Student Pilot Yoke & Pedals? Switches?

[adamofgreyskull]

Hi all, just recently started learning to fly in a C150 and I want to get a yoke and pedals so I can "practice" between lessons. I've heard good stuff about CH products, but I can't seem to find anywhere in NZ that sells them, though perhaps I'm not looking in the right place. I have some money in the UK and know of a reseller there, but suspect that shipping them over could be prohibitively expensive. The only other gear I've heard of is the Saitek Pro stuff: Pedals and Yoke/Throttle Quadrant.

What are people's experiences of CH and Saitek gear? I don't really want something cheap and crappy that's going to break a day after the warranty runs out. I don't mind spending a reasonable amount of money on quality gear, but obviously I'd rather have money in my back pocket to spend on flying so I don't want to pay over the odds.

Also the Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel...is that worth getting? Or is it just a silly gimmick?

[Ian Warren]

I have owned used both , CH product s is the better off the two , I replaced my very old ( 10 years off abuse ) CH yoke away , now using a 'Saitek' because 'BK-117' Richard was selling cheap a whiles back .. this unit comes with flashy clocks on the yoke but do to running power and sorts they gave up real quick , the one thing it dose provide is a good scale to a throttle and levers possibly better in the Real Flight Training , rudder pedals are still CH since .. 7/8 years .. first unit had a micro switch issue .

[Ian Warren]

In Summary , Buy the Saitek Yoke and CH Rudder pedals , forget the Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel. .. save your money for the real flying

[adamofgreyskull]

QUOTE (Ian Warren @ Aug 24 2010, 07:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

In Summary , Buy the Saitek Yoke and CH Rudder pedals , forget the Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel. .. save your money for the real flying

Yeah, thought that might be the case

Is there anywhere in NZ that sells CH products? Under "Where to buy" on the CH site is an Aussie company, but they seem only to sell to resellers... : /

edit:
The other thing I noticed was that on the CH yoke, there is a trim wheel, but there doesn't seem to be one on the Saitek. Sorry if this is a (another) stupid question but how do you sim trim?

[Fozzer]

QUOTE (adamofgreyskull @ Aug 24 2010, 11:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, thought that might be the case

Is there anywhere in NZ that sells CH products? Under "Where to buy" on the CH site is an Aussie company, but they seem only to sell to resellers... : /

edit:
The other thing I noticed was that on the CH yoke, there is a trim wheel, but there doesn't seem to be one on the Saitek. Sorry if this is a (another) stupid question but how do you sim trim?

Default Trim:
Key Assignments.
Numpad: Numlock off. Elevator Trim. "1" = Trim nose up, "7" Trim nose down.

(I assign it to two buttons on my Saitek Twist Joystick).

Paul..G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav..and a Stick of Joy... ...!

Here!

[adamofgreyskull]

QUOTE (Fozzer @ Aug 24 2010, 11:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Default Trim:
Key Assignments.
Numpad: Numlock off. Elevator Trim. "1" = Trim nose up, "7" Trim nose down.

(I assign it to two buttons on my Saitek Twist Joystick).

Paul..G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Nav..and a Stick of Joy... ...!

Here!

Thanks Paul, but I really want to keep things as similar to the plane I'm training in as I can reasonably afford I can live with trimming using the numlock keys but there isn't a joystick in the Cessna 150 and it hasn't got weapon hardpoints....as far as I can tell

I'm getting quite frustrated about the CH pedals...so far I've only found one NZ store that seems to stock CH products, but doesn't have the pedals listed. All I seem to find are "shopping sites" that just restyle the Amazon product listing and link to it for referral coinage.

[Fozzer]

QUOTE (adamofgreyskull @ Aug 24 2010, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks Paul, but I really want to keep things as similar to the plane I'm training in as I can reasonably afford I can live with trimming using the numlock keys but there isn't a joystick in the Cessna 150 and it hasn't got weapon hardpoints....as far as I can tell

I'm getting quite frustrated about the CH pedals...so far I've only found one NZ store that seems to stock CH products, but doesn't have the pedals listed. All I seem to find are "shopping sites" that just restyle the Amazon product listing and link to it for referral coinage.

Hello Adam...

Congrats on the Cessna 150 Flight training. (One of my favourite little aircraft, which I spend most of my time in, in the Sim!)

I always manage to fly our Flying Clubs Cessna 150/152's successfully, even though I daily use my Joystick in the Flight Sim!

