Recommendations on rudder pedals

[jpreou]

The right brake on my Saitek combat pro pedals is stuck on.
I'm not keen on the ProFlight pedals as I don't like the 'heel lip'.
What are others using for pedals these days?

[emfrat]

Hello Jeff - My CH pedals gave great service for nearly 15 years until one rudder side failed. I replaced them with a Logitech set, which does the job, but they are very light and I had to screw them down into the floor (holes provided) because they don't grip the carpet like the nice weighty CH ones did.
Hoping the Honeycomb ones appear soon. CH seem to have pulled out of that market.
ATB,
MikeW

[cowpatz]

These might be worth keeping an eye on:

Honeycomb Charlie rudder pedals.

They cannot be far from release. I have the Alpha yoke which is great.
I have a set of CH rudder pedals, which are OK, but I find the braking a little awkward when trying to apply them symmetrically. They are also a bit dated now.

[jpreou]

I don't have problem with slippage as they are screwed into my simulator base.
I'll check out the Honeycomb ones, thanks.

[cowpatz]

When you say the "rudder side" failed on your CH pedals what do you mean? Mechanical failure or a stuffed potentiometer?
I replaced the mechanical pots in mine with Hall effect sensors.

[jpreou]

It isn't the rudder, it is the toe brake. My *guess* is I think the little plastic 'hook' that holds the return spring is broken. I've seen a YoutTube video on how to potentially repair these, but I don't have much inclination and the last set of saitek rudder pedals I took apart were a bear to re-assemble -- and that was when I actually had a workbench and good eyesight!

[emfrat]

When you say the "rudder side" failed on your CH pedals what do you mean? Mechanical failure or a stuffed potentiometer?
I replaced the mechanical pots in mine with Hall effect sensors.

CP, I'm pretty sure it was electrical. I posted a more detailed reply about 2hrs ago, but it has vanished. I must have been too slow

Mike

[Radar88]

These might be worth keeping an eye on:

Honeycomb Charlie rudder pedals.

They cannot be far from release. I have the Alpha yoke which is great.
I have a set of CH rudder pedals, which are OK, but I find the braking a little awkward when trying to apply them symmetrically. They are also a bit dated now.

Honeycomb Charlie rudder pedals being inspected by a XPlane Team member @ Oshkosh 2021



Honeycomb Aeronautical Charlie Rudder Pedals Prototype(s) Hands On EAA Airventure Oshkosh 2021

[jpreou]

Nice pedals.
I was also looking recently at the PFT Puma heli controls, but at a likely NZ $2700-ish landed here I couldn't get that past the boss!!
To be fair, even I was struggling with that cost for a "joystick just for fun" !!

[chopper_nut]

The PFT is supposedly the best but yeah they are pretty pricey. I get by with an X56 with no spring and Thrustmaster pedals which are OK.

[jpreou]

You use the throttle as collective?
Reason I wanted the full controls is to learn to fly a heli 'properly' with the 'proper' controls, mostly the collective and twist throttle.
Just don't think I can stretch to that kind of coin right now.

[Radar88]

You use the throttle as collective?
Reason I wanted the full controls is to learn to fly a heli 'properly' with the 'proper' controls, mostly the collective and twist throttle.
Just don't think I can stretch to that kind of coin right now.

Hey Jeff here's something new for your consideration. It might be what your looking for sometime in the future, by way of just having a collective and twist throttle from Virpil Controls with their recent products VPC Rotor TCS Plus Base and VPC SharKa-50 Grip.

Sérgio Costa aka Helisimmer.com Previews: the upcoming VIRPIL Collective Controller Lineup



Virpil News & Announcements VPC Collective Controller Lineup Preorders Open





Here's some preliminary estimate costings for you to consider into the distant future of affordability.

VPC Rotor TCS Plus Base €289.95 Eur = Approx NZD $486.30

VPC SharKa-50 Grip €189.95 Eur = Approx NZD $318.58
Discount (COLLECTIVE BUNDLE) -€47.99 Eur

COLLECTIVE BUNDLE Total €431.91 Eur = Approx NZD $724.39

+ Shipping FedEx Priority €67.95 = Approx NZD $113.96

+ GST Approx NZD $111.70

You'll be looking at a total Landing price into NZ Approx NZD $950.05


If you want to add on accessories such as their Chair Mount - Collective Base Adapter for fitting to the underside of your existing chair seat base.

VPC Rotor TCS Plus Base €289.95 Eur = Approx NZD $486.30

VPC SharKa-50 Grip €189.95 Eur = Approx NZD $318.58

VPC Chair Mount - Collective Base Adapter €39.95 EUR = Approx NZD $67.00
Discount (COLLECTIVE BUNDLE) -€47.99 Eur

Total €471.86 = Approx NZD $791.39

+Shipping FedEx Priority €77.95 = Approx NZD $130.74

+ GST Approx NZD $122.03

You'll be looking at a total Landing price into NZ Approx NZD $1,044.16

Here's some food for thought video's of the slightly cheaper €189.95 Eur = Approx NZD $318.52 VPC Rotor TCS Base that shows just the collective and the VPC SharKa-50 Grip. Which is just the collective without the twist throttle and a Chair Mount - Collective Base Adapter.

VIRPIL Collective Unboxing | VPC Rotor TCS Base & VPC SharKa-50 Grip | Part 1/4

VIRPIL Collective | Install and Use | X Plane | VPC Rotor TCS Base & VPC SharKa-50 Grip | Part 2/4

[jpreou]

Hey Jeff here's something new for your consideration...

Thanks Radar, I'll look into that later on today when I get a gap in my work. I could probably get it to fit one of the existing adapter plates on my Obutto Revolution cockpit.
Cheers

[chopper_nut]

I get along fine with the HOTAS setup. If I wanted to, I could tape it to the side of the seat but I haven't found the need to do so. The more specialised controls are nice but they are stupidly expensive and can be too type specific whereas the PFT and HOTAS type setups can really be used for almost everything. The only thing that the HOTAS isn't as good for is Bell 47 and Hughes 300s types

[jpreou]

The only thing that the HOTAS isn't as good for is Bell 47 and Hughes 300s types

Why is that then?

I actually hovered a 300 once. I like the 300. First time ever at the controls of a heli - the only time actually - instructor let me have everything except the throttle. I think there is a video on my YouTube channel.

[chopper_nut]

Because it doesn't have the twist throttle. Every 300 add-on for a Sim has a governor though. I've got a little bit of time in the 300. It's a bit of a fun machine