T-6A Simpit Project

BHawthorne · 11-02-2006

I've started to do the research and initial rough layout in CAD for my T-6A simpit panels. I've filled in a bunch of the blanks on many of the questions I have, but some I've not yet been able to get answered. So far I've found:

1) I think the T-6A main panels adhere to the Arinc 408A standard for mounting most of the instruments. The AMLCDs are 3ATI and 5ATI sized.
http://www.dallasavionics.com/arinc_...inc_square.pdf

2) The AMLCDs are manufactured by Smiths Areospace. They call their 3ATI units a Flight Display Unit (FDU) and thier 5ATI display an Integrated Display Unit. The 3ATI screen itself is the Planar 240.240.243ATI. It has 240x240 pixel resolution and a viewable area of 57.6x57.6mm. I'm not 100% sure the 5ATI displats are the ones shown on the Smiths Areospace wesite?
http://www.smiths-aerospace.com/Prod...FDU-/index.asp
http://www.smiths-aerospace.com/Prod...Unit/index.asp

3) Davtron M850 Chronometer.
http://www.davtron.com/products.html
http://www.davtron.com/documents/M85...al%20Input.pdf

4) Chelton (Wulfsburg Electronics) Series III RMS 555 Radio Management System
http://www.wulfsberg.com/cgi-bin/cp....0-041212&rev=E

5) Honeywell Bendix/King KLN 900 GPS
https://www3.bendixking.com/static/c...ls.jsp?pid=117
https://www3.bendixking.com/servlet/...796-0000_2.pdf

6) Honeywell Bendix/King FPD 500 EFIS flat panel display, CP 500 EFIS control panel, MST 67A Mode S transponder, KTR 909B UHF transceiver, KFS 599B UHF control head, KLN 900 Global Positioning System, KDC 481T air data computer and KCC 462 AHRS compass.
http://www.honeywell.com/en/aerospac...D=4302&catID=2

7) Korry Master Caution Annuciator Panel
http://www.korry.com/PDF/Korry_MWA.pdf

BHawthorne · 11-02-2006

I'm looking for help with measurements on this panel initially. I have some rough measurements for it based on the size of the instruments that go into it, but I'd like to be a bit more exact. ATM my best guess is 30"x24" but I'd prefer to defer to someone who has access to the real thing and a measuring tape.

Charos · 11-03-2006

Wow, someone really did his homework!

Nikolas

BHawthorne · 11-03-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charos

Wow, someone really did his homework!

Nikolas

hehe, I figure I might was well get a lot of this info out to people who might also want to make a T-6 simpit too. The info is out there, just not in any organized manner. I figure I might as well get the ball rolling and start trying to make sense of it.

There are way too many F-16 pits out there. I'm itching to see more T-6 and T-38 pits once FO gets released. I look at the T-6 as a challenge because all the puzzle pieces aren't together yet.

bingo · 11-04-2006

After I've spent all this time on my F-16 pit you tell me that are to many out there now.................

BelgianTiger_4 · 11-04-2006

Their are some nice documents regarding panel layout in PDF format or ppt format for front and rear cockpit (front panel and left/right panel). No measurements but if you know one measurement, you can scale the rest based on those documents. They should be accurate enough (within an inch or so).

location: http://www.t6driver.com/

File location: http://www.t6driver.com/gouge/t6_cockpit_layout.ppt

lqcorsa · 11-04-2006

What sim will you be using for the display itself?

BHawthorne · 11-04-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by lqcorsa

What sim will you be using for the display itself?

I'm building it to use with FO but initially, probably use X-Plane or MSFS X I guess. I'm in no hurry to shift to working on actual parts. I want to get everything nailed down as far as accuracy in CAD first.

BHawthorne · 11-04-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by bingo

After I've spent all this time on my F-16 pit you tell me that are to many out there now.................

Bah, don't take it personally. Heck, anyone who has successfully made a simpit has my congrats, because I'm just starting out and you guys have already figured out the nuts and bolts. I've got a long ways to go.

