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Editor's picks

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  Saitek Pro Flight Yoke with Three-Lever Throttle (PZ44)

  CE (Saitek)
  

  Rating (199 reviews):

  (3.7/5)

  

  Phantom Key Stroke Problem Solved?

  Well I just did some research on this yoke and discovered that Sietek has resolved the phantom keystroke issue. New replacement units are shipping to all US distributers. If you happen to have a defective unit, per a post on Sietek's forum, owners are to call 310-972-9930 for return/replacement instructions. I am going to order one myself but am not sure if Amozon has the new units yet. Sietec refused to post a current serial number of the defective lot but a person on the forums said that he just got his and is working flawlessly with a serial number of SZ005111624. This person with a "good" unit purchased his thru Newegg in CA.Well I am going to place my order now and I will post an update when I get it up and running.UPDATE: I recieved the yoke and pedals three days ago and after spending an hour or so configuring the unit I fired it up. The SN# I recieved was 00492657 a call to tech support assured me that I had a unit that had the phathom key stroke... 4/5 S. Kuprianczyk - See all my reviews, January 4, 2008

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  Great Feel. "Phantom Key presses" were easy to fix for me ....

  To start with, I wish I had purchased this setup much earlier. It feels so good and delivers such rock solid performance that I cannot imagine flying the civilian aircraft in FSX without it. If you want the C-172 to become as compelling as the P51 in your control, then this is the setup you'll want.But I vacillated on this purchase for some time before buying it due to all the reviews reporting phantom key presses. I didn't want to order something I'd likely have to return or exchange. Although I love flying with my CH Fighterstick , Pro Throttle and Rudders when flying warplanes or helicopters, I always felt like I was missing out on the joy of civilian flight simulation when using a stick instead of a yoke. So I finally mustered up the courage to order the Saitek Yoke in spite of the many poor reviews while holding my breath on the "pkp" issue.By the time I got mine, I had thoroughly familiarized myself with the scope of the phantom key press problem and... 5/5 RV_Pilot "anotherrvpilot" (California) - See all my reviews This review is from: Saitek Pro Flight Yoke with Three-Lever Throttle (PZ44) (Personal Computers) To start with, I wish I had purchased this setup much earlier. It feels so good and delivers such rock solid performance that I cannot imagine flying the civilian aircraft in FSX without it. If you want the C-172 to become as compelling as the P51 in your control, then this is the setup you'll want.But I vacillated on this purchase for some time before buying it due to all the reviews reporting phantom key presses. I didn't want to order something I'd likely have to return or exchange. Although I love flying with my CH Fighterstick , Pro Throttle and Rudders when flying warplanes or helicopters, I always felt like I was missing out on the joy of civilian flight simulation when using a stick instead of a yoke. So I finally mustered up the courage to order the Saitek Yoke in spite of the many poor reviews while holding my breath on the "pkp" issue.By the time I got mine, I had thoroughly familiarized myself with the scope of the phantom key press problem and... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , May 2, 2008

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  Luck of the draw -- the "phantom key press " issue!

  Things just went entirely too smooth and totally glitch free which should have signaled that this in itself was not a good omen! Basically I went from the CH Products yoke, throttle quad and CH rudder pedals to the SAITEK system and even bought an extra SAITEK throttle quad to then have '6' programmable axis levers and additional buttons to program. So too, and one of the biggies, at least for me and my sim flying, the SAITEK yoke uses a METAL pitch tube for the yoke pitch control and as opposed to the CH yoke which uses a plastic shaft and hence subtle yoke movement 'sticking' no matter what lubricant I placed on the plastic shaft so I switched to SAITEK and the METAL pitch shaft on bearings. Excellent!And then ... coming into O'Hare and I hear the jet panel voice begin the "500 above" ... "400 above" ... suddenly from nowhere comes from the aircraft I was flying, "LANDING GEAR UP PLEASE!" ... say WHAT? You guessed it, the "random phantom key press" issue! SAITEK admitted... 2/5 Anthony J. Lomenzo "Doc Tony" (Fort Ann, New York) - See all my reviews, November 2, 2007

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  List Price: $164.99
  

  Stainless steel yoke shaft and 2-position clamp

  Comes with separate three axis lever throttle

  Integrated 3-port USB 2.0 Hub

  Integrated 3-port USB 20 Hub

  POV Hat, 14 button controls, and 3-position mode switch

  XP, Vista and Windows 7 compatible

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  Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals

  CE (Saitek)
  

  Rating (127 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  Great, but use extreme care.

