LOOK in most people’s garages and you’ll find tools, a few bikes, camping equipment and perhaps some spare car parts.
But nearly all the space in Tony Ralph’s “man cave” is taken up with a full-scale replica of a Boeing 737 cockpit – and two pinball machines.
What started as a weekend shed project– building a flight simulator – has now turned into a six-year love affair with virtual flying for the former panelbeater and computer software designer from Caves Beach, NSW.
He was inspired to build the virtual airliner in his shed after having a go in a friend’s simulator nearly a decade ago and said he’s spent more money on his hobby than he’d like to admit.
“I’ve stopped counting,” said Tony, who spends most weekends tinkering with his creation.
“I know dozens of people with flight simulators, and I’ve never met one who’s said ‘my simulator is finished’.”
Last month, Tony, 56, led a team of six “pilots” in their sixth annual Worldflight – an international virtual around-the-world flight event – to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Flying as Mangrove 737 Team, the pilots and crew manned the flights on the virtual trip that started and ended in Sydney, had 49 legs and ran 24 hours a day for a week.
There had to be two people in the simulator at any one time during the whole challenge.
“We’re all like-minded idiots, so if nothing else we have that common thread,” he said.
When Tony set off on his first Worldflight mission six years ago – with a team of more than 20 – he typed up a short bullet-point list of housekeeping rules.
“I’ve updated it. Now it’s four pages long.
“We’re together in a confined space for a long time!”
To make it even more realistic, the crew has to navigate through real-time live weather based on their “location” – information that is updated and downloaded every 15 minutes.
“You forget it’s a simulator when you’re in there. That’s as enjoyable as it can get – you become immersed in it.
“So if we’re flying over the Philippines and there’s a typhoon happening, we have to deal with that too.”
Air traffic control is provided for the entire trip and often by “local” controllers – providing an added level of realism for participants.
“We follow real-world procedures as closely as possible including airways clearances, taxi /takeoff and landing instructions and so on,” Tony said.
Worldflight has been held as a round-the-world virtual flying event since 2000.
It has been administered by the main Australian Worldflight Team (QF25) based in Sydney since 2001.
Over this time the Australian teams have raised almost $250,000 for the Flying Doctor.
This year was Mangrove 737 Team’s sixth year as a Worldflight team, clocking up more than 400,000km and in excess of 1100 hours.
It has raised nearly $25,000 since joining the event in 2012 – and hopes to add a further $5000 to that total this year.
- To donate to the Mangrove 737 Team go to mangrove.com.au/737
Donations can be made until December 31.
