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Man Builds 737 Simulator In a Garage

linuxwrangler writes "It started with a dream of building a full-sized jet flight simulator. Now, 20 years, $150,000 and one divorce later, James Price can walk to his garage and fly the 737 simulator he built built from the nose of a surplus 737. From the article: 'James Price had one must-have when looking for a new home -- the garage had to be able to hold the nose of a Boeing 737 jetliner. "Once I realized I could get it in here, I was OK with the house," Price said. In his spacious three-car garage Price has a well-traveled jetliner cockpit tucked in next to the family car. Aviation experts say Price, 52, is one of only a handful of people in the world who have built their own flight simulator cockpit in an actual jet nose."

25 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. Even more impressive... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    ...was that guy who built a 737 simulator inside an actual 737.

    He was arrested by the TSA.

  2. Cue the investigations.... by mark-t · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... as they make sure that this sort of thing is not being used to train future terrorirsts.

    1. Re:Cue the investigations.... by 0123456 · · Score: 4, Interesting

      Considering the guy is an air traffic controller, I'm pretty sure they trust him.

      Considering that the TSA have reportedly confiscated scissors and bottles of water from airline pilots, I wouldn't be so sure about that.

  3. somewhere... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    some guy somewhere is saying "WOW... Honey, look at what this guy built in his garage for $150,000" and his wife/girlfriend/significant other is yelling "AND ONE DIVORCE!!!!"

    1. Re:somewhere... by CanHasDIY · · Score: 5, Funny

      some guy somewhere is saying "WOW... Honey, look at what this guy built in his garage for $150,000" and his wife/girlfriend/significant other is yelling "AND ONE DIVORCE!!!!"

      To which the guy responds, under his breath,


      "... lucky bastard..."

      --
      An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, shrouded in bacon and cheese
    2. Re:somewhere... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

      The article, should you choose to read it, says: "A 2000 divorce led Price to let loose and pursue his dream.".

    3. Re:somewhere... by mjwx · · Score: 3, Funny

      some guy somewhere is saying "WOW... Honey, look at what this guy built in his garage for $150,000" and his wife/girlfriend/significant other is yelling "AND ONE DIVORCE!!!!"

      And one bloke with a 737 in is garage is saying "it was a bloody good trade".

      --
      Calling someone a "hater" only means you can not rationally rebut their argument.
  4. I'm glad they consulted the experts. by djmurdoch · · Score: 4, Funny

    Aviation experts say Price, 52, is one of only a handful of people in the world who have built their own flight simulator cockpit in an actual jet nose.

    Who would have guessed?

    1. Re:I'm glad they consulted the experts. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Where's the guy with the bus simulator? Or a full size train simulator?

      I can't think of anything more boring than flying a 737. I am a flight sim geek as well, but a 737? Sheesh. Its the most boring and actually very simple to fly plane.

      A fighter sim is at least fun, especially older prop planes. 737 flying is sitting there staring at a screen for hours on end (in real life or in a sim.)

      +10 for geek props, -1000000 for fun factor. Boooooooooring!!

      Takes all types I guess!

    2. Re:I'm glad they consulted the experts. by ThePeices · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ahh, so YOU find it boring, therefore the guy....umm, what is your point exactly?

      That the world revolves around you?

    3. Re:I'm glad they consulted the experts. by pseudofengshui · · Score: 5, Funny

      +10 for geek props, -1000000 for fun factor. Boooooooooring!!

      More like "Boooooeeeeeeiiinnnngggg."

      --
      [Text goes here]
    4. Re:I'm glad they consulted the experts. by Darinbob · · Score: 5, Funny

      I went to the gym but all they had were bike simulators and walking simulators. Boooring.

    5. Re:I'm glad they consulted the experts. by Gadget_Guy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I can't think of anything more boring than flying a 737. I am a flight sim geek as well, but a 737? Sheesh. Its the most boring and actually very simple to fly plane.

      I wonder if the guy thinks the same of you. Just sitting down at a computer to play games might be utterly boring to him. His idea of fun might be to, oh I don't know, build a freakin' 737 in his garage!

      Your attitude is like someone seeing Michelangelo's statue of David and complaining what a waste of time it was because you prefer giant naked women instead.

    6. Re:I'm glad they consulted the experts. by Cosgrach · · Score: 3, Interesting

      Since I volunteer in a railway museum, I don't need no stinkin' full size train simulator!

      --
      Why is it that most of the people that I encounter seem to have been shat from the Sphincter of Mediocrity?
    7. Re:I'm glad they consulted the experts. by MiniMike · · Score: 5, Funny

      Are you saying that he picked the wrong nose?

    8. Re:I'm glad they consulted the experts. by TSpec · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Well how about an F-15C?

      http://www.f15sim.com/

    9. Re:I'm glad they consulted the experts. by eugene_roux · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Your attitude is like someone seeing Michelangelo's statue of David and complaining what a waste of time it was because you prefer giant naked women instead.

      Which, to be honest, would be a completely valid point...

      --
      Part Time Philosopher, Oft Times Romantic, Full Time Unix Geek
  5. Here's a working link by Vskye · · Score: 4, Informative
    --
    Life was hell, then I discovered Linux...
  6. Wow! by SolitaryMan · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Just WOW! This is really impressive.

    (I can't believe that among ~15 posters so far nobody said the one thing this article truly deserves, so I have to be the first one)

    --
    May Peace Prevail On Earth
  7. I'm doing this too... by CompMD · · Score: 5, Interesting

    ...with a bunch of local high school students. Its a long running project that we recently started to build a simulator from a Beechcraft A90 cockpit. The students are doing pretty much all the work, while some of us at local engineering firms offer guidance and help. Right now, they are making their own switch panels and interfacing them with the simulator computers using Arduino boards. The whole simulator is driven by X-Plane. We have 3x55" 1920x1080 monitors wrapping around the windshield, and a real Garmin G1000 glass cockpit system. Check out our class page to learn more about our progress.

  8. Not the only one by slew · · Score: 3, Interesting

    If you haven't read the article, they also point to a few more folks building realistic commercial aircraft simulators around the world...

    For example,
    this one http://web.me.com/mattford1/Site/Matts_Boeing_737_Flight_Sim.html
    or this one http://www.hyway.com.au/747/747.html

    Although it sounds like Mr. Price's is the first one with an actual nose from a real 737 (the some of the other ones merely use some fraction of the real cockpit equipment in a shell).

  9. Not as cool as this guy by larry+bagina · · Score: 5, Interesting

    this guy, with a replica pan-am cabin in his garage. No word if he has stewardesses with 1970s-style bush.

    --
    Do you even lift?

    These aren't the 'roids you're looking for.

  10. Re:No Kidding by PPH · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Life lesson: Find a wife who either shares your passion or has one of her own. The latter might be better. You won't end up fighting over the details of your shared project. Someone who has her own pursuits won't depend on you to keep her entertained. And she'll understand what drives people to want to accomplish stuff.

    --
    Have gnu, will travel.
  11. Getting to see it by russotto · · Score: 5, Funny

    Before you get into the garage, you have to go through his TSA simulator. It's a rubber glove on an articulated arm.

  12. Pretty cool, however... by fpp · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I'd really like to see a Millennium Falcon simulator. Full sized cockpit, attacking Star Destroyers, rescuing amputees from weather vanes, the whole nine yards. That would be impressive. Most impressive.