Replica GCU477

The simulator that we built for a local company last year used software that already had its own G1000 built into it, although we're actually bypassing this and using our own 477 unit in conjunction with the G1000 hardware from EFIS Fly https://buff.ly/457BiSO

 

We designed and built this keypad to replicate the look and (more importantly) the function of the GCU477 from Garmin, and our software allows it to communicate directly with either the native simulator software or the EFIS Fly software. 

 

Housed in the central console, the 477 unit provides physical controls—knobs and buttons—for the G1000 NXi system. Waypoints, frequencies, and other navigation data can be entered via the 477, which then updates the corresponding fields on the G1000 NXi display.

 

 

B200 Captain Left Panel

Last year we overhauled an entire B200 simulator with a newly-designed set of panels that mimic those found in the real aircraft, as our customer was replicating it for training purposes.

Here are some photos of the Captain Left Panel ... 

TBM-900 Main Instrument Panel (DXF)

We're not in a position to be able to offer a full TBM-900 main instrument panel, although because we needed to draw up an initial design around which we could organise the panels that we do make, we thought that these drawings might provide a useful starting point for someone beginning to build a simulator, instead of the files simply hiding away in our file system ...

The DXF (along with a PDF file) can be downloaded directly from our website on the following page (you'll need to scroll through to find it): https://www.ruscool.co.nz/Panel-Cutouts-Dimensions/

Below is a quick image of the model from which the DXF is derived.

The measurements are not based on a real TBM-900 aircraft, so they will not be accurate for this, but the dimensions can be modified within your own drawing software to suit the width/height of your cockpit's construction.

The design was based around the use of 3mm aluminum, and the holes and cutouts for the following Ruscool Electronics parts are included (shown fitted below, with the exception of the 15" MFD):

    - Master Caution Button
    - Master Warning Button
    - De-Icing Panel
    - Park Brake Panel
    - Gear Panel
    - ECS Panel
    - CB Lighting Panel
    - Static Source Selector Panel
    - Crew Music Panel
    - 15" MFD Unit

The DXF for the main instrument panel only shows the hole cutouts and mounting screw positions of the aforementioned panels (not their outer dimensions), although the drawings for these can be downloaded from the same page as the MIP design.

There are, of course, still several other items needed for a full TBM cockpit that you'll want to include, but which we don't sell ourselves - such as the GMC710, the GCU475, and the G1000 units. These parts will need to be added to your design separately, and suppliers who manufacture these items will likely be able to provide you with the necessary dimensions so that you can incorporate them.

Additional TBM-900 panels

Over the past few months we've designed several new TBM-900 panels to go with our existing range ...

Circuit Breaker Lighting Panel

 

 
This panel includes one of our replica Korry buttons, which in the above photos is shown without any lighting. In the photo below, the lower half of the Korry has been illuminated. Our replica Korry pushbuttons have been designed to fit into the same footprint as a real Korry 389 button, as shown in a previous post about our B350 Reversionary Panels, so they can be swapped out if required.

 

 

Crew Music Panel

 

 

As with the majority of our panels, there is no interfacing or controller supplied. There are so many possible solutions - when it comes to both hardware and software - that we leave this up to our customers. Our panels are supplied fully assembled, however, with any switches, sockets, etc. mounted either directly onto the front panel or onto a mounting plate that's fitted onto the rear.

 

 

Main Circuit Breaker Panel - Lower Section

This panel, with the exception of the coloured vinyl decals and the dummy circuit breakers themselves, is fully backlit by a circuit board that's recessed into the main panel itself. 

Whilst we only fit dummy circuit breakers to it, the panel has been designed so that these can be readily replaced by real circuit breakers if required. There are several PDFs on our website that contain not only the panel dimensions and required panel cutout, but also the spacing and layout of the circuit breakers, so that the fit of any real breakers can be checked/verified prior to purchasing.

 

 

Main Circuit Breaker Panel - Upper Section 

You'll notice that there's a hole in the missile switch cover, which was a slight modification that we made so that it acts like a gate that allows you to switch it between NORM and EMER but still have that position maintained. Without this hole, the closed cover would push the toggle switch back into the EMER position each time. The only slight issue is that in order to do this, it was necessary to remove the spring that sat inside the switch cover, although because panel sits mostly flat, the cover will tend to fall closed by itself anyway ... !

And this is what the fully-assembled panel looks like from the rear ...

 

 

Static Source Selector Panel

There's not too much to say about this one really, although the image below offers a good example of how we typically mount components to our panels.

Fusion Pedestal for King Air B350

As we've been documenting in the past few posts, here's the finished and fully-assembled pedestal panel that we recently completed for a King Air B350 simulator.

And a quick shot of the pedestal prior to painting and engraving etc.

Fusion-style MKP for the B350 Pedestal

The multifunction keyboard panel (MKP) is the third and final component that we manufactured for the B350 Pedestal Plate we completed recently. As mentioned in earlier posts, this module was based on the Pro Line Fusion range of hardware.

The Pan/Zoom knob is a four-direction hat switch, which also has encoder and pushbutton functions as well.

 A box header allows the unit to be connected to a controller via a 40-way ribbon cable.

There's no actual backlighting on the panel itself, but all of the buttonheads are illuminated.

Fusion-style CCP Panels for the B350

And so this is the second panel that we've designed for the King Air B350 pedestal unit that's based on the Pro Line Fusion range of hardware.

There's a pair of these to be found on the pedestal plate: one either side of the MKP (which we've also just completed, and which will be posted here shortly) ...

 

The large TAB knobs are all CNC-machined from acrylic, which gives them a nice solid feel.

The TAB knob operates a four-directional hat switch, that's also a single encoder, and which has a pushbutton action too. Unfortunately we weren't able to replicate the exact functionality of the real unit, as this actually calls for a dual encoder/hat switch combination - and with eight directions as well!

We tried our best to find a solution - one involving all sorts of internal gears that required the mounting of an additional hidden encoder - but in the end we were unfortunately forced to realise our limitations. Our solution actually got pretty close to working, but was nowhere near reliable enough to run with. Instead, the two separate TAB knobs are effectively one, as they're both mounted to the hat switch, albiet individually.

In the above image, you can see some remnants of our attempt at producing a makeshift dual-encoder hat switch, as this originally required a second hardware PCB (not shown) that would be positioned on a set of stand-offs which would then be mounted on the rear of the circuit board that you see here. So there's a lot of superfluous circuitry on display - not all of which can be explained by what's seen from the front!

The panel's backlighting, and that of the buttonheads, runs on 12V.

Fusion-style Tilt and Baro Panels for the B350

These are the first couple of simulation panels that we've been working on for a B350 pedestal unit that's based around the use of Pro Line Fusion hardware.

 

 

 

 

These fully-backlit panels run on 12V.

 

 

 

 

 

In the above image, you can see the sub-mounting plate that the individual Tilt and Baro panels are fitted to. This mounting plate is then fitted to a larger pedestal plate, which will be shown in subsequent posts.

 

 

B350 Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Panel

Below are some images of our King Air B350 Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) Panel, which has recently been added to our product range.

The backlighting is run on 12V.

And this is what the panel looks like from the rear ...