The “cockpit front” was made from wood and incorporated the two master pilots. The card screen surround was retained, but improved, and included side view panels. It also had an improved wooden “Hud frame”. A Cambridge soundworks 4 speaker plus sub-woofer sound system was installed. Instead of the plastic chair seat on the wooden box on wheels an “ejection seat” was designed and built out of m.d.f., foam and leather. A dimmer switch for the light bulb allows different lighting levels to match the “time of day”. Small panel lights illuminate the keyboard and masterpilot buttons for “night-time".

Success ! !
Almost total immersion. As for “suspension of disbelief”, as I’m approaching the carrier in TSH’s F 14 and I hear the call “3/4 of a mile –call the ball “ and I answer “Merlin has the ball”. Don’t worry—I’m there.

Now for the tragic bit. I completed the “cockpit” late in 2001.

In 2002, I spent from April to October in hospital, initially with heart failure and then with a serious stroke. This has left me with very limited use of my left arm and hand. Using the throttle with its switches is difficult but not impossible.

"Don’t worry “Goose”, I’m getting back into the fight, and I’ve got a lifetime to enjoy it!"