

(4) GF-166 Comm and Nav Radio Modules

(2) GF-46 Multifunction Display Modules

(1) RP-48 Pushbutton-Rotary Module

(1) USB Hub

TechEBlog are repoting on a HotSeats Flight Simulator chassis they’re touting as the “Ultimate Flight Simulator for your living room” (pictured below). As the chassis doesn’t appear to be a motion platform, I wouldn’t go that far. However, it does look like a neat setup.

Created by HotSeat Chassis, this could quite possibly be the ultimate flight simulator. Featuring a “built-in custom PC [that] gives you the feeling of flying as it displays virtual skies on the trio of 22-inch LCD monitors in front of the seat - creating a 66-inch panoramic view.”

The HotSeats web site is worth a visit. They cater for many different budgets and requirements. Here’s a sample of their hardware:

All HotSeat products  include our 6 Speaker Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound System with the Sub Woofer under the pilot seat. All mounts are welded and fully adjustable fore and aft as well as elevation. All Controls are securely mounted.   For packages including PC’s, our powerful Extreme PC features a Quad Core @ 2.2 GHZ, 4 Gigs of Ram, 512 meg on Nvidia Video Card, Creative Labs 5.1 Surround Sound Card. Software comes pre-loaded and updated with the latest drivers and patches.

The BBC is reporting on some new 3D polarising glasses to be released by nVidia. The effect reminds me of something that came out for the Atari ST almost 20 years ago!

Graphics giant Nvidia has developed technology than can give games a true 3D perspective using polarising glasses and stereoscopic display systems.

Nvidia’s system uses software drivers which split the video output into two views, which are slightly out of alignment.

The demo system I was shown had a 46 inch television, which had a passive polarising filter over the screen. It takes each scan line from the images and selects it either for the left or right eye.