The Shetland Flyer Website
News Archives

Happy New Year

First of all a Happy New Year to all the visitors to my site! I have been neglecting the updates recently, as I've been hard at work updating my 172 cockpit sim to an even greater level of realism. Not only does the yoke protrude through the panel in the correct place, there's now a functional lower panel with most switches and push/pull throttle and mixture controls. read more...

September 22 2003

2003/2004 Multiplayer Season Commences October 01.

The first flight of the new multiplayer season takes place on Wednesday 01 October. Although still hosted using FS2002, I hope to cater for FS9 users throughout the season. I believe there is a way to connect FS9 into FS2002 multiplayer sessions, which I will look into - watch this space! By all reports multiplayer sessions are much smoother with the new sim, so I intend to transition to FS9 sessions from the New Year. read more...

August 06 2003

Cockpit Project Update - The Full Story...

The complete story of my 172 Panel project is finally on line. Although a project like this is never really finished, here's the story of turning the idea into a reality. From building the panel and gauges, avionics and the WidevieW system, right down to a typical flight using the simulator, the whole project is documented. Please note that due to the graphics this page may load quite slowly. read more...

July 03 2003

Cockpit Project Update - Stage 2 and Fully Functional!

Here's the latest pictures of my 172 panel project built using the amazing SimKits gauge kits. The panel is nearly fully IFR, although the DME and wet compass still have to be displayed on-screen. Nearly every system is controlled via a switch or button on the panel or yoke, and in normal flight from startup to shutdown no keyboard or mouse actions are required. read more...

May 21 2003

Cockpit Project near completion - Stage 1

The SimKits panel project is now installed and fully functional except for VOR 1 and 2 which will be added in the near future. I had intended to modify my CH yoke so that the shaft protruded through the panel, but on reflection I decided to hold off in the hope that SimKits will release a yoke kit compatable with their central control unit. Initial trials indicated that the panel eyepoint would be about right mounted above the yoke, and

although it would not look entirely "real" it would be fully functional. The panel project page will be updated with more photos and a flying report very soon.

April 21 2003

SimKits Cockpit Project

I've recently taken delivery of the first three instrument kits from SimKits. My ultimate aim is to create a fully functional Cessna 172 panel using this range of high quality simulator instruments. The picture on the right shows my attitude indicator almost complete (the final fixing of the parts still to be done). The AI kit took about two hours to build, the only additional items required being two Hitec HS322 servos and some glue. The page documenting the project is now online here

February 03 2003

Multiplayer Flying

The popular Shetland Flyer Multiplayer sessions are currently flying a VFR tour of England and Wales using the excellent Visual Flight / GetMapping Photographic scenery. Sunday 02 February saw leg 6 completed, a circular tour from Shoreham via Chichester, Farnborough, Fairoaks and Biggin Hill, returning to Shoreham. With up to ten participants all using Roger Wilco for voice

communications we took in some excellent scenery through Sussex, West Sussex and Surrey, skirting around the Gatwick TMA.

The picture above (click for full-size image) was taken on the Chichester to Farnborough leg, showing some close formation work with G-ERRY (Gerry Winskill) in his Piper and G-MIKE further ahead. For full details of all our multiplayer sessions take a look at the Multiplayer Pages of this site.

January 27 2003

10,000 Hits!
The Shetland Flyer website has now had over 10,000 hits since March 2002 - many thanks to all of you who have visited, and I hope you may have found something of interest burried within the pages! 2003 should see some fairly major changes to the site, with plenty of new content plus some changes to the general look and feel.

NEWS FLASH! VFR Scenery of England and Wales

The first instalment of the eagerly awaited UK VFR scenery is now available. Covering East and South East England this amazing new product will enable you to conduct true VFR flights - order yours now from GetMapping plc!