Tomcattwo · 11-06-2006

BHawthorne, on the 5ATI Smith Aero displays, if you mean the ones used for the PFD and MFD, the Smith units are missing the COMP switch, GPS/APR switch and BRT/DIM switch on the bezel. See below:

By the way, your excelent research is doing double duty - the pix and info you are posting have been invaluable in my panel re-do of the T6A for MSFS2K4 - A

BIG THANK YOU

for your great research! I'll provide you credit for the oix and research in the readme material when I publish this freeware re-do. Est time to complete is another month, maybe two. I am actually doing better than planned on programming the hardest gauge (RMS555 Radio Management System).

R/
TC2

BHawthorne · 11-06-2006

No prob, good to see it's already helping a few. :)

BHawthorne · 02-04-2007

Small project update. I've extracted the vector art drawings of the panels from a ppt file. Those that have been on t6driver's site might know the ppt of the cockpit. I've found that there are a ton of issues with it as far as measurements though. I'm in the process of making my own 1:1 cockpit drawings to proper scale based on manufacturer mechanical drawings of front and side views. It's significantly more dimentally accurate than the ppt supplied document. Once I hear back from a few other sources I'll post some screenshot progress of it. The ppt file is helpful, but I consider it to be only semi-accurate. Some of the instruments are as much as an inch distorted.

On another note, I picked up the domain names T-6A com, net and org this weekend in preperation of blogging the simpit build progress. It amaised me that this domain name was still available. I got lucky I guess.

BHawthorne · 02-05-2007

Dug up who the subcontractor is for the T-6A throttle quadrants and control sticks. 2 of my classmates at school work there.

http://www.harlowair.com/assembly.php

Rooakh · 08-15-2007

Building a T-6A simpit is an excellent idea. I have wanted to build a cockpit for a long time, but haven't for various reasons. If I decide to build, this is probably where I would start. Thanks for the information you provided on this plane. It's been a while since your last post. So, how are you progressing?

BHawthorne · 08-15-2007

Still in research mode really. I've yet to make up my mind just what I want to do. T-6A, F-16, A-7...etc. Not sure yet. I typically post any useful info I find though.

11-02-2006	#1
BHawthorne Colonel Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 932	T-6A Simpit Project I've started to do the research and initial rough layout in CAD for my T-6A simpit panels. I've filled in a bunch of the blanks on many of the questions I have, but some I've not yet been able to get answered. So far I've found: 1) I think the T-6A main panels adhere to the Arinc 408A standard for mounting most of the instruments. The AMLCDs are 3ATI and 5ATI sized. http://www.dallasavionics.com/arinc_...inc_square.pdf 2) The AMLCDs are manufactured by Smiths Areospace. They call their 3ATI units a Flight Display Unit (FDU) and thier 5ATI display an Integrated Display Unit. The 3ATI screen itself is the Planar 240.240.243ATI. It has 240x240 pixel resolution and a viewable area of 57.6x57.6mm. I'm not 100% sure the 5ATI displats are the ones shown on the Smiths Areospace wesite? http://www.smiths-aerospace.com/Prod...FDU-/index.asp http://www.smiths-aerospace.com/Prod...Unit/index.asp 3) Davtron M850 Chronometer. http://www.davtron.com/products.html http://www.davtron.com/documents/M85...al%20Input.pdf 4) Chelton (Wulfsburg Electronics) Series III RMS 555 Radio Management System http://www.wulfsberg.com/cgi-bin/cp....0-041212&rev=E 5) Honeywell Bendix/King KLN 900 GPS https://www3.bendixking.com/static/c...ls.jsp?pid=117 https://www3.bendixking.com/servlet/...796-0000_2.pdf 6) Honeywell Bendix/King FPD 500 EFIS flat panel display, CP 500 EFIS control panel, MST 67A Mode S transponder, KTR 909B UHF transceiver, KFS 599B UHF control head, KLN 900 Global Positioning System, KDC 481T air data computer and KCC 462 AHRS compass. http://www.honeywell.com/en/aerospac...D=4302&catID=2 7) Korry Master Caution Annuciator Panel http://www.korry.com/PDF/Korry_MWA.pdf __________________

