Your Ultimate Flight Simulation Master
THAT YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF FOR UNDER $500 ?
HOME BUILT D-I-Y FLIGHT SIMULATION!
INTRODUCING ... THE DUAL SEAT SIM-SAMURAI XS-1 FLIGHT DECK
A HOME USE SIM STATION FOR THE AVIATION ENTHUSIAST
OR REAL WORLD TRAINING PILOT.
AND THREE NEW MODELS COMING VERY SOON !!!
The Samurai LX-1 -- Much like the XS-1 but specifically designed for two pilots who prefer to use all widescreen LCD monitors instead of front projection.
The Samurai SS-1 -- An "open cockpit" single seat variant for those jet jockeys who want fighter like stylings while still using projection for main viewing.
The Samurai HX-1 -- A single seat fully enclosed cockpit design specifically tailored for LCD use only and can be used for helicopter enthusiasts.
YOU TOO CAN BUILD ANY OF THESE FOUR MODELS YOURSELF FOR UNDER $500 !
The Sim Samurai Flight Sim Philosophy :
In short, the XS-1 is a sim station or "sim-pit" shell ready for your own customization with monitors and PC hardware (purchased separately). The XS-1 is a "form follows function" design that gives the feel of an aircraft cockpit while not resigning itself to be just one aircraft type. Thus the XS-1 is very flexible for your needs and can grow with your needs. It is in fact the first two seat sim cockpit truly designed for the home market and is for those thousands of DIY flight simulator sim pit builders without deep pockets. Affordable and advanced flight simulation has finally come home!
Many people may think a home flight deck has to specifically look like a Cessna or a 737. I say why not have both! I think that limiting yourself to flying just one aircraft for the rest of your sim flying days is simply B-O-R-I-N-G. Therefore I created the XS-1 to give you, the DIY home sim pit pilot, as much choice of personal customization as you desire.
Furthermore some people think a flight simulator has to look like an actual aircraft nose cone stuffed in your garage or home. I say separate that concept into what a simulator really is... a flight simulator ! You fly from the inside..not the outside! Therefore the exterior of a flight sim should not have to look like any aircraft!
Therefore in using this philosophy of form follows function the XS-1 was born !
The XS-1 certainly does give you the right cockpit feel while sitting in the sim station but it does not look like an aircraft nose cone from the outside. (and again...why should it?) If you are one of those "novelty types" who wants a real nose cone cockpit and loads of tactile analog gauges then be prepared to pay at least $25,000 for it! (if not more) -- Who has that kind of money these days ? ...and if you did you should save it for real training, not your home hobby! Advanced flight simulation while costly enough, can still be reasonable and affordable and I have now proven that!
This one statement is the sole philosophy of SimSamurai.net .. advanced flight simulation can be affordable!
So, I loudly say ...save all that extra money for other internal hardware to outfit your new SimSamurai XS-1 Sim Pit !
But Wait ... It Gets Even Better !
The SimSamurai XS-1 Flight Simulator Station DIY Sim Pit is a unique blend of aircraft cockpit architecture, home computer desk functionality, and full on flight simulator enjoyment all rolled into one! The XS-1 will allow you to be checking email and watching stocks or YouTube one minute and then fly in an ultra-realistic flight simulator cockpit the next ...all with a single mouse click. Therefore the XS-1 truly is the best of both worlds! Best of all you can build the XS-1 flight deck all by yourself for under $500.00 using my professional crafted DIY blueprints and builder manual or you can have Sim Samurai build a pre-cut ready to assemble kit for you at a cost starting at around $1,500.00. Lastly the XS-1 sim station comes in two unique sizes, the RJ "Rejional Jet" or the AXX "Airliner Jet". Both of these versions come included on the DIY blueprints and builder plans so you can build one ..or both! Lastly the frame of the XS-1 is sturdy enough to turn it into a full motion sim if ever desired! The XS-1 will stand the test of time...guaranteed!
The XS-1 RJ (Rejional Jet) version has ample room while providing the best solution for space constraints in your home. The XS-1 AXX (Airliner Jet) version is 10" wider x 6" deeper in size and therefore is best suited for pilots who primarily fly the heavies and have ample room in their home. Regardless, either sim station shell version can be built by you in your own home workshop for about $500.00 in materials (or less) and approximately four weekends of carpentry work. Both sim stations are designed to be built using basic home carpentry tools such as a skill saw and drill. Having been a professional carpenter and home remodeler in the past I took extra care to write a 35 page builder manual that is easy to understand and teaches you professional building techniques for each step so as to acheive a professional looking product. I will have you making professional quality plywood cuts within an hour of building!
ADVANCED FLIGHT SIMULATION HAS NEVER BEEN THIS EASY NOR THIS AFFORDABLE...EVER !