  After learning the "hard" way, the Rudder Pedals work Great! First (and very importantly) do NOT try to assign any functions to the pedals using your feet! After plugging in the USB connection put them on a flat surface and use your hands when moving the pedals to assign the right and left "Differential Brake" functions, then again using your hands, assign the "Rudder Axis" function.Secondly, do not get overly exuburent when imputing the right or left "Rudder", if you hit the stops "firmly" the pedals will LOCK-UP! You will then have to remove 20 screws, and carefully re-align the pedals so they "unlock", then have to reinstall the 20 screws! Trust me, I've done it three times (greatly increasing my "expletive deleted" vocabulary in the process!) In spite of the above, they work well. I am a retired corporate pilot and use my flight sim to practice instrument procedures. 4/5 Nick (CA - USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Saitek Pro Flight Rudder Pedals (Personal Computers) After learning the "hard" way, the Rudder Pedals work Great! First (and very importantly) do NOT try to assign any functions to the pedals using your feet! After plugging in the USB connection put them on a flat surface and use your hands when moving the pedals to assign the right and left "Differential Brake" functions, then again using your hands, assign the "Rudder Axis" function.Secondly, do not get overly exuburent when imputing the right or left "Rudder", if you hit the stops "firmly" the pedals will LOCK-UP! You will then have to remove 20 screws, and carefully re-align the pedals so they "unlock", then have to reinstall the 20 screws! Trust me, I've done it three times (greatly increasing my "expletive deleted" vocabulary in the process!) In spite of the above, they work well. I am a retired corporate pilot and use my flight sim to practice instrument procedures. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , January 12, 2008

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  Nice but could be a Bit Sturdier

  As someone new to flight simulators, these were the first rudder pedals I have ever used. My general impression is that they work well but their flimsy construction is disconcerting. As I haven't ever used CH pedals, it is difficult to assess what would be considered sturdy for a consumer product like this. However, the Saitek pedals feel as if they would be damaged by putting any amount of weight on the pedal surface. Not only is the plastic rather thin but the whole apparatus is extremely light. Saitek should have used some inexpensive ballast to rectify the latter problem.Unfortunately, the light weight means they are not stable when used straight out of the box. With several through holes, the designers are probably suggesting the user mount the base to a heavier object. To use them on carpet, I took a different approach. In each of the eight holes, I mounted a set screw with a flat machined end. These were adjusted with a nut and large washer (for weight... 3/5 P. Scott Pope "Scott Pope" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews, November 16, 2006

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  So, this is how a good one works!

  I won a set of these at the International Flight Sim Convention in Denver this summer. They beat my CH USB Pro pedals hands down. These don't over draw the power on my USB hub like the CH did. I highly recommend them. 5/5 D. Bell "Hard to Shop For" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews, October 13, 2006

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  List Price: $159.95
  

  Saitek¿s powerful Saitek Smart Technology programming software allows gamers to configure their controls to suit their preferred gaming style

  Self-centring pedals with adjustable damping / Foot rests adjust to fit all sizes and include non-slip materials

  Connectivity: USB 2.0 Works with: Windows XP, XP64 and Vista (all versions) Windows 7

  Partial metal construction for long life

  Precise rudder and braking control / Tension adjustment - choose resistance to suit the way you fly

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• 

  Saitek X52 Pro Flight System Controller

  CE (Saitek)
  

  Rating (84 reviews):

  (3.8/5)

  

  Quite an improvement over the standard X52, but some things still not up to the level of the X45

  Please note, I'm writing this from the perspective of someone who used the Saitek X45 for 4 years, so most notes are comparing it, the X52 Pro, and the X52 standard. I get rather nitpicky about individual features, so for those interested in the bottom line, you can skip most of this, and just read the last paragraph. :)Compared with the standard X52, the X52 Pro is indeed a significant improvement. All extra functionality of the multi-function display aside, the quality is simply higher. However, I'm still very surprised that so many steps back were taken from the old X45.Compared with the original X52, the spring tension in the stick of the X52 Pro is a great improvement. I remember being very disappointed in the X52 when I picked up a display model, and the weak spring allowed the stick to fall over under it's own weight. The X52 Pro added a second centering spring to help, and it is much better, but still rather weak compared with the X45, which had a... 4/5 Steve - See all my reviews This review is from: Saitek X52 Pro Flight System Controller (Personal Computers) Please note, I'm writing this from the perspective of someone who used the Saitek X45 for 4 years, so most notes are comparing it, the X52 Pro, and the X52 standard. I get rather nitpicky about individual features, so for those interested in the bottom line, you can skip most of this, and just read the last paragraph. :)Compared with the standard X52, the X52 Pro is indeed a significant improvement. All extra functionality of the multi-function display aside, the quality is simply higher. However, I'm still very surprised that so many steps back were taken from the old X45.Compared with the original X52, the spring tension in the stick of the X52 Pro is a great improvement. I remember being very disappointed in the X52 when I picked up a display model, and the weak spring allowed the stick to fall over under it's own weight. The X52 Pro added a second centering spring to help, and it is much better, but still rather weak compared with the X45, which had a... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , July 13, 2007

