Man converts van into mobile flight simulator

By Douglas Whitbread via SWNS

A plane enthusiast has spent two years making the UK’s first mobile flight simulator - in a VAN.

Steven Fletcher, 55, who’s had a passion for aviation from an early age, came across a decommissioned Piper PA24 plane on eBay while stuck in Spain due to COVID-19.

And the ex-removals firm boss was stunned to find out that his late night £1,000 ($1,133) bid had been successful after he'd sunk “a few Sangrias” and awoken the next morning.

Steven later decided to turn an Iveco van into a “mobile flight simulator,” spending a £17,000 ($19,261) installing the single prop plane’s cockpit in the vehicle with all modern avionics systems.

People of all abilities can now use his simulator to “fly” to destinations around Europe and even take in sites including Big Ben, Stonehenge and Blackpool Tower.

And the single businessman now believes that his “Van Simulator” could be the first of its kind anywhere in Britain.

Steven Fletcher simulator. (Steven Fletcher via SWNS)

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“There are many static flight simulators, but I thought a ‘Mobile Flight Simulator’ would be a unique idea and the only one of its kind in the UK," Steven said.

"I think I have created something extremely special.”

Steven, from Accrington, Lancs., England purchased the aircraft in June 2020 after finding he couldn’t leave his apartment in the city of Torrevieja, near Alicante, for ten months due to a lockdown.

“The flights back to the UK were £2-3000, and I thought I’d just stay here," he said.

"I was lucky because I own my own apartment, and I wasn’t stuck in a hotel which would have been horrendous.

“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 decided to turn the plane into a mobile flight simulator, adding that he’d shared a passion for the legendary computer game since it came out 40 years ago.

“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," he said.

“The build began once I returned to England after the lockdown. I picked up the van in October 2020 after buying the plane in about June of the same year.

"The Iveco van cost about £3,500 and it had done about 35,000 miles when I bought it.

“I stripped out the interior to retrofit all the gauges and avionics systems.

“When I was satisfied with the quality of the van and aircraft, myself, 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.

He added: “It is arguably the best flight simulator software for accurate flight dynamics, giving participants a more realistic flight experience.”

Steven is now offering his simulator to both experts and novices who want to take a crack at piloting his remarkable creation.

“It’s a single propeller aircraft, so it’s limited to short flights, but you can fly it anywhere in the world on the computer graphics," he said.

“No experience is necessary for potential participants, making it suitable for novices or would-be pilots alike.

“I am very thrilled to offer this to weddings, parties or any event where the public thinks it would be beneficial to their special day.

“Participants can also hire my simulator for one hour if they desire or visit my static location, based in Accrington.

“I’m actually building a Boeing 737 now, but that will be static.”