"...But to apprehend
The point of intersection
of the timeless
With time, is an occupation
for the saint..." TS Eliot

Good Day!
Ladies and Gentlemen,

I'm back.

As promised here's the Space Shuttle "Chronos" (heh,heh, I made that up) Cockpit Panel.

I had wanted a compromise between the panel from older shuttles and the glass cockpits of future versions which incorporated HUDs. Different people prefer different approaches to how they want to fly their planes. Some prefer simple uncluttered, concise panels, perhaps to concentrate on their VF. Others prefer to be overwhelmed by cockpit details to gain absolute knowledge of their aircraft situation at any point in time.

The whole point of simulation is to get as close to realism as possible and that is the ideal. But unless we can get 100% exact replica of gauges that are used in the real aircraft, we otherwise need to consider more on the "feel" of being in the right plane.

My design philosophy usually centres on the thematic "feel" that I want to create for a particular aircraft in order for the pilot to enjoy the uniqueness of THAT specific aircraft even if faced by the limitations of the range of gauges available. Some designers do not think much about this and thus we often get a Piper that laughs like Hercules, Bears that cry like Beavers, and Bells that sing like Blackbirds...

That's why I left out the HUD, for fear you'd fly the shuttle like an F16 and some analog or radio gauges... really to thwart would be radio operators and MTV junkies from being pilots!

And I eliminated a whole lot of buttons to discourage programmers (who love pressing buttons so much!) from taking courses that would make them astronauts, yeah right. Guys, you just don't have the right stuff, what can I tell ya?

But unfortunately and to my consternation, some protested and threatened mutiny, and in order to make the space camp happy campers once again, I stuck in a few levers, (hope when they grow up they lose their stick fixations and focus on flying the belles!) and screwed in clock faces for them to play with.

The panel that I use myself is more elaborate than the one I'm posting: with more gadgets and gauges than a nuclear power plant. And you know what that means in terms of consumption...

Initially, my design had interesting fixed window views and a rear view that shows a shuttle with its arm caressing a satellite payload but I decided not to post it because the contents take up way too much space (not helped by Earth's gravity!) Besides, I need room for my tourist cabin space and ain't gonna share with any hitchhikers to the galaxy.

But hey, I'm kind enough to share with you this Shuttle panel and hope you have a pleasant blastoff as long as you don't overshoot earth's atmosphere cos FS2K2 would explode in your face in a vacuum! Remember, the sky IS the limit, NOT the outer reaches of outer space.

DISCLAIMER:

I did not design any of the gauges, except to arrange them to create the right look for MY own instrument panel. I found the gauges and the files I created to work with no problems and should be the same for anyone. I can only claim that I designed this instrument panel and posted this zip file, SSchronos.zip and that it is 100% virus free. However, I cannot and will not be liable for any glitches and malfunctions to any pc systems and programs once the files are downloaded and installed.

The gauges are not my copyright and belong in public domain where I found them. Therefore do not make me answerable for anything or make money (cash, credit, stocks, shares, IOUs, etc) from this without the consent of their rightful makers.

This creative product is Not absolute freeware but is available F.O.C. It belongs to the maker named below but you are free to privately modify it to meet the requirements of the grateful pilot. However, to make modifications and pass on a part of the panel or pass on in its entirety without giving credit to its beloved designer would spell trouble. T.R.O.U.B.L.E. Bad Karma will fall on you for seven years and seven nights and worse, you will be reincarnated as a nymphomaniac ladybird.

CHEERS!

Sharizal "Leave a Jettrail for me" Zahrin
Singapore
phi1618@mail.com

PS: You can also find my twin prop panel (aka Catalina) design at SIMVIATION.com and expect more to come including Space Shuttle "Sophia" and others.