VKB Gang! Gladiator NXT EVO and a STECS Max. I’ve wanted their GA Panel they got but i’ve mapped most of the same functions to the STECS.
What i really need are new pedals because these TM TFRP pedals are…showing it’s age…
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I was in the exact same boat. Upgraded to the Turtle Beach pedals and have been happy with them.
I was looking at them Crosswind pedals that people rave about. I just can’t decide which pedal style i like because honestly i don’t like any of them from a visual appeal standpoint. Weird i know but i likes what i like…
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There isn’t all that much to remember. I use SPAD to manage it all.
On the flight controls, its views, trim, AP disconnect, and maybe a few other items on certain aircraft.
On the logitech throttles I add a button for parking brakes
On the STECS panels it gets a little more complicated, but not awful. More view controls, EFB popup on planes that have them, I have the triggers acting like finger lifts and reverse thrust on the Bronco, that’s fun.
The Logitech panels are very self-explanatory as they’re labeled. Very utilitarian and plug and play. The only issue there is they’re not always consistent, especially with third party aircraft (the Comanche was a mess and I had to override them).
The DIY button box is 6 dual concentric knobs: always nav 1, com 1, then GPS functionality (HDG, CRS/BARO, ALT, and the GPS/FMS inner/outer knob), plus the Enter, Direct, Menu, PROC, CLR, and FPL buttons, as applicable.
But the heavy lifter, the one that has all the non-intuitive stuff that I’d forget, is the streamdeck plus. Fortunately that can be programmed, labeled, and set to highlight or change as conditions are met. And the knobs are fantastic.
But I always try to make it a habit to visually verify what I’m doing on screen any time I use a button or switch. Not only for immersion into that particular cockpit, but sometimes things act up.
Honeycomb yoke and throttle. Logitech pedals. I would like to replace the pedals with something better and more realistic.
I use Logitech G Saitek PRO Flight Yoke System, Professional Simulation Yoke and Throttle Quadrant.
As far as I am aware it’s at the lower end of the price range, but it serves me well.
Microsoft FF2 Joystick. Phenomenal stick …using XP Force with it. Tried MSFS without force feedback, and it’s like “taking a bath with your socks on”! Force Feedback really adds realism to MSFS and P3d.
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Almost identical to my setup, except I have the Virpil Alpha Prime grip on the CM3 base.
I need to get a throttle like the VKB STECS, since using the Bravo when not using the Alpha is cumbersome at best.
I have the TB V1 yoke, pedals, and flight stick.
-Yoke has the 3D printer support mod-definitely a must
-Flightstick has a much lighter spring taken from my Traxxas R/C collection
Both huge improvements.
I have the Yoke desk mounted with the throttle quad on a quick-disconnect bracket lower than the desk. I use the quad with both the yoke and the flightstick(left or right side). I don’t use the stick throttle levers. (this works with PC and XB).
Flightstick is also on a bracket, for the SR22 I can quickly tweak it to LH use, tilt and twist it slightly to line right up with the armrest using electric trim as per the SR22. For a Cub you can use a lever and a vernier for throttle and mixture. Twins you can use the verniers right below the throttles for prop RPM. Can do quite a lot for the price.
I actually use a plastic cutting board with the silicone corners to brace the pedals, it fits under the cord. Plus I turn it one way for yoke and the other way for stick(sit a bit further back).
And I have an Octavi IFR1 mounted on top of the quad bracket aluminum cell phone stand, works aces. Thought I would need to make it movable, but it’s plenty easy left handed too.
I keep my old TM HOTAS as loose as possible and ground off the detent for heli work. I still find the twist ends up being plenty accurate, and the HOTAS is floppy enough yet accurate enough to work without being fatiguing. The throttle is fairly intuitive as a collective. Good 'nuff, it’s not like the FM for helis in FS are just so wonderful it won’t work. Until they have proper FFB with tail rotor pedals(like top tier racing FFB), maybe with a proper motion rig, none of the controls are perfect without SOTP sensations. They’re all easy enough to fly(not exactly 3D R/C heli thumb tips here) The V1 Flightstick is too stiff for helis(particularly twist) and the throttle levers just are not in a great place. So found a use for the old clunker TM. It’s also on another quick release desk bracket lower than the desk height so I can support my arm on the rest when riding the ‘collective’.
With the brackets you can mix/match/move/remove everything from a heli to a twin turboprop to a bush plane-or just put it all away- in maybe 2 minutes if I move slowly?
And have a buttkickker gamer(the racing rig rolls right up with its own too) and GrassMonkey puck.
Throttle is the Saitek x52.