SIAI Marchetti SF.260 over North Yorkshire

RealAir Simulations recently released SIAI Marchetti SF.260 for FS2002 is a rare gem. Anyone who has ever flown in a GA aircraft will instantly appreciate the realism RealAir have managed to squeeze into this aircraft - stalls, spins and slips are all possible and "feel" right, and the general handling in the air and on the ground is quite frankly the best I have experienced in a MSFS aircraft.

And it doesn't stop there: the visual model is superbly produced in 3D Studio Max/GMax and comes with five different liveries; the sounds are excellent - deep and throaty with great environmental effects; the 2D panel is neat and functional, and the IFR version is great for those with a separate monitor for their panel. I haven't looked much at the virtual cockpit, but first impressions are of a very neat and bright panel. Click on the picture above for more screen shots, taken using the forthcoming Visual Flight photographic scenery in North Yorkshire.

October 7 2002

2002/2003 Multiplayer Season

The 2002/2003 Sunday Multiplayer season is almost under way. With the first fly-in scheduled for 13 October, we have great plans for this season. Full details available on the Multiplayer Pages (click on the picture or the link above). If you have never tried multiplayer flying before, then come along one Sunday and see what you're missing!

July 28 2002

WidevieW System Update

I have now added a further two 19" monitors for the left and right views, replacing the 17" screens that were very difficult to align. I have also recessed the yoke so that the eye point is now in the correct place. This has improved the view alignment considerably. Work continues on the seat which now has a transducer fitted producing low frequency vibration.

July 17 2002

UK Photographic Scenery Preview

Visual Flight, the creators of the excellent UK mesh, in conjunction with Getmapping plc are set to produce seamless photographic textures for FS2002 of England and Wales, and ultimately the whole of the UK. For more information and some preview screen shots of this exciting project, click on the picture opposite.

July 11 2002

FS2002 C172 Constant Speed Prop Conversion

I have recently added a constant speed prop to the 172 I fly. This has increased the rate of climb to about 1000fpm at 80Kts up to 5000', plus increased the cruise speed to nearly 120Kts TAS at 5000' and 80% power, using 25" MP and 2450rpm. 70% cruise gives me around 110Kts TAS with slightly improved fuel burn. Currently I have only added the additional gauge and prop control to my full screen panel, but I will

make the conversion available to all once I have modified the default panel. I have also made some adjustments to the control sensitivities in the air file, resulting in vastly improved handling with my CH yoke and pedals. Click on the image above to view the panel conversion.

Real-Time Weather System
The first in a network of Shetland weather stations is available to view online, providing real-time weather data for Exnaboe, Sumburgh, UK, just ½ a mile from the threshold of runway 15 at Sumburgh airport (EGPB).

Updated every 30 seconds, a variety of current data is displayed via your browser, using the Flash plug-in, and even includes a web cam image looking south over the area (Fair Isle is visible on a sunny day).

Click here to open the weather data in a new, resizable window. Please note this is an amateur weather station and the data is only for personal information and interest only.

Warrior Update #4
As you are probably aware the Dreamfleet/Flight 1 Piper Archer has now been released, and what a babe she is too! Well worth the wait, and I must say the flight model and visuals are simply stunning. The package is very well produced, complete with the "Text-O-Matic" repainting utility (already several templates are available on the net), and the new "Config-O-Matic" programme that allows various changes to the loading and autopilot, amongst others.

The panel and gauges are excellent, but unfortunately not suitable for my system, where the panel is displayed on a different screen. I am currently making a new panel using the Dreamfleet gauges, and when complete I will hopefully resume my journey to Wellington.

Discussion Forum
There is now an ad-free discussion forum available from this site. I have set up several categories, including Multiplayer, FS2002 and WidevieW, but feel free to use it for general aviation or simulation discussion. Use the button above to open the forum, which you can browse without registration.

New Additions to the Site
I have added a feedback form to the site. This lets you send any comments, suggestions or anything else you want direct to The Shetland Flyer. You can subscribe to the site update notification emails here as well, where you will automatically be sent a short email when this site is updated. You will find the form near the bottom of this page, or click here.