I like the "Point and Fly" method using my Joystick, (also useful for Piper Cubs, etc), and the button under my thumb is handy for firing my Twin Spandaus fitted on my Cessna 150.......!

Paul...G-BPLF...FS 2004...FS Navigator...(and a dangerous C150!).... ...!

[IslandBoy77]

QUOTE (adamofgreyskull @ Aug 24 2010, 11:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm getting quite frustrated about the CH pedals...so far I've only found one NZ store that seems to stock CH products, but doesn't have the pedals listed. All I seem to find are "shopping sites" that just restyle the Amazon product listing and link to it for referral coinage.

Hey Adam. After I stopped importing and distributing the CH range, the Distributorship passed to Mittoni. Unfortunately, NZ is a VERY small market for CH, and Mittoni is Australia-based. I don't even know if they have a physical store in NZ. You could also try VR Concepts in Palmerston North (http://www.vrconcepts.co.nz/index.php) - they only seem to have stock of the Pro Throttle & Quadrant at the moment, but I know they used to sell the Yoke & Pedals as well (since I used to stock them). I have heard that VR are really "onto it", so they would be my pick for you.

[adamofgreyskull]

QUOTE (IslandBoy77 @ Aug 25 2010, 08:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hey Adam. After I stopped importing and distributing the CH range, the Distributorship passed to Mittoni. Unfortunately, NZ is a VERY small market for CH, and Mittoni is Australia-based. I don't even know if they have a physical store in NZ. You could also try VR Concepts in Palmerston North (http://www.vrconcepts.co.nz/index.php) - they only seem to have stock of the Pro Throttle & Quadrant at the moment, but I know they used to sell the Yoke & Pedals as well (since I used to stock them). I have heard that VR are really "onto it", so they would be my pick for you.

Thanks dude, theirs is the site I found. I've e-mailed them to check on the status of the pedals. Fingers crossed!

[spongebob206]

I have purchased mine from VR concepts, was very impressed.

All the best mate, love the 150.

We had a 150 commuter DOB back in the late 80's early 90's.

Beaut plane. Got it quite dogged, orange from memory. Full rebuilt and paint from WAW.

Lovely to fly.

[mfraser]

QUOTE (adamofgreyskull @ Aug 24 2010, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Also the Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel...is that worth getting? Or is it just a silly gimmick?

The switch panel is on special for $159 at the moment...... while it is a bit plasticky and gimmicky for my liking, it may well suit your needs. I have a number of switch panels on my home simpit and can tell you that regardless of how you do it, adding switches to any simulator won't be cheap!! The main issue is that the switches need to replicate single keystrokes...... as if you had just pressed a key yourself. Toggle switches on the otherhand, are either off or on......... which is akin to leaving your finger pressed down on a key. The only way around this is to either modify a toggle to be a momentary switch (I've done this with mixed results by hacking toggle switches and adding electrical relays), or use a keyboard encoder which has a 'pulse' regulator or use an off the shelf switch panel. It really is just a matter of how much you want to spend!! There's numerous links on the internet about the subject. My advice, if you want to do it easily and have versatility........ use a keyboard encoder. I use the Hagstrom KE-USB36 and it's great........

Some useful links..........

Keyboard hacks and modifying toggle swtiches
Flight Sim Guru - Keyboard hacking and toggle to momentary switches
Robert Prather - Indepth guide to keyboard hacking
Robert von Roy - Electrical relays to convert toggle to momentary switches

Keyboard endoders
Hagstrom Electronics - Keyboard Encoder Modules
The Desktop Aviator
Xkeys - X-matrix

Ready-made switch panels
GoFlight

Best of luck....... Mat

[NZ255]

Might be a mistake but apparently it comes with the yoke:

http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=561178

[adamofgreyskull]

Awesome, thanks for those links Mat! While googling around for pedals & yokes I've come across DIY everything and some really really impressive set-ups. I wouldn't want to tackle a DIY yoke or pedals but I'm game to build switch panels/dials etc.
@spongebob206: thanks for the recommendation, and the plane talk. I've got nothing to compare it to, but it's been really fun so far. Good to know it's not just me.

QUOTE (NZ255 @ Aug 25 2010, 06:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Might be a mistake but apparently it comes with the yoke:

http://pricespy.co.nz/product.php?p=561178

I'd wager that's a mistake as the product listing on their website doesn't mention the switch panel/instrument panel for that price. Would be sweet if that was the case though