1.I am considering buying a yoke, saiteks Pro Flight seems to look good. Could anyone please tell me if it is worth the money. I love flying circuits with FSFlyingSchool and imagine it to be easier with a yoke than my logitech extreme 3D Pro joystick.

2. I also enjoy flying the extra 300 in the redbull air races, what controller would you recommend for this, yoke or joystick, and which one of the many.

3. Same question for combat flight sims, including mscf3 and the up coming Tom Clancy's HAWX, i imagine a joystick would be preferable, but which one would you recommend.

An FSFlyingSchool for combat flight simulator 3 would be fantastic.

I run fsx an a fairly low spec machine, and don't really have much in the way of funds, so if you could recommend a good deal, that would be great.

Thank you muchly for your time.

shhh, its therapy.

Hi LaLa

Now that is a very very interesting question. I have flown FSX and FS9 - and before them all kinds of civil flying sims for many years. Using different joysticks, and the keyboard. About 2 - 2½ years ago I bought a Saitek X-52 HOTAS (Hands on Throttle and Stick) a two hand flight stick combination. I have been so very very happy to fly with that one, I have every button programmed, and I know where everything is without thinking about it. The twist function is great as rudder control, and I have done fine scores in FSFS with it.

But I am in the process of making myself a new PC with specs to match FSX, and during that, I have gotten Saiteks pro flight Yoke and throttle quadrant. Today I got Saiteks pro flight rudder pedals, so now I am equipt to fly the "correct" civil aviation way. I really love my new yoke. I spent a few days feeling frustrated about it, because I am so used to the X-52, but I am getting the hang of it now. Landing smoothly is still some hours away though, but I will get there. I have flown with the pedals (and with a yoke you need pedals as you have no twist possibility, and using one of the throttle levers is possible but bad) for 2-3 hours today and its amazing how fast those become second nature.
I have ordered the Saitek Switch panel, to have lightbuttons, gearlever, and other important buttons and settings, close by. I expect that in a few days.

I will not throw out my X-52 though, as I will use it when I fly helicopters. The yoke is not good for that, and I too have seen the H.A.W.X. and even though I dont fly combat flying anymore, I have preordered it, and look forward to flying around shooting something down, when I get frustrated about PC hardware stores sending me the wrong PC equipment, as they did yesterday.

But finally LaLa. For civil fixedwing aviation I recommend a yoke/pedal combination, and for rotary planes and combat flying, I would go for a joystick, either the X-52, or for instance the Saitek Aviator, a twin throttle joystick with twist. (Yes I like Saitek products) But others can just as easily be used. CH have made some very fine yoke/pedal combinations too.

Safe landings!

Regards
Ole Andreasen, Denmark

Regards
Ole Andreasen, Denmark

As for the Logitech Extreme 3D, ebay it, and get yourself a Microsoft Sidewinder 2, for those chopper moments.  I used to use a logitech for Condor Soaring, and it nearly ruined the experience.  Condor became a whole new experience when I bought the MS S/W 2.  Good Luck 

All the best, Andy

I agree with the guys - I love a yoke, pedals and throttles for civil aircraft and a stick, or better a HOTAS for combat. If you do mainly combat I would certainly say you can get by with a twist stick for the rudder, and leave the addition of the pedals for later.

Having the HOTAS is really cool for modern combat because you need so... many... controls mapped in the heat of battle, what with different types of ordnance, chaff, flares, radar modes, etc. I became a slave to Falcon 4 for an appreciable part of my life!  What a ride!

And stick for stunt flying of course , but you'll definitely need to like the rudder controller you are using.

As to brands, I have always had CH yoke, pedals and throttles, plus the Saitek X 52 HOTAS. My avionics are all GoFlight, which I love...

I used to use a Logitech force feedback  for combat, and when the force is with you, it really does feel good, but I found force feedback very tricky when used for precision flying as in FSFS circuits, airmanship tests and landings.

FSFS for combat eh? Hmmmm... a very interesting idea... Igor! To The Lab!

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Almost dont want to fly until it arrives, but I'm sure I will. Funny how expect it to turn me into an ace pilot LOL.

LaLa

shhh, its therapy.

Have had it for 24 hrs, eliminated the problems that appear to be notorious, phantom key presses, off centre elevator. All easy enough with advice from the saitek forum.

Now I absolutely love it. Its taking a bit of getting used to tho.

Love the Yoke so much I have odered the pedals. Very expensive kit, but well worth it, (I will have to ebay a kidney ). The yoke is much bigger than i expected, and the elevator shaft has plenty of range. Nice return to centre, good positive feel.

I have tried using the pedals from my logitech drivers set, they do work, but they are too sensitive and there is no way of telling with out looking how far the rudder moves.

Another good feature is the built-in 4 usb ports. Oh and it has a clock and stop watch function.

I've even managed to set up a profile that lets me switch fsFlyingSchools flight modes in FSX. using C1 & C2.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Does anyone think its worth starting a new topic, on exchanging profiles for the pro yoke, quadrant and pedals. I know I'll get round to making one, but it would be so much easier if I could edit someone elses. I've searched the web for profiles and found none.

Might even be a good way to bring other virtual pilots to our wonderful school. Let me know what you think. Thank you.

Thanks for the advice guys.

LaLa

shhh, its therapy.

any luck with the pedals and switch panel yet?

Cheers LaLa

shhh, its therapy.

Regards
Ole Andreasen, Denmark