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  Great Stick, Not Yet Vista

  Ordering: 5 of 5Direct from Amazon, arrived 2 business days after placing the order. The retail box is OK, with just egg shell cardboard for internal support, the oversized shipping box with airpacks was probably necessary. The Pro comes with one DVD (.html manual, drivers and Flight Simulator X demo) and a single page, multi-lanquage instruction sheet. Printed instructions stop at plug in and load the DVD to install the drivers.Appearance: 5 of 5Aesthetically superior to the X52 IMHO. And many other brands as well, this is a serious piece of peripheral, it just plain looks like it means business, unlike most of the splashy silver competitors.Function: 4 of 5Its a great stick, spring tension is consistant throughout the full motion range, although force is somewhat light. Not for lefties. Mode change knob might be easier for one-handing if it were on the left instead of the right side of the column, I find myself letting go of the joy handle... 3/5 Boc (US) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Saitek X52 Pro Flight System Controller (Personal Computers) Ordering: 5 of 5Direct from Amazon, arrived 2 business days after placing the order. The retail box is OK, with just egg shell cardboard for internal support, the oversized shipping box with airpacks was probably necessary. The Pro comes with one DVD (.html manual, drivers and Flight Simulator X demo) and a single page, multi-lanquage instruction sheet. Printed instructions stop at plug in and load the DVD to install the drivers.Appearance: 5 of 5Aesthetically superior to the X52 IMHO. And many other brands as well, this is a serious piece of peripheral, it just plain looks like it means business, unlike most of the splashy silver competitors.Function: 4 of 5Its a great stick, spring tension is consistant throughout the full motion range, although force is somewhat light. Not for lefties. Mode change knob might be easier for one-handing if it were on the left instead of the right side of the column, I find myself letting go of the joy handle... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 4, 2007

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  Great Flight System Controller

  I upgraded from the orginal X-52 which also was a great stick in my opinion, never had the problems with it has other people had. The only minor problem with the orginal joystick that was corrected with the X-52 Pro, was the weak center spring. The Pro also have different look and hat buttons along with several other improvements. You will have to re-program all of your profiles if you are upgrading from the older version.You can't beat Saitex for the price and proformance, I'm satisfied. 5/5 Outlaw (North Carolina) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Saitek X52 Pro Flight System Controller (Personal Computers) I upgraded from the orginal X-52 which also was a great stick in my opinion, never had the problems with it has other people had. The only minor problem with the orginal joystick that was corrected with the X-52 Pro, was the weak center spring. The Pro also have different look and hat buttons along with several other improvements. You will have to re-program all of your profiles if you are upgrading from the older version.You can't beat Saitex for the price and proformance, I'm satisfied. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , June 10, 2008

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  List Price: $169.95
  

  Joystick with precision centering mechanism, non-contact technology on X and Y axes and constant spring force

  Works with: Windows XP, XP64 and Vista (all versions) and Windows 7

  2 dedicated MFD buttons and 2 rotary dials with in-built buttons to control additional game functionality

  Advanced Multi-Function Display (MFD) for real flying interaction

  Progressive throttle with tension adjustment, detents for afterburner and idle; 2 fire buttons

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  Microsoft Flight Simulator X: Gold Edition

  Video Games (Microsoft)
  

  Rating (197 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  Well-refined leader of the genre

  Flight simulation for your PC just doesn't get any better than this. Microsoft has been at this for a long time, and they make it better with every release.A few things seasoned flight simmers will know that new users will certainly WANT to know are:The system requirements to really make this software work well are dauntingly advanced. You'll need something approaching a top-level gaming machine, with a huge video card, to get the full benefit of the entire visual, audible, advanced controls experience. Got a laptop you think is pretty smokin'? Forget it.Microsoft follows every release of this product with massive service packs you must download and install, and each one takes a huge chunk out of your hard drive. Be prepared with LOTS of disk space. This particular release (meaning, the "Gold Edition") includes service packs one and two, so you won't need to download them.An internet connection is required to register the... 5/5 Jon L. Albee "Faulkner Wannabe" (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews, March 20, 2009

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  First time for Flight Simulator [Played Three Days Straight]

  Fun once you've downloaded the three disks. There are over 5,000 Airports, 30 planes plus three if you buy The Gold Version, and Loads of Missions to fly. My Favorite Feature is Free Play. You can take off from your Hometown Airport or any other and vist landmarks like The Egyption Pyramids, The Leaning Tower of Pisa, and Niagra Falls. You can download any plane you want online like UFO's, Futureristic Fliying Cars, and my favorite, a Thunder Bird version F-16. I love this game. Make sure you buy a controler like A Saitek X52 joystick and throttle. This game is unplay able witout one. 5/5 David C. Richey "The Geeker" (Anderson, SC USA) - See all my reviews, January 3, 2009