As you will see in all my photos and videos on this website, or via my YouTube video links, I built my own XS-1 sim station for right around $500 in materials and parts. I then spent other money on building a good PC, buying monitors, and lastly buying some tactile flight simulator hardware such as yokes, pedals, and avionics all of which can be found on my "Hot Links" page. My point here is that if I had spent thousands of dollars on some other retailers flight simulator or sim pit shell then I would not have had the money to purchase all the other much needed components of my sim station's flight deck! So whether you want to build the XS-1 yourself or want to let me build one for you, the XS-1 is simply the best choice for affordable DIY home cockpit building. Please check out the product options below and keep reading after that for many more details on why I feel the XS-1 flight sim station is the absolute best choice for an advanced home based flight simulator. Let the revolution begin!
--- THE XS-1 (D-I-Y) DO IT YOURSELF BUILDER PLANS $40.00 USD
For an extremely reasonable fee of $40.00 (plus shipping) you will get 10 pages of full sized 24" x 18" high quality professionally drawn blueprints which include a 35 page step-by-step DIY builders manual complete with tutorials on professional building techniques for novice builders. The builder manual is very comprehensive and takes you through every step of the building process from materials selection all the way through installing every last nut, screw, and bolt. For even the most inexperienced builder ... I have you covered! Also included on CD is over 300 construction photos that are organized into 13 different folders for each step of the building process. It additionally includes some helpful videos.
You can easily build the XS-1 sim station in as little as 4 -6 weekends or faster depending on your skill level and all you will need are basic home carpentry tools such as a skill saw, rip fence, and drill. Don't forget that I fully detail how to properly use these power tools too!
As an added benefit the XS-1 plans also include several customizing options based on your own personal needs or desires. Lastly, I also offer free builder advice via email or phone (during 8am-6pm USA Pacific time) for all XS-1 flight simulator station purchasers. So know that I am always here to help if you need any added assistance!
--- THE XS-1 PRE-MANUFACTURED (R-T-A) READY TO ASSEMBLE FLIGHT DECK $1,600.00 USD
The Ready to Assemble (RTA) package of the SimSamurai XS-1 flight deck takes all your cutting out of the equation as it will come to you ready to assemble. The RTA kit comes complete with all materials and hardware necessary for full assembly and will only require that you have tools available such as a drill, some screwdrivers, and a small socket set. All major parts of the XS-1 RTA kit are pre-cut on a precision C-N-C computerized router machine using high grade cabinet quality hardwood laminate and hardwood composite material ( Not cheap MDF or particle board!) The the XS-1 RTA package is made of professional "cabinet quality" materials and is made to high grade furniture quality specifications. It is made to last for years and years!
The XS-1 RTA kit includes all screws, bolts, brackets, and templates necessry for full project assembly and will include several assembly tutorial videos that accompany the assembly manual so as to help you build the flight simulator station in a professional manner all within a day. Finally, as with all my products, I design with future upgradeability and expandability in mind. You will be able to set up the XS-1 exactly as I have or you can instead install a pre-made instrument panel from any other "pro sim" retailers such as Sim Kits or others if desired.
The only final requirement of the RTA kit purchaser may be a final sanding and painting before assembly however for an added fee all sim station parts can be custom painted in a choice of three colors : Olive Drab green, Charcoal Mettalic, or Black Mettalic. Lastly as with all purchases, I offer free building and assembly advice (during 8am-6pm USA Pacific time) for all XS-1 flight simulator station purchasers. So please know that I am always here to help if you need any added assistance!
So Why Build the Sim Samurai XS-1 Sim Station / Flight Deck ?
My first question to you is this; Would you rather spend a few hundred dollars to be able to fly perhaps every aircraft... or, are you wanting to spend thousands and thousands of dollars just to replicate one aircraft? With the XS-1 sim station you can actually choose to do either!
The XS-1 is designed to accommodate many LCD's for displaying any aircraft panel "virtually" like I do or likewise it's size is designed to accommodate professional instrument panel overlays from any other simulator cockpit or "instrument panel" retailers. Thus the XS-1 is truly the best of both worlds.
What the XS-1 provides is the sim station shell for which you can then customize to your own liking be it with many LCD's as I do, or with LCD's and a custom pro panel and other tactile gauge hardware! So think of the XS-1 as your "flight simulator skeleton" for which you can add in your own custom cockpit muscles!
Again, the XS-1 does not include computer equipment or monitors. However if you want me to build you an advanced computer for flight simulator I can do that too ...email me for details! As an advanced simulator pilot I can offer many, many valuable suggestions for how to outfit your XS-1. Once built I also highly recommend my tech manual which fully details how to get the most out your flight simulation experience and therefore it goes hand in hand with the XS-1.
I have spent the last 10 years flying with Microsoft Flight Simulator (FS 98, 2000, 2002, 2004 and FSX) and I have spent the last 5 years developing all the great flight sim products on this website so please know that I take all this very seriously!
Other Great Benefits of the XS-1 Sim Station / Flight Deck !
