14 DAY TRIAL // Richard Hutchinson from Cambridgeshire, in eastern England, has never flown a real plane, but he transformed his spare bedroom into a replica Boeing 737 cockpit.
The 58-year-old man has spent years painstakingly recreating a fully working flight simulator in his own house. He bought equipment and software from all over the world and spent $16,000 (€11,660) to see his dream come true.
The homemade flight simulator includes authentic switches and lights, and it can recreate real-life flying scenarios, including weather conditions and mechanical faults.
“The conditions are about 99% realistic. I have never flown a plane before but I think if I needed to, I could land a 737,” Mr. Hutchinson tells the Mirror.
Moreover, the wannabe pilot can “take off” from any airport in the world, and he confesses he likes to go on fantasy flights to exotic locations.
Besides fulfilling a hobby, Richard also allows nervous flyers to come in and use the flight simulator to help overcome their fears.
“I’ve had people come here who would not go in a plane and then go on holiday in a plane for the first time and be explaining to their wife about what is happening,” he adds.
Hutchinson says he caught the flying bug from his father, who served in Britain's Royal Air Force and with whom he used to go to air shows.