New WidevieW System
The WidevieW page is now up, with pics and information. Click here, or follow the WidevieW link above. My WidevieW system is now nearly complete: the room has been completely stripped and redecorated, removing the 20 year old wallpaper (the person who had put it up had signed and dated the wall), and a new custom designed bench to support the monitors has been built and installed.

Warrior Update #3
I am still having problems with G-JHML in FS2002, even after the upgrade and much tweaking of the .air file. Rather than nurture a sick bird, which is no longer a pleasure to fly, I am awaiting the release of the Dreamfleet Piper Archer. They are supplying the "Text-O-Matic" painting system with it, so it should be very easy to repaint her as G-JHML.

EFISce Moving Map and EFIS Display

I recently discovered a great piece of real aviation software that runs on a Pocket PC and links to a GPS. EFISce by Navtech Software is a comprehensive flight planner, EFIS/HSI and moving map system. Designed to link to any GPS unit with a serial output, it comes complete with a European database including all airfields and navaids. After creating your flightplan, including wind tables and weight & balance calculations, you connect to the GPS unit and select one of three real-time display modes. There is an arc style EFIS display and rose type HSI, that both display track up, and a moving map display that always shows North up. The beauty of the moving map display is it allows you to import and calibrate your own scanned maps. I have imported the entire UK from screen shots of FSNavigator which displays airfields, navaids and TMA's, etc. As you move between areas the appropriate map is loaded.

Linking the device to FS2002 is simple with Pete Dowson's GPSOUT.DLL. Essentially this converts FS position data into the NMEA0183 standard and sends it out via the serial port. In practice the unit is great to fly with, and has all the functions plus more than the FS2002 GPS. It also removes another window from your screen, and is far more convenient to work with. The unit provides real time track and ground speed information, distance off track left or right, plus ETE to next waypoint. It provides corrected course information based on the wind table data, and this can be edited in-flight to reflect actual conditions. It is supplied with data for a number of GA aircraft, including a 172 and a Warrior,

and it is very easy to add your own custom data. You can create new waypoints at any location, and it is possible to create your own custom database. You can purchase additional areas: currently available is the USA and Australia/New Zealand.

Warrior Update #2
Flight testing is now complete, and the trip will recommence from Jakarta on Saturday 9 March 2002. I will be hosting a multiplayer session for the first leg - details on the Multiplayer Pages nearer the time.

Warrior Update
Looks like the Warrior to Wellington trip is about to recommence! Mike Lima has been dusted off, and final flight testing is just about complete. We hope to leave Jakarta within the next few days, all going well - watch this space.

NEW! Guestbook
I've added a guestbook to the site, courtesy of theGuestBook.com. You'll find the link near the bottom of the page - take a look at whose been to the site, and remember to sign it yourself!

Site News
The all-new Shetland Flyer Website is nearing completion. I want to integrate these pages with the style of the Multiplayer Pages, and have a common front end. The site will have different sections, such as the Warrior to Wellington journey (when it resumes<g>), the Multiplayer Pages, plus whole new sections on FS2002, WidevieW, interesting downloads, and pages devoted to flying skills specifically for MSFS. The FS2002 and WidevieW links are currently inactive, but I am working on the content. The Warrior to Wellington pages are on the flights link, although still not updated!

The Warrior Trip
While waiting for the update for the Warrior to appear (I have been playing around with the air file to no real avail) I've been concentrating on our on-line multiplayer activities, with some serious mountain flying in Alaska and Colorado. You can read all about our escapades over in the Previous Flights section of the Multiplayer Pages. You will also find a mountain flying tutorial, plus flight plans and routes for our "Mountain Challenges".

Dreamfleet Piper Archer
Those great folk at Dreamfleet are currently working on a superb Piper Archer (modelled on Nels Anderson's (of flightsim.com) actual aircraft). I may just have to repaint this in Mike Lima's colours and continue my journey!