A man has converted his van into what is believed to be the UK’s first mobile flight simulator - using an old plane he bought while "bored" during the Covid lockdown. Steven Fletcher came across the decommissioned Piper PA24 Aircraft on eBay while in Spain.
He then spent the next two years perfecting the vehicle. He is now hoping to now rent it out at events and special occasions like weddings.
He said: “There are many static flight simulators, but I thought a ‘Mobile Flight Simulator’ would be a unique idea and only one of its kind in the UK. I think I have created something extremely special.
“I have always had an interest in aviation from an early age and for many years I have been using flight simulators, from the early days of Microsoft Flight Simulators 1.0 back in 1982.”
Steven said he was caught in the Covid lockdown in the small town of Torrevieja, Spain, when he discovered the aircraft.
He said: “Bored one night, I came across a real aircraft, a decommissioned Piper PA24 Aircraft on Ebay and to be honest a few Sangrias had passed my lips! In haste, I pressed 'bid' and thought nothing of it.
"In the morning, to my surprise, I woke up to find I was the proud owner of said aircraft. After a week of deliberation, and buyer's remorse, I thought I should do something with the aircraft.”
Steven, from Burnley, said he came to the conclusion it would make a 'fantastic' flight simulator and the only one of its kind in the UK. And it's not just budding pilots who the new simulator suits, with Steven saying anyone can have a go with no risk of crashing and burning in a real jet.
He said: "I'm extremely experienced in-flight simulation, but no experience is necessary for potential participants, making it suitable for novices or would-be pilots alike.”
He began building the simulator in the van after returning to the UK following lockdown. He said: “I stripped out the interior to retro fit all the gauges and avionic systems.
"When I was satisfied with the quality of the van and Piper Aircraft, myself and a few burly friends manipulated the Piper into the van. Once the Piper was in the van, I set about integrating all the software and hardware. I use the latest fully licensed version of Xplane11, Laminar Research."
"The creators of Xplane have been creating flight simulator software since 1995. It is arguably the best flight simulator software for accurate flight dynamics, giving participants a more realistic flight experience.”
He said he was delighted with how the vehicle had turned out after and the hard work has definitely paid off. Steven added: “Participants can also hire my simulator for one hour if they desire or visit us in Accrington to take a look.”
A one hour flight session equates to roughly enough time to fly from Manchester Airport to the likes Belfast, Amsterdam, or London. More information is available on the Flying Without Wings Sim website.