11-02-2006	#2
BHawthorne Colonel Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 932	I'm looking for help with measurements on this panel initially. I have some rough measurements for it based on the size of the instruments that go into it, but I'd like to be a bit more exact. ATM my best guess is 30"x24" but I'd prefer to defer to someone who has access to the real thing and a measuring tape. __________________ Last edited by BHawthorne; 11-02-2006 at 23:44.

11-04-2006	#5
bingo 2nd Lieutenant Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Marietta, Georgia Posts: 132	After I've spent all this time on my F-16 pit you tell me that are to many out there now................. __________________ The way I see it, you can either work for a living or you can fly airplanes....Me, I'd rather fly!

11-04-2006	#6
BelgianTiger_4 Flight Model Team Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Belgium Vilvoorde Age: 27 Posts: 442	Their are some nice documents regarding panel layout in PDF format or ppt format for front and rear cockpit (front panel and left/right panel). No measurements but if you know one measurement, you can scale the rest based on those documents. They should be accurate enough (within an inch or so). location: http://www.t6driver.com/ File location: http://www.t6driver.com/gouge/t6_cockpit_layout.ppt __________________ Bart "Goose" De Marie

11-06-2006	#10
Tomcattwo 2nd Lieutenant Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Montclair VA Posts: 31	5ATI May Not Be Right One... BHawthorne, on the 5ATI Smith Aero displays, if you mean the ones used for the PFD and MFD, the Smith units are missing the COMP switch, GPS/APR switch and BRT/DIM switch on the bezel. See below: By the way, your excelent research is doing double duty - the pix and info you are posting have been invaluable in my panel re-do of the T6A for MSFS2K4 - A BIG THANK YOU for your great research! I'll provide you credit for the oix and research in the readme material when I publish this freeware re-do. Est time to complete is another month, maybe two. I am actually doing better than planned on programming the hardest gauge (RMS555 Radio Management System). R/ TC2 __________________ Tom "Tomcattwo" Stevenson Last edited by Tomcattwo; 11-06-2006 at 20:02.

11-03-2006	#3
Charos 2nd Lieutenant Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Athens, Hellas Posts: 225	Wow, someone really did his homework! Nikolas

11-04-2006	#7
lqcorsa Lieutenant Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Seattle, WA Posts: 468	What sim will you be using for the display itself?

02-04-2007	#12
BHawthorne Colonel Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 932	Small project update. I've extracted the vector art drawings of the panels from a ppt file. Those that have been on t6driver's site might know the ppt of the cockpit. I've found that there are a ton of issues with it as far as measurements though. I'm in the process of making my own 1:1 cockpit drawings to proper scale based on manufacturer mechanical drawings of front and side views. It's significantly more dimentally accurate than the ppt supplied document. Once I hear back from a few other sources I'll post some screenshot progress of it. The ppt file is helpful, but I consider it to be only semi-accurate. Some of the instruments are as much as an inch distorted. On another note, I picked up the domain names T-6A com, net and org this weekend in preperation of blogging the simpit build progress. It amaised me that this domain name was still available. I got lucky I guess. __________________

02-05-2007	#13
BHawthorne Colonel Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Wichita, KS Posts: 932	Dug up who the subcontractor is for the T-6A throttle quadrants and control sticks. 2 of my classmates at school work there. http://www.harlowair.com/assembly.php __________________ Last edited by BHawthorne; 02-05-2007 at 05:43.

08-15-2007	#14
Rooakh WO1 Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 14	Building a T-6A simpit is an excellent idea. I have wanted to build a cockpit for a long time, but haven't for various reasons. If I decide to build, this is probably where I would start. Thanks for the information you provided on this plane. It's been a while since your last post. So, how are you progressing?

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