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I am working with the folks at FlyThisSim (FTS) to develop a set of Mooney simulations for their TouchTrainer. Since I wanted a Mooney sim to use with my students (I hope to use the sim as a procedures trainer for new Mooney pilots as well as for getting an instrument rating) this seemed like the best route. After looking at a number of sim manufacturers I decided to work with FTS because they are willing to customize their sim to match the panel in a specific aircraft and then get it certified as a BATD for initial training and currency. (Once done you could use the Mooney Sim in the TouchTrainer to do your recurring IFR currency and the panel would look and behave like YOUR aircraft.) Of course, it makes sense for the first sim to be an M20J since that seems to be the most popular of all the M20 series. (Please correct me if I am wrong.) And, of course, since I am footing part of the bill for its development, it is going to be an M20K sim too. (Not too much different from the M20J.) But the nice thing about the Mooney is that the airframe behavior just hasn't changed that much thus allowing the creation of a sim for nearly any of the M20 series in relatively short order. It should be possible to have a family of simulations that covers from the M20A through the Acclaim. I am pretty excited about the idea. In speaking with FTS today they asked me if I could provide some examples of common instrument panel layouts so they can match them. Seems like we have three main panel sizes, several with the basic 6-pack of steam gauges, various nav/com and GPS combos, with and without HSI, and some of the new glass panels. (They have G1000, G500, and Aspen glass to use to build new panel layouts.) So I am soliciting pictures of peoples' panels. I want to get a good cross-section of early, mid, and late model panels to use as templates for the sims. They already have a good library of instruments, radios, GPS's, and autopilots. About the only thing they don't have is the pneumatic wing-leveler. (Is anyone still using the pneumatic wing leveler AP anymore?) So, if you have a good panel shot that you think is representative of a substantial number of aircraft, please send it to me or directly to FTS. Disclaimer: Just so everyone understands, I have no formal relationship with FTS other than I am going to become a customer. I do not receive any compensation from FTS. I like their product and have ordered one to use in training. Because I do Mooney training I am working with FTS to help them develop a Mooney sim I can use but I can imagine a number of Mooney pilots wanting their own sim to use to maintain log-able IFR currency or to use to earn their instrument rating.