One of the best benefits of the XS-1 sim cockpit compared to the very small amount of flight simulator stations available to the home consumer market is that the XS-1 actually breaks down into 5 manageable sections, each of which can fit through a small 32" doorway. What this means to you is that once your XS-1 is fully assembled you will only need to separate it into these sections so as to move it to another location if ever need be. Because of the fact that the average family moves every 5 years this factor was very, very important to me while designing the XS-1. If need be you can break down the XS-1 into its 5 major components in less than 15 minutes! Yes...no kidding! -- Thus once you fully assemble your XS-1 sim station you will never have to fully disassemble it ever again ...EVER!
A Full Two-Seat Home Flight Deck is Now Both Affordable, AND Flexible !
The second great feature of the XS-1 sim cockpit is that is also a true "Sim-Tainer-Trainer" system. While other high end expensive cockpits represent an actual aircraft nose cone made out of expensive metals and plastics they often take up alot of extra "outside" space while inversely leaving little "interior" space for the pilot as is typical with a real aircraft cockpit. While the XS-1 does provide you with the "cozy" cockpit feel it was also designed to accomdate the standard sized office chair for home desk day-to-day functionality. Secondly, other retail sim stations contain the blank hardware-less interior just as the XS-1 does but their stations typically require that you buy an instument panel that is specifically made for their sim station shell. This is because many high-end professional sim station retailers expect you to spend very large amounts of money to build aircraft specifc panels such as a boeing 737, 747, or pehaps an Airbus A320. While this theory of cockpit construction certainly has its place in a more professional or commercial environment, the costs of these kits typcially go far beyond the available resources of the average home builder.
Most importantly these types of cockpits immediatly limit you to just flying one aircraft type for the rest of your days! ...Yikes!
The XS-1 however is much more "cockpit flexible" in that the main panel deck is sized to accomdate either 3 20" LCD monitors or you can purchase a ready made instrument panel from any other "pro panel" retailer and simply install it into the XS-1 sim station. Thus the XS-1 has a "future forward" design that was meant to harmonize with other flight simulator panel retailers if that is your goal.
Because I primarily designed the XS-1 for "virual glass cockpit functionality" you can acheive the same results I do by using several LCD monitors and an overhead projector. In fact, if you use Flight Simulator 2004 (FS9) you can have up to 6 displays on one PC! Thus you can use 5 for cockpit instumentation and one for your exterior view or any combination therein. Secondly I designed the XS-1 to house up to two computers in the sim station itself so that if you ever need to move the XS-1, the two computer PC's will easily move with it! With networking a second PC you can actually display up to 11 views so as to have full cockpit instrumentation and have 180 degree panoramic exterior visuals too! Because of the common space restraints in the average home or office the XS-1 is designed to house two LCDs on the pilots side for the left exterior visuals and two LCD's on the copilot side for the right side exterior visuals. In professional environments these added side view exterior visuals are typcially created with two addtional overhead projectors and two large projection screens. While this is great for a real flight training center or academy I knew that the average home user does not have the space required to do this as it requires a floor footprint of at least 16ft x 16ft for the sim station and the three projection screens. The XS-1's method of using LCD screens for the side visuals allows the same panoramic effect but still pays mind to the space constraints of the average living room, bedroom, or home office.
So as you can now see, the XS-1 is most likely the absolute best option on the planet for a home built flight simulator cockpit. It is affordable, it is flexible, it is moveable, and it is modular. What more could you ask for!? Lastly it pays attention to the space constraints of the average home while still provding many of the functions and visual abilities of professional FAA certified flight simulators. The biggest difference of course is cost! You can totally equip the XS-1 for under $5,000 and have similar results that cost more than $50,000 to acheive in a real flight training center. If that ain't some huge savings so as to acheive the same "pro level feel" then I don't know what savings is!!!
Lastly, by using my book, Sim Samurai's Ultimate Guide to Advanced Flight Simulation you can quickly learn all the tools, tips, tricks and shortcuts required to create a professional looking flight simulator in your home. By using the virtual panel design methods I detail in the manual you can quickly start building ultra realistic instrument panels just like I do! My hopeful goal for the next 5 years is to have people use my same panel building formula for the XS-1 sim station so that we can all share our panel building creations and reap the rewards, joys, and benefits of flying a multitude of high quality life size aircraft instrument panels for flight simulator!
I hope you can now agree that the XS-1 sim pit is flight simulation flexiblity at its finest. While it can certainly give you every cockpit feel you desire, don't forget that it is meant to double as your home office desk or home entertainment hub too! The XS-1 has storage spaces on each side for items like software, books, maps, and more. So while the XS-1 certainly looks and feels like a very professional flight simulator, the unique design retains some very useful, and most importantly functional, traits of a home computer desk and therefore it is still able to be used for daily home computing. In other words...the XS-1 is not some huge aircraft nose cone that you will have to stuff out in your garage. Mine sits nicely in the corner of my living room and my wife doesn't even mind it! Now that's designing for success!
TO PURCHASE THE BLUEPRINTS OR RTA KIT PLEASE SEE THE PRODUCT PURCHASING PAGE !
