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Hardware Review: Saitek Pro Flight Cessna controls: Difference between revisions
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Hardware Review: Saitek Pro Flight Cessna controls (view source)
Revision as of 19:23, 30 June 2012
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So, what's it like to fly? Very nice indeed. | So, what's it like to fly? Very nice indeed. | ||
The yoke movement is nice and smooth, with the deflection force required increasing quite linearly with deflection distance (apart from a small | The yoke movement is nice and smooth, with the deflection force required increasing quite linearly with deflection distance (apart from a small zone in the center), so it takes some effort to hold full up elevator with the yoke pulled right back. The yoke self-centers when released, and I suspect uses springs for centering. There's no force-feedback option with FG, but this does provide some feedback of control deflection, particularly when you're flying out of trim. In comparison the deflection force on my joystick is largely constant, making it more difficult to "feel" the amount of control deflection just by the force on my hand. Left/right travel is 180 degrees, and forward/back travel 8cm. | ||
For flying a GA aircraft like a 172, the Beaver or indeed a traditional airliner or business jet, it simply feels more natural than using a joystick. You become much more aware when your aircraft is out of trim, and trim with every power or attitude change rather than simply holding a bit of back or forward pressure. More realistic, and more fun. | For flying a GA aircraft like a 172, the Beaver or indeed a traditional airliner or business jet, it simply feels more natural than using a joystick. You become much more aware when your aircraft is out of trim, and trim with every power or attitude change rather than simply holding a bit of back or forward pressure. More realistic, and more fun. | ||
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Flying with the quadrant is much better than using the throttle control on my joystick. The movement has a good level of damping, and it's very nice to have a straightforward indication of the current setting by feel or visually, as there are percentage markings on the quadrant itself. I now stop the engine of the 172 properly by pulling the mixture out, rather than switching off the mags. | Flying with the quadrant is much better than using the throttle control on my joystick. The movement has a good level of damping, and it's very nice to have a straightforward indication of the current setting by feel or visually, as there are percentage markings on the quadrant itself. I now stop the engine of the 172 properly by pulling the mixture out, rather than switching off the mags. | ||
The only fly in the ointment is that 0 throttle/prop/mixture is reported until about 15% on the lever, and full throttle/prop/mixture is signalled from the 85% mark. This is a limitation on the signal being sent to FG, and is common on other joystick throttle controls as well. I suspect is to ensure that the throttle can still be set to 0 and 100% even if manufacturing tolerances are wide. This reduces the actual control travel of the joystick, where you input will have an actual effect from about 85 degrees to 60 degrees. This is still a significantly better level of control than a simple joystick throttle, and the input is very noise-free, but is a slight disappointment given the quality of the yoke. | |||
The real 172 has push/pull vernier controls rather than a full quadrant. Saitek do sell a set of these as their "TPM" product. I do not know whether this would work with FG, but I suspect it would with an appropriate configuration file. If anyone would like me to write one, please send the hardware to the usual address... | The real 172 has push/pull vernier controls rather than a full quadrant. Saitek do sell a set of these as their "TPM" product. I do not know whether this would work with FG, but I suspect it would with an appropriate configuration file. If anyone would like me to write one, please send the hardware to the usual address... | ||