OEM 737-300 Throttle Quadrant

oem 737-300 throttle quadrant in tear down yard

I was surprised to find an OEM throttle quadrant, at more or less the same time that I was about to purchase a reproduction throttle.

The throttle quadrant was used in a South West 737-300 series airframe and has a two-bay center pedestal. The two-bay pedestal will suffice until a three-bay pedestal can be found.

The pedestal still has undamaged DZUS rails so it should be an easy matter to drop in avionics panels (radios, etc).

Proposed Conversion

The Throttle quadrant will be completely dismantled, cleaned and serviced. Parts that are not required for simulation will be removed. The lower section of the throttle and center pedestal will be removed as this is not necessary when installing the items to flat platform.

Any cards and other items needed to convert the throttle for flight simulator will be either mounted forward of the throttle on the forward bulkhead, or be hidden from sight in the center pedestal. USB cabling will be routed along the lower side of the throttle to emerge from the forward bulkhead, and then will be connected to a computer.

The throttle will be converted using Phidget cards and servo motors.

Although the throttle is not going to be motorised (the thrust levers will not move automatically), the use a a DC motor will enable the trim wheels to rotate and the trim tab indicators to move.

Finally, a fresh coat of paint will be applied to the throttle and pedestal and any damaged transfers replaced.

Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM)

A major advantage when using an OEM component such as a throttle is the added realism and immersion, not too mention that it's almost impossible to break an OEM throttle.

One thing that I found interesting when searching for the throttle quadrant, was the number of throttles that are superficially damaged or are in poor condition. Often the throttle and pedestal is scratched, dented and stained. Investigating this further, I learnt that it's not so much the pilots that are doing this, but the dismantling crews. Throttles are heavy and unwieldy and a dismantling crew has little time to worry about scratching a throttle that is probably going to scrap.

I have been fortunate in that the throttle and pedestal had been removed from the scrapped aircraft relatively carefully.

The pictures shown here were sent to me by the company who dismantled the aircraft.

Update

on 2020-07-14 23:24 by FLAPS 2 APPROACH

I've just received an e-mail from Florida stating the TQ has landed safely and in good order. Next will be the transition from a scraped throttle quadrant to a working unit. The timeline for the conversion is around 3-4 weeks. If everything works out as anticipated, and freight is not delayed, I am expecting delivery to Australia sometime in early October. Everything is green for go! :)

Update

on 2020-07-14 23:27 by FLAPS 2 APPROACH

737-300 series throttle dismantled for cleaning. You will immediately notice the massive internal cogs that control the internal mechanism; it makes a Swiss watch mechanism dim by comparison

After returning from a work trip to east Africa, I have been told that the throttle quadrant has been refurbished and wired to connect to flight simulator. All that's remaining is to repaint it to Boeing grey.

Rather than repaint the actual throttle levers and knobs in white to replicate the colour scheme used by a Next Generation throttle, I have opted to leave the colour of the handles as they are. The levers and knobs of the throttle (after cleaning) were in exceptionally good condition, and it seems a shame, almost criminal to repaint them.

Therefore, although the MIP is a simulation of a Next Generation airframe, the throttle quadrant will remain as a 300 series quadrant. In many respects, simulation is about compromise, and to destroy an historical 300 series throttle to replicate a Next Generation throttle doesn't seem the right thing to do.

Update

on 2020-07-14 23:32 by FLAPS 2 APPROACH

Not long now... I spoke with my friend in Florida this morning and he informed me the throttle conversion has been completed.

The throttle will soon be travelling as cargo to Australia either by United Airlines or Qantas for I hope a late October delivery.

Update

on 2011-10-16 07:10 by FLAPS 2 APPROACH

The throttle quadrant is finished and is finally in the air winging its way from the US to Australia. After a stint in Australian Customs, it will then be send across Bass Straight and on to Hobart - its new home. The next phase will then be the addition of avionic panels to the pedestal and connection and configuration to flight simulator.