January 2009 Didn't do much in January, just a few odd jobs and service the TQ.  Actually got to put some hours on the sim.  No use having a Home Cockpit if you're not going to fly it
Installed some new scenery for AUSTRIA and BUDAPEST (recommended).
Chris Warner came to play and went away with a vision :o))

February 2009   But February saw the new CPFlight MCP being installed.   I just love the quality of the CPFlight Kit and they are such nice guys to work with. The best product support i have seen.  If you're going to buy an MCP, get this one.

Steve Cozens (Left) and Ryanair Captain Chris Ingamells came to play. Chris actually taught me quite a lot

March 2009 So March has arrived. I've actually been flying, putting a few hours on it, practising missed approaches and CDA's. Several visitors this month. Vincent Marren, Dougie Vivers and John O'Quigley came over for a spin.  Also been playing around with LED strips for backlighting.
And 23/24th March, i was in Amsterdam with Baris IMER, my Turkish Airlines 737NG Pilot mate.  Went to SIMKITS and saw the Garmin G1000 units working and the LUCHVAART HOBBY SHOP.  What an amazing place,  everything you will ever need and them some.  Nice people too.

OK, I know Amsterdam has nothing to do with Cockpit Building, but it has a charm of it's own. Even when it was wet and windy, it was a pleasure to walk around the city.  We even found time for a HEINEKEN :o))

April 2009 I got interviewed for an article in Computer Shopper Magazine about Flight Simulators & Cockpit Building, so i had to do some high quality shots for the article.   This is how they panned out.  Ok, I know some of them are 'lookalike', but i was playing around with shutter speeds and aperture settings to get the right mix, so just bear with me :o)) Oh! and I cleaned it :o))

May 2009   Leo Bodnar introduced me to the ELMA E37 dual rotary encoder with push to make switch.  The major benefit (for me) over the Alps is that this encoder has a threaded collar and can be fitted into a panel. 
Here's the Datasheet & here's the connection diagram.
 Andrew WALL traveled all the way from BINGLEY, Yorkshire to fly the sim and went away a very happy chappie.     I have been looking for a solution to automating the electrical power supply to the aircraft based on the source selected e.g. GND PWR, APU, Engines etc.  Then out of the blue, Mark Deponeo sent me a mail which made me sit up and take notice.   Mark has solved the problem.  Not only that, but he has all the 'systems' working correctly as well.   I was able to help a little bit by writing some lines for his output card.  Here's some shots of the development board.   Now Mark is building the real one's.

June 2009 I actually got round to fitting the ELMA Dual Rotary Encoders to my Captain's EFIS Unit.  Real sweet, I'm very pleased.  Now i have a 100% accurate functioning EFIS giving me all the correct operations

My thanks also to all the guys who visited in June especially (L to R) Jason DELL, Chris REDMOND, Glenn SCOTT & Brian POLLITT.
June also saw the building of the Automatic Electrical System where the power is supplied to the aircraft from whatever source we are using automatically. Power and Annunciation is controlled exactly as it is in the aircraft.   We are using 'stock' FS offsets thru an output board and then using that information to accurately mimic the behaviour of the power delivery.  

JULY 2009 Work continues on the 'Project'.        Peter Wilshire came all the way from Alicante to 'have a go'.           And, July 17th, we were honoured with the 'first wife ever'.   Richard Hutchinson brought Sally with him when he came to visit.   I was impressed, she didn't yawn once :o))       For me, a new approach to the project.   To achieve what i wanted, i was starting to be over-run with circuit boards and then i discovered PIC's.   Started out using the PICAXE AXE50 tutorial board and never looked back.   Amazing little devices which are a computer on a chip.   I did have some 'crap' getting to grips with Logic chips and these devices made life so much easier.    Once programmed, they make all the decisions for you.  The one above is now controlling my APU & Ground Power.

AUGUST 2009 Thanks to John & Chris PERRIN for dropping by.  They had been over to RAF Shawbury for 'go' on the Helicopter sims.    By this time, i'd realised that what i was trying to achieve with the 'project' had started to grow out of all proportions.   Boards and components everywhere.     That's when i discovered PIC's.   So I decided to go that route with the control of the System Logic.

SEPTEMBER 2009 First week saw Rhys Betteridge here. Rhys is a 767/777 Transatlantic Pilot building his own sim around the LVLD.   He had a great time and to quote 'It was a pleasure to fly such a great sim' :o))

9th September saw three very skilled guys here, from Left to Right, Gary KO, Alex GRALTON and Richard AVERY.  All three are set on becoming Commercial Pilots.   You could tell by the level of professionalism they demonstrated in the cockpit.  Well Done Guys !
Then we had ALEX HODGSON over on the 10th Making a TV Documentary.  Alex is MD of The Hangar9 Film Co.  And what I didn't know is they own a Spitfire :o))

September also saw me in Paris visiting REVOLUTION SIMPRODUCTS.   Actually saw them assembling the Prototype Motorised TQ's then got the chance to fly one - well i had to 'do a deal' didn't I :o))   One was due to arrive here in November.

October 2009

November 2009   Roger HARRIS was here on the 14th as was Harry RADFORD who came on the 20th.     November of course is the annual pilgrimage to Lelystad for the FSWeekend show.

UPS arrived one November morning and look what they delivered.  The Revolution Simproducts Motorised TQ.

December 2009  Very busy month for visitors was December.   First here on the 2nd were Richard MYERS and Simon CORISH from Doncaster.
Then the 'Fun Boy Three', Ray EVERETT, Sean NIXON and Jason CARLING came over from NEWCASTLE on the 11th for a repeat performance.   Great bunch of guys.    Finally, All the way from MONUMENT Colorado, our first U.S. visitor, Tony WINSLOW was here 23rd December.    Very happy to see so much interest in the 'pit' and always a pleasure to have a co-pilot..........

And, I have now completed the Electrical System Automation.  I've been at this since May can you believe.  But, it's been a big project.   However, the end result is excellent.   All i've got to do now is sort out the green digital display on the meter panel.   But, i'll do that next year.
All in all, a very very good year.  Learnt lots, flew lots and lined lots up to implement next year.

Best of
BEST HARDWARE PRODUCT = REVOLUTION SIMPRODUCTS for the Motorised TQ
BEST NEW SCENERY = AEROSOFT  for MALLORCA X and PARIS Charles de Gaulle LFPG
BEST 'BITS' = Phil Lambert at SIMVIONICS for his DZUS Fastners and ENGRAVITY for the Dummy CDU
BEST SOFTWARE UTILITY = Peter Dowson for the Virtual Buttons in WIDEFS
BEST NEW WEBSITE = Trevor Hale & Bob Reed for COCKPITBUILDERS.com
Special Thanks to Real World Pilots Rhys Bettridge, Robert Cassidy, Jamie Knight & Chris Ingamells for teaching me lots