Joystick is Virpil mongoose cm3 base, 200mm extension and constellation alpha prime. Great for helis and some GA planes.
Pedals are Thrustmaster TPR’s with damper, fantastic especially for helis.
No yoke yet, was going to Honeycomb but thats out now. Was thinking Flightsim CLS60 but rather expensive. So don’t know what I am going to do.
Precision Flight Controls Twin Throttle Quadrant w/landing gear, flaps and rudder trim. Redbird Flight Yoke and Rudder Pedals…no complaints!
I used to use these:
TM Warthog stick and throttle.
TM pendular rudder pedals
Honeycomb Alpha yoke
(Alpha yoke base is very small. Plenty of room for a stick on the right and throttle on the left. Warthog’s stick and throttle each are full of hats and switches. All heavy metal stuff.
I’m never going to have throttle on right. I keep my right hand on the stick or yoke and use my weak left hand for throttle and all the hats and buttons on the throttle. Keeping strong hand to “steer” with.
My TM Warthog stick broke when it fell off the mount two feet to the carpeted floor. Physically broke.
I haven’t replaced it because I use an old Ch Fighterstick USB that I had laying around. I find it is as accurate as the Warthog even though it uses variable resistors (pots) instead of digital adjustments. However the forces are very light to move the stick which some people don’t like. This stick is bullet proof, I’ve had it forever. You can program keyboard keys onto any hat position or button. Great for sims like TrainSimWorld that use keystrokes for functions.
Both the Warthog stick and CH Fighterstick USB are clones of the U.S. government F-16 stick.
https://www.amazon.com/200-571-CH-Products-Fighterstick-USB/dp/B00006B84X/
I have a Logitech (ex-Saitek) X52 HOTAS. I’ve looked into more expensive options, but none of them have as many analog axes as the X52. It only has a single throttle, but that’s fine with me. What I love about it are the two rotary knobs (set for prop and mixture/condition) and a slider (set for spoilers/airbrakes).
Logitech (Saitek) X52 Pro
Saitek Pro Flight Yoke + 3 Throttle units
Saitek Rudder Pedals
Saitek Radio Panel
RealsimGear GTN750
FlightSimBuilder GNS530
That’s my full setup. I have a desk where I can swap units in and out depending on aircraft.
Saitek X52 Flight Stick and Throttle combo.
CH Pro Pedals.
Just got a set of Crosswinds three days ago with the BF109 pedals and the hydraulic damper. They feel brilliant and are so well engineered that I could simply look at them rather than the sim. As for feel under the feet, they are gorgeous. A thing of beauty.
What do you fly mostly like GA, Biz jets, tubeliners? Cause i play a little DCS now and again as well as star citizen and would like something that is versatile for all those plus MSFS
VKB Gunfighter with 200mm extension and Kosmosima grip for flightstick
VKB rudder pedals
VKB FSM-GA
VKB SEM-V
YOKO TQ6+ for throttle
YOKO+ for yoke
A DIY buttons box based on a LeoBodnar BU0836A interface with its matrix board
StreamDeck XL, StreamDeck standard, StreamDeck+
Perhaps a VKB Gladiator and a Virpil collective for helicopters for the end of the year.
I’ve tried so many devices during years, now I’m fully satisfied with these ones.
If I had to choose less devices, today I would buy a VKB Gladiator, VKB pedals, VKB FSM-GA, YOKO TQ6+ and a StreamDeck XL.
Precision, quality and versatility change your flight sim experience.
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VKB Gunfighter with 200mm extension and Kosmosima grip for flightstick
VKB rudder pedals
VKB FSM-GA
VKB SEM-V
YOKO TQ6+ for throttle
YOKO+ for yoke
A DIY buttons box based on a LeoBodnar BU0836A interface with its matrix board
StreamDeck XL, StreamDeck standard, StreamDeck+
Perhaps a VKB Gladiator and a Virpil collective for helicopters for the end of the year.
I’ve tried so many devices during years, now I’m fully satisfied with these ones.
Nice gear. Pretty similar to mine:
VKB Gunfighter Mk.4 Ultimate
VKB STECS
Virtual Fly Ruddo Rudder
Virtual Fly Yoko Yoke
Virtual Fly NQ6+
Streamdeck XL
Streamdeck regular
Realsimgear Autopilot panel
Virpil Control Panel 2
Airbus TCA Captain Throttle
Also plan to get a collective. Probably Virpil.
The Honeycomb yoke and the Thrustmaster Warthog throttle quadrant. The Yoke is mounted on the front shelf of the Volair Sim chassis and the throttle quadrant is mounted on the left lower shelf of the Volair Sim.