20. July 2020: Website is being updated and redesigned.
After many years of research and several attempts to acquire a Boeing 707 cockpit I finally managed to secure the cockpit section of a Boeing 707. Originally delivered to the Saudi Arabian Airlines this cockpit section was stored in England for more than a decade. This cockpit was in the best technical condition compared to many other 707 cockpits. Although it requires some modifications to earlier 707 layouts it is the ideal candidate for such a complex simulator conversion.
The Boeing 707 entered commercial service with Lufthansa in 1960 and revolutionized air travel. Dominating passenger air transport in the 1960s and remaining common through the 1970s, the 707 is generally credited with ushering in the Jet Age. Furthermore, the “7-o-7” was a highly elegant and technically advanced flying symbol for the emerging West German – U.S. Trans-Atlantic cooperation after the war.
Boeing B707 Simulator
Original LH707 cockpit
The cockpit section will be extensively modified, painted and converted to 100% Lufthansa Boeing 707-330B standard. I was able to secure several hundred pounds of parts, instruments and panels from various Lufthansa 707s around the world making this endeavor possible. The cockpit will arrive in my small aviation museum near Munich, Germany in September 2019 and will go on display alongside the only Air France SE-210 Caravelle active flight simulator in the world. However, this is a NON COMMERCIAL project unlike the Caravelle simulator. I will share much of my knowledge and progress on this website. Please consider supporting this unique project – every dollar counts.
If you doubt the ambition and know how of this project please see this youtube video.
After some considerations I decided to remove the entire insulation for better access to the airframe. This makes it easier to remove remaining wires, tubes and other unnecessary equipment. I am still missing the footrest brackets, panel brackets and panel hinges which I will have to re manufacture.
D-ABUD/N707QJ is undergoing a thorough cleaning and removal of insulation, wiring and unnecessary tubes. Kitchen cleaner is probably the best cleaning product to use for this job. Note the large amounts of nicotine which were not that easy to remove and required some extensive rubbing.
Control coloums removed, Foot rest removed, wirring removed, Panel brackets removed, cockpit floor wire duct removed.
EPR, N1, EGT and N2 are ready! Tested and found ok. Flap indicators on the right are completed too.
Kollsman Altimeter has been a major challenge. I used a broken spare unit to test a stepper motor on it. The axis for the QNH setting needs to be lengthened to turn a potentiometer. The white flag on the altimeter scale for the KIFIS system can be biased out of
OILY QTY gauges of N88ZL now to be used in the panels of D-ABUD. Now running a 5V stepper motor and the original 5V integral lightning. Look how few components are now involved! Once done correctly I doubt you will ever have to reopen the gauge except for the bulb
