Thorpe Camp Visit 11/10/26
I recently got in touch with Dave Gledhill who looks after the VR flight simulators based at Thorpe Camp Visitor Centre near RAF Conningsby in Lincolnshire. The museum at Thorpe Camp is fascinating and well worth a visit on it's own merit and I can also recommend the tea room and their excellent toasted sarnies!
Dave is a former RAF Tornado and Phantom navigator and was kind enough to make some time to show me the set up at Thorpe Camp which inludes several VR simulator rigs and experiences that use a number of real aircraft cockpits including the Tornado F3, Phantom, Tiger Moth, Spitfire and Jetstream.
We talked about some of the hardware, the pros and cons of using real aircraft components compared to 'off the shelf' (sometimes modified) PC hardware and some of the excellent (alebit sometimes fragile) 3D printed kit. I was also very interested to see the software the team uses. They're currently using Lockheed Martin P3D (a commercial product developed for flight training from Microsoft FSX) This gives much more flexibility than using more modern 'games' such as Microsoft Flight Sim 2020/2024 or DCS, especially when coupled with some third party tools to introduce additional aircraft for formation practice or interception! Dave demonstrated the latter by setting up a scenario using their newly built Spitfire simulator, built with Authentikit 3D printed hardware which is a one to one match for the real Spitfire cockpit. I took off and Dave guided me to intercept a flight of attacking Heinkels and Messerchmitts attacking Dover, great fun and very immersive!
Many Thanks to Dave and the team for their time, it's given me lots to think about as I get closer to setting up the simulator side of my own project. The VR Aviation Centre will soon close for the winter season but I highly recommoned a visit when they re open in spring.
- Details
- Hits: 246
Update 11/09/26
Work continues on the underside of the cockpit. This week I cleaned out all the loose rubbish. Have I finally seen the last of the dead leaves?
I'm working on each area systematically tackling corrosion with Jenolite (wonderful, if expensive stuff!) before tidying up the paint where necessary. I won't be doing a lot of painting internally as very little of this will ever be visible, but there will be areas where I install some of the sim hardware and I'll want those to be tidy.
A few months ago Adam got in touch to donate a panel from his collection that had originally come from XL609 - this week I was able to find a home for it, though it'll be a while before it's attached permanently.
- Details
- Hits: 40
Update 09/02/26
Today we carefully rolled the cockpit onto it's side so I can work on the underside. As always we'll start with cleaning and prep, taking care of any corrosion. Whilst I've got access I'll clear out any old wiring and I can also start measuring and planning how best to mount the cockpit onto the trailer.
- Details
- Hits: 45
Visit to XL565 at Bruntingthrope 23/08/26
This weekend I was invited to visit XL565, a Hunter T7 in ground running condition based at Bruntingthrope in Leicestershire. I met David and Amanda who own the aircraft at the Hunter conference at Cosford last month. It was good to see the aircraft in person and they kindly gave me access to the cockpit to take some reference photos (and daydream a little!)
XL565 has an interesting history having served in Aden and is complete and in excellent condition, she's a real credit to her owners past and present.
- Details
- Hits: 65
Update 10/08/26
On Saturday I went over to Newark Air Museum to pick up a couple of parts I'd arranged to buy and scout around for some other useful bits at the aerojumble. I did pick up some more (NOS) warning lamps and an inert 30mm ADEN round for display, but the most exciting purchases for XL609 were a crew ladder and a second control column. Both need a lot of work but will be great additions to the project. As always it was good to meet friends in the hobby for a chat.
- Details
- Hits: 51