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  Dumbed down to dumb

  As a Pilot, I bought this version because it included the G-1000 glass cockpit. The G-1000 simulator from Garmin is $119, FSX was only $34.95.So, overall, I got what I wanted. I was very disappointed that MS decided to dumb down the flight physics even more than in FS9. Lot's of silly things too: For example, the left turning tendency is pronounced in a single engine propellor aircraft. This is caused by Torque, P-Factor, Gyroscopic precession and slipstream. Why do the 2 and 4 engine Commercial Jets in FSX also require heavy right rudder on take-off? They are immune to these forces. (They don't have props!) Stalls are so subtle and gentle as to be pointless, FSX wings never drop and full recovery is possible without relieving back pressure on the stick. FSX Planes will not spin, even when forced into cross-controlled flight. It's impossible to get the spin started and spin recovery; one of the most important basic flight skills to master, is impossible to properly... 5/5 Maine AV8R (Maine, USA) - See all my reviews = Fun:, January 8, 2010

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  List Price: $39.99
  

  Fly from your local airport during the winter and then experience the change as you fly from the same airport in summer

  Keep track of how you¿ve done on each mission and improve your skill levels until your ready for the next challenge

  Choose from more than 80 missions that will show you the world with fun assignments from around the globe

  Experience the day change from afternoon sun to evening dusk while flying at 32,000 feet

  Race alone or against friends online

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  Saitek PRO Flight Switch Panel (PZ55)

  CE (Saitek)
  

  Rating (27 reviews):

  (4.1/5)

  

  Getting there is half the fun

  This is a interesting little piece of plastic. And I recommend and enjoy it with some unfortunate reservations. Be aware of a few little things that make you go, "Huh, what were they thinking?"It ships with a hex tool to unscrew the screws on the companion pro flight throttle for mounting. Problem is, it's the wrong size....way too small...so you will need a #3 hex tool handy if you want to mount to the companion yoke. Also, the instructions suggest using the 2 inner screw mount points. I suggest you use 2 mount points wider apart, other wise the panel will sway from side to side.The mounting bracket is quite flimsy. So much so that when you flip switches the panel console moves, front to back. Disappointingly poor engineering design especially when you see they have plans to hang more stuff off this in time to come.The mag switch is mixed up (L/R should be R/L)You can't assign or change functions to switches on this unit as you can... 4/5 CST "Psybearian" (Colorado, United States) - See all my reviews, January 19, 2009

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  A nice addition to Flight simulator X

  I've now had a good amount of time to put the Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel. I use it in conjunction with my CH Products yoke, pedals and throttle quadrant Clearly, Saitek saw this as an addon for its yoke, sine you can screw this item into the to off the yoke. While that may save desk space, I don't recall having ever seen an aircraft with these controls in that position.I mounted mine on my desktop to the right of my yoke and to the left of my throttle quadrant. That seems to be a convenient location for ease of use. I used the supplied Velcro strips. I agree with the other reviewer that this is not the best way to mount the product on the desk as it does, indeed allow the unit to wobble. The wobble can be minimized by placing your fingers on the top of the unit and working the panel's switches with your thumb. There are numerous other ways the average person could mount this product more securely. A little ingenuity is all it takes.For the default... 4/5 R. L. Frank - See all my reviews, January 16, 2009

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  Great addition

  This is a very nice addition to my simulator.My computer has Windows Vista 64 bit. I use yoke, pedals and Quadrant from CH Products. I have FS "X".I plugged it in, installed the software from the CD. All switches worked except the "cowl open/close". I followed the advice from another reviewer and downloaded the driver from Seitek (site very easy to navigate), intalled it and everything works great. It is a great addition to my simulator and as someone else said it frees quadrant switches for other things.I have a wodden desk and I used bolts and nuts to secure it to the desk (the holes are already provided from Seitek), all it takes is $2 of hardware from HomeDepot.Note: Amazon will not give you free shipping on this item."Volo Sim Ergo Sum" 5/5 Biskit (Lawrenceville, GA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Saitek PRO Flight Switch Panel (PZ55) (Personal Computers) This is a very nice addition to my simulator.My computer has Windows Vista 64 bit. I use yoke, pedals and Quadrant from CH Products. I have FS "X".I plugged it in, installed the software from the CD. All switches worked except the "cowl open/close". I followed the advice from another reviewer and downloaded the driver from Seitek (site very easy to navigate), intalled it and everything works great. It is a great addition to my simulator and as someone else said it frees quadrant switches for other things.I have a wodden desk and I used bolts and nuts to secure it to the desk (the holes are already provided from Seitek), all it takes is $2 of hardware from HomeDepot.Note: Amazon will not give you free shipping on this item."Volo Sim Ergo Sum" Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , February 22, 2009

