SFS Interconnect Cable is done!

Before I can get the VPForce-based control loading system installed in the F-15, I needed to build a cable that connects the SFS wiring harness in the cockpit to something that can read the switch inputs from the grip. In this case, that device is the VPForce Shift Register board.

It’s a lot smaller than I expected. 🙂

The SFS (Stick Force Sensor) box is where the flight grip is mounted. It has a post that bolts to the flight stick base in the cockpit. In a real SFS box, the grips mating plug is part of an assembly that contains a load cell. This is where the “Force Sensor” part comes into play.

You can see how I built the SFS for this project at this blog entry: https://www.f15sim.com/?p=272

Here’s the video I made that shows how the new SFS interconnect cable was made, and where it was installed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fHs_51rHa8

Holy Missing Updates!

Wow. I’ve been really remiss on posting project updates here. Let’s fix that!

Project update video in February: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZFnfHmnnZc&t=19s

Last week I posted a video that covers the new control loader system I’m installing in the simulator: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUWSFDEAGdQ&t=668s

The control loader is based around the VPForce Force Feedback controller and servo motors. It’s a really cool and flexible system. There’s going to be a video about that coming soon, so keep an eye out for it – subscribe to the channel if you haven’t already!

One of the things I nearly missed doing is the cable that links the SFS box & flight grip to the VPForce “shift register” board. Had I missed that, I would have had to un-install all the hardware for the control loader in order to regain access to where the cable has to go.

The cable is 1m long and has a 66 pin cannon plug on one end and will have a DB25 connector on the other. The end of the control loader video above has the details about where it’s going to go. This evening I got the sockets set into the cannon plug end, and tomorrow evening I’ll be hopefully finishing it up.

The magnifier is basically required these days! 🙂

More soon! Thanks for taking the time to stop by and check out the site.