I chose the Hornet due to its versatility as a multi-role aircraft, its ability to land on carriers (which is great fun in simulators), and of course its beautiful and ergonomic cockpit design.

It runs on FSX/P3D VRS Superbug and DCS Hornet (although that simulates a C model).

It took me about three years to build, and with the exception of two Thrustmaster MFDs and the throttle/stick grips, every part of it is home-made by myself.

The cockpit

is a 1:1 scale, fixed-base structure in all the original dimensions and angles (or at least as closely as possible). It is mainly made out of wood for reasons of cost, weight and ease of processing.

This is how I've built it.

The ejection seat

is the prototype of a new and unique device for simulating motion. I call it the Motion Integrated G-Seat.

It combines the strengths of a motion platform with those of a G-Seat and integrates them into one single system, which is able to deliver an unprecedented sensation of motion and acceleration! It can deliver intense and sustainable motion cueing in all axes.

Find out more about the seat on the Motion Integrated G-Seat section of this website.

The avionics

in the F/A-18E consist of 5 display units which can be utilized and configured for various purposes like system monitoring, navigation/situational awareness and weapon delivery. All the displays and associated line select keys are fully functional in the simulator. A sixth screen behind a covering panel is used to display the standby instruments and the RWR.

Panels, switches and lights

in the cockpit are replicated to about 95 % of the real aircraft (some seldomly used switches and the circuit breakers are presently not modelled). Panels are CNC cut and engraved out of plexiglass or ABS. Annunciators, warning lights, cockpit and panel integral lights (backlight) all use LEDs and are 100% functional.

There is a youtube video where you can watch the cockpit coming to life during a cold and dark start-up.

Find some info here on how I made the various cockpit panels and where to source switches, pushbuttons and lights.

Outside visuals

The simulator is (was*) surrounded by a 7 m wide and 1,2 m high (275" x 46") cylindrical screen covering a field of view of 270°. Three HD short throw projectors (BenQ TH682ST) on the ceiling above the simulator are displaying the outside visuals through a warping software (flyelise) on the screen.

* I tried a VR headset in 2017 and was immediately stunned. So much, that I dismantled the projector screen and switched to VR flying almost exclusively. The drawback of VR is (obviously) that you don't see the real world and the simpit anymore. I have solved this issue by cutting a gap into the lower part of my VR headset, allowing me to see the entire cockpit AND the VR outside world (see making-of).

Flight controls

consist of a HOTAS capable control stick and thrust levers. I use the grips and electronics from the Thrustmaster Warthog system with my own mechanical setup to provide a realistic force and control feeling on stick and throttle.

Making of: Flight Controls - Stick

Making of: Flight Controls - Throttle

There's a youtube video too.

Software

The simulator runs on two Windows PCs with FSX and various addons (REX, ORBX FTX global packs). Flight model is the F-18 Superbug with Tacpack from VRS. I use superscript and FSUIPC to interface inputs and outputs with FSX, FS-Displays (former FSX-Spy) to export the MFDs, FlyElise to warp three FSX windows to the 270° projector display, Mobiflight for interfacing annunciator LED and gauges outputs and X-Sim Software to drive the Motion Integrated G-Seat.

Inspiration

I joined the very friendly community at hornetpits.org (see my building thread there), where I found many great ideas and encouraging thoughts and which I highly recommend to anybody interested in simulator building.