New 737 flight simulator in T2

Elessar

I'm surprised there is no thread on this already. A new 737-800 flight simulator is up and running in T2 Dublin Airport and it is VERY impressive. It's up beside burger king just after security. Has anyone tried it?

I work in the airport and was up to have a look and got chatting to the lads who built it. Very cool setup, it's a full 737NG running FSX and has its own logic for all the systems and buttons, actuators for the throttles and moving parts and fully working FMC/IRS/etc, the real deal. Fully authentic and the guys, two lads from Donegal, built it themselves. I will definitely be having a go during my break next week!

www.upilot.ie

Cessna_Pilot

Looks good, fair play to the lads involved. Must have a gander when I'm going through next week

Tenger

Must have a gander next time I am T2. It was mentioned a few weeks back in one of the other threads. Whats the cost?

Peregrine

It actually was mentioned here somewhere..I can't seem to find it though!

Anyway, looks good. I forgot all about it the last time I went through T2 though. Damn.

Edit: Ah, here it is. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=90724128

Tenger wrote: »

Whats the cost?

LL mentioned the cost in that post.

Oh, here's what they're offering:

BeardySi

Ooooh, should be going through T2 on monday morning... may have a punt if I've got time!

jamo2oo9

Wish I was going abroad this year. Would love to see this set up!

BonkeyDonker

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

Wish I was going abroad this year. Would love to see this set up!

Is this not land side meaning you do not have to be going anywhere to be able to take a spin. TBH if it isn't then that was a really stupid business decision.

jamo2oo9

BonkeyDonker wrote: »

Is this not land side meaning you do not have to be going anywhere to be able to take a spin. TBH if it isn't then that was a really stupid business decision.

It's airside in T2. OP said it's beside Burger King which is in the food court, airside in T2.


Not really a poor business decision I think. The only reason people go the airport is to depart or arrive. Nobody goes there for no reason other than traveling or collecting someone who is traveling really.

BonkeyDonker

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

Nobody goes there for no reason other than traveling or collecting someone who is traveling really.

Your point reinforces my point to a degree - the majority of non-aviation people are not going to pay the prices being asked for a simulator session, there are better and cheaper way of spending 15+ minutes in the airport. Where as there is a potential for the more aviation inclined enthusiast to go out to the airport and pay the prices being asked and do a bit of spotting as well - I know I would be very tempted, but not if i also needed to buy a ticket to get airside.

If Atlantic Aerventure can make a go of it in Shannon, then surely something similiar in or near the largest population in the country should be able to as well. To me it just seems like an opportunity lost.

squonk

As a non-industry person, airside seems stupid tbh. The real attraction would be heading in for a session but getting the 'walk through airport' experience as well. Atlantic Airventures is a great spot but it's in the middle of an estate in Shannon. T2 would make for a great experience. That being said, AA have some static display aircraft which makes up for their location!

Cessna_Pilot

BonkeyDonker wrote: »

Your point reinforces my point to a degree - the majority of non-aviation people are not going to pay the prices being asked for a simulator session, there are better and cheaper way of spending 15+ minutes in the airport. Where as there is a potential for the more aviation inclined enthusiast to go out to the airport and pay the prices being asked and do a bit of spotting as well - I know I would be very tempted, but not if i also needed to buy a ticket to get airside.

If Atlantic Aerventure can make a go of it in Shannon, then surely something similiar in or near the largest population in the country should be able to as well. To me it just seems like an opportunity lost.

Agreed, as much of a good idea that this setup is it's the location that will let it down. After seeing this thread last night, I was telling some non aviation involved friends aboutnit and they were very interested in it, until I told them the location.
For what it's worth, Altantic Air Venture in Shannon is brilliant.

Dublinflyer

I have been involved in this, I helped the lads set it up. It is an impressive setup alright but it's too expensive imho. They are also very out of the way so need to get a few signs in place showing people where it is.

LXFlyer

It also requires people to factor in a significant amount of time before their flight - landside really would be a far better location.

folbotcar

I can't believe they put it airside. That completely cuts off a potentially huge market. It's daft!

Not only that I cannot find anything on the website that indicates you cannot use it unless you have airside access.

What were they thinking?

Paulw

folbotcar wrote: »

Not only that I cannot find anything on the website that indicates you cannot use it unless you have airside access.

What were they thinking?

From their website -

OUR LOCATION

Exclusive to Dublin Airport, uPilot® have just launched Europe's 1st Departure Lounge Jet Experience. Available to both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 departing passengers at Dublin International Airport.

---

So, it's for departing passengers only, which is a bit mad alright. And you would need to factor in a good bit of time for it, and also to fly, especially when many checkin desks only open 2 hours before departure.

mickdw

Was going to book it right now as I saw this thread until I read the entire thread. I never fly out of Dublin. I have occasionally done a bit of spotting at dublin but yes the airside location is crazy.

Bsal

NFC at Weston have recently opened a new 737ng fixed based sim too, also available to the public with good price's, might be easier for people to get to.

http://www.nfc.ie/en/content/flight-training/boeing-737-simulation/1328

http://www.simcheck.net/default.html

folbotcar

Yes there's the NFC sim. I meant to go and have a look at it when I was there recently. One other advantage is that you may have a real 737 pilot showing you the ropes. They have quite a few working airline pilots on their staff roster.

Simtech is another option too:

http://www.simtech.ie/gift-vouchers/

I 'flew' their simulator a while ago. Great fun Admittedly it's generic rather than an exact copy of any aircraft but five minutes into it you won't notice.

I wish the guys in T2 good luck though. It's a bold move and deserves success.

andy_g

As far as im aware you can book with them and they can take a guest through on that.