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  List Price: $99.99
  Price: $80.41
  You Save: $19.58 (20%)

  Realistic landing gear control with LEDs indicating actual gear status from Microsoft FSX

  Conveniently attaches to the base of the PZ44 Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System (sold separately)

  Connects via USB 2.0

  Start your aircraft engines and access other cockpit functions with ease

  Compatible: Windows 7, XP/XP64, and Vista

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  Saitek X52 Flight Control System

  CE (Saitek)
  

  Rating (197 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  Excellent HOTAS system, great bang for the buck

  As a previous owner of the X45 flight control system and avid flight sim junkie, I was compelled to upgrade my HOTAS system to something newer. I was originally looking at the Thrustmaster HOTAS system, but could not conjur up enough money to purchase one. After playing with the X52 at a LAN party, I was sold and went out and purchased one that night.The X52 has loads of improvements over the X45 - not even mentioning the LCD MFD. One addition which I would have loved to see in the X45 are the eight removable suction cups on the bottom of the stick and throttle bases. The cups first out of the box will do some sliding around, but nothing so drastic that it'll mess your flights up. They do a great enough job to keep the stick down during normal use - provided that you don't slam the stick around, but for a flight system that costs this much, I don't think that'll be too much of a problem for most people.Just like all other Saitek sticks, the X52 is fully... 5/5 J. Enzinna "JonnyFunFun" (Lockport, NY) - See all my reviews, November 1, 2005

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  Excellent

  EDIT: Use a bit of silicone grease under the plastic swash plate disk to drastically reduce friction and improve control fidelity. Audio fader or scuba types work well, but you may also find it at a hardware store. Teflon grease also works. Use thick grease. Do not use petroleum-derived products on plastic.We can't compare this stick to Thrustmaster really because their stuff now is garbage. Thrustmaster pretty much forced Suncom (maker of the fab F-15 series) out of business with lawsuits claiming the newcomer was infringing on their patents to produce "realistic" flight sticks. Then we now have a monopoly on the supposedly authentic stuff which has produced crap like The Cougar. Thanks Thrustmaster! Then there's CH Products...good, smooth, but ugly, expensive, and low resistence. Saitek has been making these strange looking, possibly gimmick-rich products for a while. I think they've finally created a near ultimate HOTAS with the X52.Clearly if you... 5/5 Reticuli (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews This review is from: Saitek X52 Flight Control System (Personal Computers) EDIT: Use a bit of silicone grease under the plastic swash plate disk to drastically reduce friction and improve control fidelity. Audio fader or scuba types work well, but you may also find it at a hardware store. Teflon grease also works. Use thick grease. Do not use petroleum-derived products on plastic.We can't compare this stick to Thrustmaster really because their stuff now is garbage. Thrustmaster pretty much forced Suncom (maker of the fab F-15 series) out of business with lawsuits claiming the newcomer was infringing on their patents to produce "realistic" flight sticks. Then we now have a monopoly on the supposedly authentic stuff which has produced crap like The Cougar. Thanks Thrustmaster! Then there's CH Products...good, smooth, but ugly, expensive, and low resistence. Saitek has been making these strange looking, possibly gimmick-rich products for a while. I think they've finally created a near ultimate HOTAS with the X52.Clearly if you... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , June 5, 2005

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  an excellent folow up to the X-45

  I probably spend more time than I should with flight sims, mainly IL2-sturmovik but also FS2004 and lomac, and have worked my way through a few sticks. before I purchased the X-52 I used an X-45 for near a year. I was happy with it and it still worked perfectly, but when saitek released the'52 I knew I wanted one. I have used it about 2 weeks now, and man is it sweet. the action on all the axis' is silky smooth,and accurate. I believe the "non contact" technology they are advertising has alot to do with this. All the buttons are laid out in an intuitive manner, and there are more control options than the X-45 has. the blue LEDs are spiffy, and they thought to allow a way to dim or extinguish them if you so desire The multi function display is nice to have, but essentialy just eye candy unless you need to know what time it is or what profile you are running. overall it has a quality feel and look the X-45 was maybe lacking a... 5/5 LW Icarus "www.lwsquad.org" (Ohio,USA) - See all my reviews This review is from: Saitek X52 Flight Control System (Personal Computers) I probably spend more time than I should with flight sims, mainly IL2-sturmovik but also FS2004 and lomac, and have worked my way through a few sticks. before I purchased the X-52 I used an X-45 for near a year. I was happy with it and it still worked perfectly, but when saitek released the'52 I knew I wanted one. I have used it about 2 weeks now, and man is it sweet. the action on all the axis' is silky smooth,and accurate. I believe the "non contact" technology they are advertising has alot to do with this. All the buttons are laid out in an intuitive manner, and there are more control options than the X-45 has. the blue LEDs are spiffy, and they thought to allow a way to dim or extinguish them if you so desire The multi function display is nice to have, but essentialy just eye candy unless you need to know what time it is or what profile you are running. overall it has a quality feel and look the X-45 was maybe lacking a... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 5, 2004

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  List Price: $129.99
  

  Illuminated buttons and enhanced gameplay through intuitive LCD Multi-Function Display.

