The latest release in the Microsoft simulator series, Flight Simulator 2002, provides powerful software at very little cost.

If you are seriously contemplating a glass cockpit, you have to check out Project Magenta. Enrico Schiratti has created superb software for the Primary Flight Display, Navigation Display, Flight Management Computer and Mode Control Panel, amongst others.

Need to connect throttles, yokes, flaps and umpteen dozen switches to your PC ? - EPIC, made by R & R Electronics is one alternative. Keyboard emulators are another useful alternative. Check out Hagstrom Electronics.

Phidgets™, or physical widgets, are electronic modules for controlling and sensing the "real world" from your computer.  The Phidgets are USB devices, and use a free software library to interface to your application or development environment!

So now you have FS2002 and Project Magenta's software running on a network of PCs and a host of switches, throttles, flaps all connected up using Phidgets. How do all these components talk to each other? Peter Dowson is the wizard who made this all possible.

If you are looking for aircraft components one can choose the whole gamut from genuine Boeing parts (not cheap!) to less expensive reproductions. Chris Benton (from Down Under) makes very high quality parts that are manufactured to Boeing specifications. He's building a really superb full motion simulator. 

Check out panels and components made by Flight Deck Solutions, Cockpit Simulations, Advanced Graphics Technologies and Precision Flight Controls.

I have been following in the footsteps of others. Check out these guy's web sites. They contain great information as well as links to other useful sites I may have missed:

James Price B737. Very advanced project with real flight deck and components.

Matt Ford B737 project. Another real flight deck. Dedicated builder.

David Allen B737 project. Meticulous builder and restorer. Site has  handy tips.

Junji Hirayama B747-400 project. Another excellent project.