Early view of GS-1 Prototype in a zoom climb
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Early view of GS-1 Prototype in a zoom climb |
Our project commenced in late 2000. Select a link to view our progress.
Development - July 2002 through December 2002
Development - January 2002 through June 2002
Development - June 2001 through December 2001
Development - Late 2000 through May 2001
July 2002
Phase 2 Seneca Circuit Breaker Panel being prepared.
 Phase 2 Seneca Circuit Breaker Panel |
June 2002
Added taxi, beacon and nav light, left and right fuel pumps, left and right alternators to the GS-1 Prototype.
Commenced Scenery design.
Continued work on GS-1 Prototype cockpit instrumentation.
 Auto pilot controls |
 Gear lights |
 NAV/COMM LCD display |
Switches |
June 2002
Commenced work on force feedback technologies.
Worked on USB interfaces.
Finalised Radio Frequency display design.
Completed first free rotating instrument micro controller.
 Instrumentation control electronics being tested |
May 2002
Instrument Server:-
Marker beacons sound added.
ILS and Navigation Aid Failures added.
Idents for navigational instruments added.
May 2002
Commenced work on radio micro controllers.
April 2002
Instructor Workstation:-
Weather functionality continued to be enhanced.
Work on Advanced Failures commenced.
Instructor Workstation - Advanced Failure Screen - Landing Gear
April 2002
Multi channel display testing with mock up display frame. These tests were used to help design the final screen configuration for Phase 2. Testing including the use of three projectors.
 Front view of Phase 2 testing with mock up display frame. |
Another view of Phase 2 testing with mock up display frame. |
March 2002
Instructor Workstation:-
Weather functionality continued to be enhanced.
Navigation support was enhanced.
Further fuel control added.
Instructor Workstation - Onscreen keyboard
Instructor Workstation - Fuel Control Screen
February 2002
Latest software successfully run on the GS-1. This included the new Instructor Workstation, Instrument Server and modified Hydraulic Server software.
Instructor Workstation Graphical interface was improved.
Instructor Workstation Weather screen was enhanced.
Instructor Workstation - Weather Screen |
Instructor Workstation - Map Screen |
Phase 1 Pod and Phase 2 Cockpit Modifications
February 2002
New "active" monitor adapter built - board, case etc.
New throttle, pitch, mixture levers made up for the multi engine version.
Rewired new potentiometers / USB for multi engine version.
New LCD monitor and touch screen installed in the GS-1.
Phase 1 Pod and Phase 2 Cockpit Modifications
January 2002
Reviewed mounting options for Instructor Workstation LCD monitor and developed a suitable solution.
Successful installation (and shielding) of new LCD into the prototype. LCD now works with the hydraulics and is no longer being impacted by noise problems.
The new frame for the aircraft shell was cleaned and painted. Seneca mounted removed from wooden frame and mounted on new steel frame.
Commenced work on multi engine configuration - 2 throttles, 2 pitch controls and 2 mixtures....
 View of newly fabricated steel frame |
 Side view of new steel frame |
 The new frame frame just prior to mounting the Seneca. |
 Seneca mounted on new steel frame |
 Newly mounted Instructor Workstation LCD monitor (right hand side) |
 Close up view of throttle |
January 2002
Instructor Workstation:-
ILS support now included.
Failure Control operational. Can have timed, instantaneous and random failures.
Weather Control in progress. Can control items such as snow and rain - and their severity and visibility.
Instrument Server:-
Decided that in Phase 2 will introduce more complex failures into Instrument Server - add sophisticated engine failures; surges, RPM limiting etc.
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Instructor Workstation - Failure Screen |
In the data section, the Instructor can see what instrument has been set to fail and when the failure will occur. |
December 2001
Commenced coding our Instructor Workstation - a touch screen facility to control the aircraft during training.
 East coast of Australia, Airports & VORs selected for display. |
Zooming in one level - this time, also displaying names... |
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Zooming in one more level... |
And another (this is a later version, displaying IDs)... |
.jpg) Instructor Workstation showing ILS, Inner and Outer Markers
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Slewing! The plane is moved from its current position to approaching the runway (second image). |
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Phase 2 Cockpit Modifications
November 2001
Navajo frame obtained.
 Outside view of Navajo Cockpit |
 Inside view of Navajo Cockpit |
November 2001
Instrument Server:-
New version of Instrument Server released with improved keypad handling, faster ADC performance and triggering of relay outputs.
Initial testing of the trim wheel.
Inner, middle and outer markers included for the ILS.
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Prototype Frequency display being tested... |
Phase 1 Pod and Phase 2 Cockpit Modifications
October 2001
Seneca test mounted on hydraulic platform using mock up timber frame.
 Seneca being test mounted onto the motion platform |
 Front view of Seneca airframe frame |
Cut out the panel for the LCD and keypad and repainted frame. LCD and keypad installed into panel and wired up.
 Cockpit with new LCD and Keypad installed |
Close up of LCD and Keypad |
October 2001
Second Beta release of Instrument Server - with new and improved LCD support; allowed toggling back and forth between the frequency display and the display showing the aileron, elevator and rudder values.
Phase 1 Pod and Phase 2 Cockpit Modifications
September 2001
Set of Piper rudder pedals with toe brakes was installed. Pressure for the toe brakes is achieved using a set of custom made gas springs.
Determined the multiple throttle set up.
Set up a reverse thrust on the throttle for flying a King Air.
Worked on electric trim wheel and flaps.
Modifications made to the roll of the aircraft in the software.
 Rudder pedals detailing the gas spring brakes |
September 2001
Instrument Server:-
Commenced writing control software to handle instrumentation.
First successful logging of info with Instrument Server.
Phase 1 Pod and Phase 2 Cockpit Modifications
August 2001
 Front panel and Piper throttle quadrant |
August 2001
Design and subsequent coding for Cockpit Instrument Server commenced.
July 2001
Work commenced on cockpit design - the basic software and hardware design requirements. Aim was to design cockpit subsystem software, which would work independently of a flight sim product.
Phase 1 Pod and Phase 2 Cockpit Modifications
August 2001
Clean up of Seneca throttle console.
Early work on instrumentation proof of concept.
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Airspeed indicator |
June 2001
Version 3 of Hydraulic Control Server with definable acceleration and deceleration envelopes. Runway vibration, stall rattle support.
May, 2001
First successful controlled movement of the hydraulics.
Established that programmable envelopes for accelerations required. Started design for a new version of Hydraulic Control Server.
Let the show begin! Initial hydraulic testing...
 Heave |
 Pitching and Rolling to the right |
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Pitching up |
 Braking / Pitching down |
 Rear view of pitching down |
 The hydraulic power unit which makes it all possible... |
Phase 1 Pod Modifications
April 2001
The left hand seat and surrounding fibreglass were removed;
The cut out area was reinforced;
New floor was installed;
A new seat was fitted;
The rear projection screen was replaced with a solid aluminium panel;
A 21 inch Silicon Graphics monitor was used to replace the projector for visuals.
 Side View - some fibreglass removed and new floor fitted |
 Rear View of Pod |
 Interior views of the prototype, with new seat installed |
 21" Monitor installed |
Phase 2 Cockpit Construction
April 2001
Seneca airframe acquired and stripping of framework commenced.
 Seneca airframe in early stages of preparation |
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Late 2000
Acquired six "3" axis motion platforms.
Time spent trying to work out how to get the hydraulics to move!
 One of the original "3" axis motion platforms |