  Progressive throttle with resistance adjustment and detents for afterburner and idle.

  Progressive throttle with resistance adjustment and detents for afterburner and idle

  Program your controller for each game using the powerful Smart Technology software.

  Precision centering mechanism; no contact technology on X and Y axes and constant spring force improve control

  Illuminated buttons and enhanced gameplay through intuitive LCD Multi-Function Display

  Program your controller for each game using the powerful Smart Technology software

  5 position handle adjustment system to suit all hand sizes with soft-touch, contoured grip for maximum gaming comfort

  5 position handle adjustment system to suit all hand sizes with soft-touch, contoured grip for maximum gaming comfort.

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  Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X Flight Stick

  Video Games (Thrustmaster VG)
  

  Rating (199 reviews):

  (4.5/5)

  

  A must have for armchair flight cadets!

  With Tom Clancy's HAWX on the way to the PS3 later this season, and my sudden urge to revisit Freespace 2, X-Wing, the Wing Commander games on my PC, I decided to give this joystick a shot since it was cheaper than PS3 version of the Saitek Aviator, and it's also a hands-on-the-throttle model. I am sure glad I did! This stick is awsome, I am very glad that I gave it a chance even though reviews were scarce.It has just about every button you could possibly want in a joystick, they all fell right when pressed, it's programmable, has a throttle with an alalog rocker for even more control options, and it all feels very intuitive when held. I tested it in the Windows game controller utility and everything seems to move quite precisely. Afterwards, I played Freespace 2 and the demo for the Battlestar Galactica: Beyond the Red Line mod, and it was a total blast. I was able to map the controls perfectly to all the buttons on the stick, and I was flying like an ace in no time... 5/5 Timothy G. Berntsen "Guru of geekdom" (Virginia Beach) - See all my reviews, January 20, 2009

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  The Holy-Grail for Flight-Sim Joy Sticks

  This is my second one. I bought the first from Amazon last October-08. I was impressed with it's construction and overall operation ,but it had a few quirks. So I sent it back and paid the re-stock fee.I've been a Microsoft Flight Simmer for 7-8 years and I've tried and/or owned almost all the joy-sticks and yokes(with and without foot pedals)that have been marketed in this country.I have a soft spot for my Logitech 3-D Pro that has served me well for many years but I never really cared for their throttle design, and I guess thst's what attracted me to the Thrustmaster Hotas.After waiting 6-months to give the manufacturer a chance to make another production run (and hopefully overcome the faults I found on my first one) I ordered another and found that it worked... 5/5 R. Stark "kidkrats" (Pinehurst,NC.) - See all my reviews, July 15, 2009

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  Best Flight Stick I've Had To Date

  My first flight stick (or joystick) was the Microsoft Force Feedback Pro which was a very good stick - it had some 'slop' in it which eventually got so bad that it was no longer tolerable. It was rugged and comfortable to use, but Microsoft quit making them & also quit supporting them in many flight Sims & newer games. I then had two Saitek Cyborg Evo Joysticks. The first one developed a problem after 11 months with little use, when it went out of calibration and the rudder output stuck in 50% left rudder position and couldn't be fixed by recalibration so it was replaced under 1-year warranty. Within 10 months switch #5 quit working on the second or replacement joystick so at this point I decided to look for a different manufacturers joystick because by now I had lost faith in Saitek being able to make a reliable joystick. I am seventy years old and I take good care of my equipment - I don't abuse my joysticks so if they don't last for me I doubt that they would last for anyone... 5/5 gump92139 - See all my reviews = Fun:, November 16, 2009

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  List Price: $49.99
  

  Detachable, real-size, ergonomically-designed throttle control

  Exclusive "MAPPING" button: all functions may be instantly switched around between each other

  Exclusive "PRESET" button": to switch, while playing, instantly from one programme to another

  High-precision joystick with adjustable resistance

  Programmable: the 12 buttons and 5 axles are entirely programmable

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  Saitek CES432100002/02/1 Pro Flight Cessna Yoke System

  CE (Saitek)
  

  Rating (3 reviews):

  (3.3/5)

  

  Excelent Flight Simulation Product!

