FCU — Flight Control Unit

Build log for the 737 MAX Flight Control Unit panel: design decisions, encoder layout, and SimConnect integration.

5 min read Updated 2026-03
Boeing 737 MAX

Overview

The Flight Control Unit (FCU) sits on the glare shield and provides the primary autoflight interface. On the real 737 MAX this is often conflated with the MCP — for this build they share the same physical housing but are documented separately.

Status

Currently in design phase. Panel DXF is complete; awaiting laser cut.

Panel Layout

The FCU replicates the following controls:

  • Speed — rotary encoder with push (managed/selected toggle)
  • Heading/Track — encoder with push
  • Altitude — large encoder, coarse and fine
  • Vertical Speed / FPA — encoder with +/- buttons
  • AP1 / AP2 / A/THR — illuminated pushbuttons
  • APPR / LOC / EXPED — mode buttons

Design Notes

The glare shield housing is cut from 3mm MDF and painted RAL 7021. The FCU panel itself is 3mm black acrylic with engraved legends.

MCP
Overhead Panel