I work for Boeing here in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where I do avionics work on the B-52. Before that I had over 35 years working on the software end of numerous flight simulators, mostly military. My first simulator was the Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker and that is what I am actually getting started on building. I know it is not a 737 but there is a good bit of commonality in many important areas. The fuselage of the 737 is only 4 inches wider than the KC-135R and all the cockpit windows are the same so the basic shell of the 737 is close enough. The flight controls are fairly similar as well so that helps. Speaking of flight controls I just acquired a pair of reproduction control wheels (yokes) and I am looking for any information that might be available for the switches that are used in them, particularly the transmit switch for the ICS/radios. At the moment my best guess would be one of the trigger switches from OTTO Controls as they look about right to fit that spot but if anyone has had any luck with some other source please pass that along. In terms of other parts I have acquired, I have been keeping an eye on eBay for almost two years now acquiring suitable parts and materials as they showed up at the right price. At this time I think I have acquired enough parts and knowledge to start making some of the assorted control panels and convert some of the various instruments I have been able to find. I do have a 3 axis CNC router and 3D printer so I think it is time I get serious about learning them and make some parts. One last detail, I got really lucky with the most recent update to the aircraft when they replaced all of the engine instruments with a large MFD so that will save me a lot of trouble (and money) coming up with 23 of the 2" instruments.
Search
Hello and glad your part of this group. I myself have just started and already have parts made and ready to ready to put together. Where did you find the yokes if I might ask? Im in need of the whole section. Again welcome. Ray, New York
My yokes are KC-135 specific as the 737 seems to have had a cosmetic update at some point. The reproductions came off of eBay from a company listed as "itsyourairplane". If you are building the 737 there are several companies that make yokes that are specific to that type and I was considering that option before I came upon these reproductions that are true to the 50's design.
Building a simulator for an aircraft that has seen 65 years of design modifications and updates is a challenging undertaking. Some simple items like indicator lights (and there are a lot of them) are of types that are no longer produced so I have to scrounge parts from whatever shows up on eBay. I have found the 727 to be a good donor for switches, indicator lights and instruments. There is a company near me that disassembles old airliners for parts to keep the remaining fleet going and I believe they might have a couple of 727's that are slowly being cannibalized for spares. I am thinking of getting in touch with them and see what they will sell a few items for that are probably not of much use to them otherwise. One part I would love to get is the molded shells in the corners where the nosewheel steering tiller is located. The KC-135 has a different shape in this area than the 737 but based on photos I have seen the 727 still had the older design that looks to be identical. Unfortunately the Air Force completely scraps and shreds their old aircraft so getting any parts from the boneyard is not an option.
Watching various sites on the internet I actually found a solution to a switch type whose price will give you sticker shock. The KC-135R features three toggle switches that are magnetically latched into the ON position so that if/when power is removed they snap back to OFF. When I looked them up at a couple of electronics supply houses I found that they run in the $500 - $1000 price range depending on model. As much as I am a fanatic for detail this was just too much for me to stomach. Fortunately the same type of switch is used on the 737 for the Autothrottle and one talented builder has come up with an excellent simulated part that can be assembled for less than $20 each.