Simcontrol - Simulator Helicopter Hardware at it's best!

Simcontrol = RIP....?

Update 21.12.2009
Simcontrol will raise again! Got some inside confirmation that simcontrol is not dead. But will be back early 2010 with updated flight sim gear. Don't know anything more if they will re-launch at the old web site address - www.simcontrol.co.uk (link not in use now) - or under a new address. But I'll sure keep you updated!! ;)

This article changed a lot since I started to write the first cast of it. It was supposed to be about the absolutely best enthusiast/semi-professional simulator gear you can have - at an affordable prize! The Ranger 5s helicopter pilotseat; with a fully functional cyclic, collective with throttle and damper pedals. In the time of writing I discovered that the simcontrol web page has been taken down. You can no longer find this great piece of helisim hardware at www.simcontrol.co.uk! But even more disturbing (and what could be worse than not finding my favorite simulator setup???) was what followed. It seams like one of the great guys and the owner behind the awesome simcontrol portfolio M.R.V.C (Multi Role Virtual Cockpit), the Spitfire Cockpit Simulator and the latest Ranger 5s - Bill Trezise has died. Though I did not know the man personally, it is with sadness I realise he has passed away. Bill Trezise's company - simcontrol - made a huge impact for the helisim industry. The gear they produce is of high quality, great looking, and some of the best, if not THE best modular system, yet within an affordable price range, on the market. It has been sold both to private and military. The RAF (Royal Air Force - England) is one of several users of simcontrol's systems. Some of the latest news on the webpage was that they where working on a big order. And the webpages them selfs had not been updated since october 2008. But outdated web pages was nothing new. They spent most of their time focusing on building great hardware.

Just take a look at the pictures, they speak for them selves:

The Ranger 5S.

The older M.R.V.C.

A fully setup simulator with double pilotseat/Ranger 5s controls.

What's happening to simcontrol - I don't know. I do hope someway they will still be there, continuing producing these amazing simulators. As so to bring on the memory of Bill Trezise. In addition there still is, and will continue to be a huge demand their helisim setups.

If someone knows more about what's happening to the english company Simcontrol, I would appreciate any input or feedback.

Simcontrol you are the king of each enthusiast's helicopter simulator hardware setup - we need you back online!!

The NH90 Helicopter Simulator, the ultimate hardware?

What I wouldn´t give..... to have this pice of hardware - the CAE NH90 helicopter training simulator - in my basement!

Well, to be honest: You would need a hangar to house it. And special agreement with your electric company to run it:)

Jokes aside, the new CAE NH90 simulator in Bückeburg - Germany, is the world`s first full-mission simulator for NH90 military helicopters. Some might know that the NH90 helicopter is chosen among countries as Norway, France, Germany, Oman, Spain, Italy, Saudi Arabia+++ to be their new military helicopter. Training the pilots to fly the NH90 cost millions. And the possibility of doing some of this training in a simulator, both daily flights operations and military missions saves: money, time and equipment. Also environmentally it has issues. Saving the world a bit more on its carbon footprints. And giving the pilots a opportunity to train under 100% safe conditions preparing them for real world operations! Reducing the safety risks and the number of flight hours that the pilots actually spend in a real NH90 helicopter has a huge impact in every thinkable way.

Helicopter Flight Training Service (HFTS) GmbH is owned by
CAE together with Eurocopter, Thales and Rheinmetall Defense. Each ones 25% of HFTS. Together they are among the world leaders in simulation training solutions.

Canadian CAE have more than 900 flight training devices and simulators, sold to over 115 airliners, manufactures and centers for training, They have simulated a lot of todays modern flight machines. Canadian technology is helping helicopter pilots safely train and to become better prepared. Safety is important for any pilot, but especially for demanding military helicopter flying.

The ultimate Helicopter Simulator Hardware - the CAE NH90.

Click here to learn more about CAE products.

What Dodosim has done for helicopter simulator hardware!

The connection between Helicopter Simulator Software and Hardware!

Some of you has maybe heard of Dodosim, the company that connected everyman`s (or woman) helicopter simulation to real life hardware! If not, that is just something you have to know about!

For those that are using a helicopter simulator to practice their skills and become a better pilot, a better real life pilot. Thats exactly one of the things Dodosim had in mind when they made the program. So you might think, why do I wanna write about a software program, when this is supposed to be about hardware? Well, this particularly program is THE ONE that connects it all together. In the higher class simulators this has been done for years. But who has a 100 000 grand to spent on their private helisim? Here is it the Dodosim comes in play. For a mere EUR 38.69 for the Dodosim 206 FSX you will one of the best connections between your software and hardware setup! Dodosim wanted to make products that was affordable, ready to go - on available platforms. Making it more realistic than ever by expanding the aerodynamics (flight dynamics and systems) to

include inflow roll, vortex ring state and engine hot starts. The way it is in the "real" thing. There is no longer time for being disappointed about what the simulator can do (or not do). Dodosim simply makes it a whole lot more realistic.

http://www.dodosim.com/

I am not going to write a review on Dodosim, thats been done before. Just search google and you are sure to find one. What I want to do, is bring it to your attention. Show what`s possible and what`s out there. Be sure to follow this helicopter simulator hardware blog, it´s just the beginning!

;)

Helicopter Simulator Hardware intensions

Everything you need to know about Helicopter Simulator Hardware!

Thank you for reading this blog about Helicopter Simulation Hardware. Today I will tell you a little bit about why this blog came to life. And what I want to achieve with it. And how that can help you.

There are several great web pages out there with helicopter simulator stuff. Mostly software sites and only a few scattered product sites about hardware. And some with the combination of both topics. Those hardware sites that do exist are mostly only covering their own products. That makes it hard for those who wants to see the full range of whats on the marked today. But for the software part, and in regards to building your own simulator. There are only one true site for this. It has it all: Information/Help/Forums/Picture database and so much more.. That is:

www.hovercontrol.com

This is THE site for anything about helicopter simulator software, and has a great forum with how-to-build your own simulators (Home Cockpits and Hardware).

The evolvement of the flight simulation industry has been growing rapidly the last 15 years. And last 5 years especially! There are a lot of great hardware out there for the computer helicopter simulator enthusiast. From a zero dollar home made joystick to the biggest full motion simulators used by the bigger helicopter companies in the world. Operators as well as manufactures. Like Bell Helicopters, AugustaWestland, CHC Helicopter Corporation, Keystone Helicopters, among others.

Back to the point of todays blog. I made it because I haven't found any sites on the internet that provides all the the different possibilities there is to make a great simulator. All in one place! What I want to achieve with this blog is to give all of you the big picture of whats out there on the market today. What you can get, where you can get it and how much it will cost you. How can that help you? Well first of all you get to know whats out there. Give you ideas how others have done it. Get in contact with people that are or have build a helicopter simulator. Not to forget some of the amazing professional simulators out there.

Later I will touch the topics of how to get the best out of your hardware for both the Microsoft® Flight Simulator and X-Plane simulator programs. Until then, have a great day. Happy flight simming!

Again, thank you for visiting my Helicopter Simulation Hardware blog!

Helicopter Simulator Hardware

Welcome to Helicopter Simulator Hardware. This site provides information, tips and techniques for anyone interested in helicopter simulation hardware. From the beginner to the professional. It is possible to build a helisim/helicopter simulator from virtually anything. And at everyone's own budget, be that "all free" to several hundred thousand dollars. Here at Helicopter Simulation Hardware I will help you to get started and get the best information possible. About how to start, where to buy, what to buy and anything else related to this fascinating topic!