EEVblog #1267 - How To Control a 747 Flight Simulator

[EEVblog]

How do you control the thousands of switches, sensors, actuators, bulbs and ARINC 429 bus devices in the world's most expensive 747 flight simulator?
Rod Redwin from Simulator Solutions explains the design on the I/O solution for such a mammoth task.
https://simulatorsolutions.com.au/



Inside the original simulator:

[nctnico]

Neat. Many years ago I've been in a similar flight simulator but that used COTS (commercial off-the-shelve) ethercat modules. These are pretty cost effective and suitable for hard realtime control (even when using Windows as an OS).

[MT]

Almost 360 deg,

[johnlsenchak]

How  do you make    115  volts  at  400 hertz , what   do you use  a motor  control  circuit  that uses  varispeed  which they  in the sixties  with powering  motors inside  multi-track  recording  tape  machines?

[schmitt trigger]

With something like this:

https://www.georator.com/rotary-frequency-converters.html

Static frequency converters are also used.

[romelec]

This airplane was only 12 years old when it was scrapped, that's unusual, any idea why ?
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/747/N193UA-United-Airlines/bEAPS2G6

[EEVblog]

This airplane was only 12 years old when it was scrapped, that's unusual, any idea why ?
https://www.planespotters.net/airframe/Boeing/747/N193UA-United-Airlines/bEAPS2G6

The route became uneconomical?
But then I thought 747's were still in relatively decent demand?
Maybe worth more in parts?

[Andrew McNamara]

But then I thought 747's were still in relatively decent demand?

Looks like it was due for it's second D-check, which would have cost between 1 and 2 million, and it got stored instead. Sat in the desert for 3 years, then got cut up for scrap. So I guess there's no demand for 747-400, even with low hours - airlines prefer 747-8 for passenger service, and the remaining -400 are mostly being used for freight.

[EEVblog]

Looks like it was due for it's second D-check, which would have cost between 1 and 2 million, and it got stored instead. Sat in the desert for 3 years, then got cut up for scrap. So I guess there's no demand for 747-400, even with low hours - airlines prefer 747-8 for passenger service, and the remaining -400 are mostly being used for freight.

I got a Qantas 747-400 from Melboune to Sydney a few months back, still in service.

[Andrew McNamara]

I got a Qantas 747-400 from Melboune to Sydney a few months back, still in service.

As of February this year, they were down to operating just eight 747's, and they apparently flew their last scheduled 747 passenger flight between Au and the US this week:

https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/02/qantas-boeing-747-400-vh-ojs-retired/

https://thepointsguy.com/news/qantas-final-boeing-747-flight-from-usa/

Edit - info on opportunities for some of the last flights:

https://australianaviation.com.au/2019/07/qantas-schedules-eight-domestic-boeing-747-flights-from-nov-19-to-feb-20/

[f4eru]

Speaking about old 747, a good hotel to go if you are in Stockholm : https://www.jumbostay.com/
It's quite funny to sleep in an old A/C