Email them to be sure though.

pclancy

What's it running, Microsoft FSX? P3D? or something else?

Lots of these types of fixed base 737 sims springing up around the world as its easy buy all the modules and panels from various makers. I'm yet to find a full motion one that isnt incredibly expensive, would love to give that a go.

folbotcar

andy_g wrote: »

As far as im aware you can book with them and they can take a guest through on that.

Email them to be sure though.

On their FB page they state you need a boarding card. So that's that.

martinsvi

If you can afford 45+ eur for a 15+ minute thrill, surely you can afford 9.99 eur for a one way ticket to Manchester or Bristol via Ryanair only to throw it out once you're done with a simulator

BonkeyDonker

martinsvi wrote: »

If you can afford 45+ eur for a 15+ minute thrill, surely you can afford 9.99 eur for a one way ticket to Manchester or Bristol via Ryanair only to throw it out once you're done with a simulator

Or you can drive to Weston/Newcastle and pay the same and put the 9.99 towards something to eat.

Also, that means you have to plan weeks or months in advance of actually going, which eliminates a lot of "walk-up" customers.

Cessna_Pilot

martinsvi wrote: »

If you can afford 45+ eur for a 15+ minute thrill, surely you can afford 9.99 eur for a one way ticket to Manchester or Bristol via Ryanair only to throw it out once you're done with a simulator

Location is wrong. Period.

martinsvi

Cessna_Pilot wrote: »

Location is wrong. Period.

I disagree. Every time I travel to airport, as most people, I want to clear the security ASAP as unexpected delays can happen there. I don't pay any attention to shops or bars landside. Once cleared the security only then I start to browse around in a more relaxed manner and I then have the time to actually think about sim flying or any other recreational activities. I believe this is their target audience, as for "walk-up" crowd there's plenty of competition around. The thought of short-term parking hassle in Dublin airport alone can put me off of going there for just sim flying if there are alternatives in Weston and other places

Elessar

Anyone know if there are any full-motion simulators in Ireland? Or do you have to go to the UK for them?

jamo2oo9

Elessar wrote: »

Anyone know if there are any full-motion simulators in Ireland? Or do you have to go to the UK for them?

Simtech has three full-motion simulators although they aren't open to public and the third belongs to Aer Lingus.

Growler!!!

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

and the third belongs to Aer Lingus.

The first and second belong to Stobart Air and Cityjet respectively.

andy_g

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

Simtech has three full-motion simulators although they aren't open to public and the third belongs to Aer Lingus.

Not technically true you can lease them on days the carriers are not using them although you will pay a premium price and thats only based on renting the sime for 1hr at a time.

You need to contact them directly for these bookings.

Terrontress

I called past the flight simulator in T2 yesterday. I was 50/50 as to whether I'd do it. The guy made no effort to sell it to me so I didn't bother. I think I'll do the Emirates A380 instead.

Elessar

jamo2oo9 wrote: »

Simtech has three full-motion simulators although they aren't open to public and the third belongs to Aer Lingus.

So really, we'd have to go to the UK. It's one thing on my bucket list - fly a professional full motion flight sim. I must find out who offers it across the water.

Stovepipe

Hi there,
A lot of the time, in sim training, the full motion is switched off as heavy landings, stalls, crashes and so on can damage the motion equipment. You could fly a sim with motion off and not notice the difference.

regards
Stovepipe

Reoil

Prices are a bit steep aren't they?

andy_g

Stovepipe wrote: »

Hi there,
A lot of the time, in sim training, the full motion is switched off as heavy landings, stalls, crashes and so on can damage the motion equipment. You could fly a sim with motion off and not notice the difference.

regards
Stovepipe

From using full motion sims a good bit i would agree with the crash part but not all sims would suffer damage from it.

Depends on A/C type purely.

Strumms

Reoil wrote: »

Prices are a bit steep aren't they?

Just a bit. Want a lot of spare cash in your pocket but then again knowing the DAA the rent is unlikely to be cheap. I'm flying out of T2 later I'll go have a look at the set up. I've been flying out twice I think since it's been there but never saw any signage or knew of its existence. I have to agree with the critical responses to the location... Landslide would have captured so much more in terms of footfall such as families waiting for inbound pax etc.. But hey who knows if even the DAA offered them any space landslide... Good luck to them anyway.

cherrytaz

Hi all,

I flew this last Friday (12th July) and I have to say it was a great experience. I'm the developer of the Eiresim (www.eiresim.com) scenery's for FSX so it was interesting to see my stuff running in the sim. They are using FSX with the Aerosoft Dublin and Playsims VFR imagery for the ground textures which all in all results in a very immersive experience. I was lucky in that I had a voucher from the lads in return for my scenery's but you're correct in saying that it is quite pricey. I think it would be more beneficial to have a €20 cost which would result in a lot more taking up the offer. As pointed out there is no signage towards towards the sim and only for I knew it was there I would not have been aware of it.

I hope they do well, anyways here's a quick pic of myself in the sim after doing a circuit of rwy 28.

Strumms

I flew out to Paris this afternoon and while wandering around T2 i was approached by a guy working for this sim company.. really nice guy he was just going up to people letting them know about the Sim and what not.. had a bit of a chat and what i didnt know or if i might have missed it in this thread there is an airport staff discount so you only have to pay 20 euros on showing your airport access ID for 45 minutes.. was temped mostly out of curiosity but was pressed for time.. 20 euros isnt so bad at all for 45 minutes if you have the benefit of being able to avail of the offer.

owenc

I was offered to do this but it was way too expensive. Couldn't be bothered.