  I bought the entire set, except for the LCDs, and all i can say is that, for the price(Cheap compared to other products) its a very good product for flight simulation. Handling is smooth indeed, the so commented detent is ok, i mean, what whould you xpecting, a force feedback for the price? All i can say is that this product change the flight simulation experience to anyone. No phanton issues, no oil leakage problems, relatively easy to configure(Just take some research to learn), and very nice and fun to use. A must for flight simulation and PP students... Also Amazon was pretty fast delivering the item, thats why i wont let them, reliable, fast, safe... 5/5 Raphael - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Saitek CES432100002/02/1 Pro Flight Cessna Yoke System (Personal Computers) I bought the entire set, except for the LCDs, and all i can say is that, for the price(Cheap compared to other products) its a very good product for flight simulation. Handling is smooth indeed, the so commented detent is ok, i mean, what whould you xpecting, a force feedback for the price? All i can say is that this product change the flight simulation experience to anyone. No phanton issues, no oil leakage problems, relatively easy to configure(Just take some research to learn), and very nice and fun to use. A must for flight simulation and PP students... Also Amazon was pretty fast delivering the item, thats why i wont let them, reliable, fast, safe... Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , February 4, 2012

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  pitch binds

  Edit: The pitch axis(in/out) is worthless. It binds and makes flying/landing harder than it should be. Banking is fine. I would not recommend this.Also problem using freetrack as a result of the yoke mode buttons being stuck on. 1/5 yepyep - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Saitek CES432100002/02/1 Pro Flight Cessna Yoke System (Personal Computers) Edit: The pitch axis(in/out) is worthless. It binds and makes flying/landing harder than it should be. Banking is fine. I would not recommend this.Also problem using freetrack as a result of the yoke mode buttons being stuck on. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , January 7, 2012

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  Great item

  This is a really great product. The feeling of realism is stunning. This product is a great complement to increase the realism of the game. 4/5 Gérard "Mobydik" (Switzerland) - See all my reviews This review is from: Saitek CES432100002/02/1 Pro Flight Cessna Yoke System (Personal Computers) This is a really great product. The feeling of realism is stunning. This product is a great complement to increase the realism of the game. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 19, 2012

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  List Price: $199.99
  

  3 axis levers on Quadrant

  Separate throttle quadrant with additional switches to configure any combination of throttle, flaps, mixture or prop pitch. Mount on top, in front of your desk, pilot or co-pilot side so that the controls are exactly where you want them

  Used with the supplied ST Programming software, integrated mode switch trebles the number of controls you have at your fingertips

  POV Hat Switch

  Accurate 1:1 scaled yoke handle found in Cessna light aircraft

  Durable Stainless Steel shaft with precision bearings gives smooth and predictable elevator and aileron control

  Unique, 2-position desk clamp keeps your yoke and quadrant securely fixed no matter how extreme the flying conditions

  3-position Mode Switch

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  Pro Flight Instrument Panel

  CE (Saitek)
  

  Rating (16 reviews):

  (3.2/5)

  

  Saitek Instrument Guage

  I have purchased three of the Saitek Panel Guages. All of the devices work well and are in sync with MS FSX. They are somewhat CPU intensive, so one needs lots of CPU speed and memory. Their number one benefit is that they free the user to use the entre gaming screen for scenery. The gauges improve the feeling of realism considerably. Last point, they seem to be happiest using a single dedicated USB port. 4/5 sandecamp - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Pro Flight Instrument Panel (Personal Computers) I have purchased three of the Saitek Panel Guages. All of the devices work well and are in sync with MS FSX. They are somewhat CPU intensive, so one needs lots of CPU speed and memory. Their number one benefit is that they free the user to use the entre gaming screen for scenery. The gauges improve the feeling of realism considerably. Last point, they seem to be happiest using a single dedicated USB port. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , March 4, 2011

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  Awesome...but no better than instrument only view in FSX

  I have the yoke and 3 lever throttle, the rudder pedals and 3 of the saitek Flight instrument panels and the Pro Flight Switch Panel. They work GREAT!They are HIGHLY recommended.I only have 2 complaints..sometimes all the panels don't get started at the same time (probably due to the USB power requirement) so I have to unplug them and replug them...but it's usually just 1 of the 6 devices.....mostly the yoke itself.The other complaint is that there is no HSI option on the flight instrument panel...maybe in a driver upgrade.These change the usablity of FSX from tedious to truly enjoyable! 4/5 Charles W. Stout (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews, September 5, 2009

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  This is a great addition to a flight sim

  *****MAJOR UPDATE 2/5/12The Pro Flight Instrument Panel that I bought was getting a discolored area in the top corner of the screen, and was sent back.Rather than getting a replacement I looked around for something that would cost less than $1,000. After all I ***WANTED*** 6 more of the little suckers.My solution was to get a 9" USB monitor (DoubleSight DS-90U Monitor) to run "G.A. Panel" on. "G.A. Panel" (General Aviation) is an instrument program for FSX that is easily configurable for new or old light aircraft.On top of that I also have a matching 9" TOUCHSCREEN monitor (9" USB Touch Monitor) that can be used to program/control the FSX GPS.Had my original Pro Flight Instrument Panel not gone bad I would have kept it, and I can STILL recommend it. But the above is another, and MUCH cheaper, solution for a great flight sim setup... 5/5 SameOldStory (US) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Pro Flight Instrument Panel (Personal Computers) *****MAJOR UPDATE 2/5/12The Pro Flight Instrument Panel that I bought was getting a discolored area in the top corner of the screen, and was sent back.Rather than getting a replacement I looked around for something that would cost less than $1,000. After all I ***WANTED*** 6 more of the little suckers.My solution was to get a 9" USB monitor (DoubleSight DS-90U Monitor) to run "G.A. Panel" on. "G.A. Panel" (General Aviation) is an instrument program for FSX that is easily configurable for new or old light aircraft.On top of that I also have a matching 9" TOUCHSCREEN monitor (9" USB Touch Monitor) that can be used to program/control the FSX GPS.Had my original Pro Flight Instrument Panel not gone bad I would have kept it, and I can STILL recommend it. But the above is another, and MUCH cheaper, solution for a great flight sim setup... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 11, 2011

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  List Price: $149.99
  Price: $119.99
  You Save: $30.00 (20%)

  Pro flight information panel is a true multi-functional device

  Compact color LCD screen

  Works with flight simulator software to display real time cockpit instrument information

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  Saitek PRO Flight Radio Panel

  CE (Mad Catz)
  

  Rating (22 reviews):

  (4.0/5)

  

  Good unit!

  This is one of the more important items for flight simulation. Essential if you're flying IFR.These units are well built, work well, and are relatively inexpensive. They're light, though. As I mentioned on the review of the autopilot unit, I had to install them into a small wooden box so they wouldn't move around.I'm running them through a really cheap USB hub. It works but a better hub would provide more stable power. Don't cheese on a USB hub. Buy a good one. Don't try to run these off the Saitek yoke hub ports unless you have a power supply for the yoke.Bottom line: Great unit. I wish I had three of these! That way, I could leave the radios dedicated to Communications, Navs, and ADF/DME without switching the knobs on the left. 5/5 R. A. Head (Laplata, Mo United States) - See all my reviews, March 12, 2010

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  You Get what you pay for

  Overall, the product is great! I am an ex cockpit builder (long ago) and have spent over $900 for the part to do what this does. That said, you get what you pay for and in most ways more than you paid for in my opinion. The function knobs on the left I like. They are more sturdy and some say touch to turn, but not me. I think it may be because the knobs on the right are so incredibly cheap that the other knobs feel so much harder to turn. The only reason I gave this 4 stars and not 5 is because of those knobs. I wanted this to speed up the freq setting part of my sim time, but I spend more time because of how sensitive they are and you'll over shoot the desired freq setting countless times even though you only moved it one "knub". Personally I'm going to spend the $.29 cents at radio shack and replace them with a generic potentiometer or similar. I had to speak the truth here, but I'm sure 99% of people will be more than satisfied with this unit. 4/5 Daniel Prunier "Danbo" (Boston, Ma USA) - See all my reviews, February 24, 2010

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  Great addition to a flight sim setup

  I bought this because I wanted to be able to navigate and use the ATC functions in FSX without having to use the click spots in the virtual cockpit which can be really fiddly to use whilst maintaining control of the plane.The radio panel arrived and was well packaged, the face of the panel screws to a stand that supports it so if you were buildling a cockpit you could just use the panel without the stand. Installation was simple and FSX recognised it straight away.The other review comments about the controls are spot on, but shouldn't detract from this product. The selector for the different radio types is quite stiff to use, but you quickly get used to the right amount of effort required and the tuning dials are a bit imprecise as the 'clicks' don't correspond with the increments on the radio (it's about a 2:1 ratio of frequency to clicks). However given that this tunes both COM and NAV this is perfectly understandable - they have different increments, so... 5/5 Andrew Ellsom (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews, June 26, 2010

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  List Price: $149.99
  

  Works with Microsoft Flight Simulator X and 2004

  LED displays work fully in real time with Flight Simulator X and 2004, removing the need to bring the radio stack up on screen

  Twin concentric adjustment dials adjust frequency units incrementally for quicker selection of your required frequency

  A set of switches and LED displays for use in controlling various aspects of flight

  Standby switch - set your standby frequencies and then set to active at the touch of a button

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