Simviation Forums

Everyone has different ideas of how to use a flight sim. Some are happy with just a joystick and a keyboard. Others just have to have a fully functional A380 or 787 Dreamliner cockpit in their bedroom closet.

Personally, I like to flip a few switches and turn a few knobs. But I can’t afford to pay $339.95 for a Go-Flight MCP Advanced Autopilot Module, or many of the other high quality flight sim hardware add-ons.

So I went with, for the most part, Saitek.

Surprisingly, I see very little mention of any of the Saitek panels. So here’s your chance to speak up. What do others have?

I use two Saitek radio panels, one multi panel and one switch panel plus the Saitek yoke and rudder pedals

I use two Saitek radio panels, one multi panel and one switch panel plus the Saitek yoke and rudder pedals

I still have a lot to learn, and I've seen pictures of others who have 2 radios. But why 2 radio panels? Is it for convenience?

The thing I like about running Two Nav Radio panels, is that one can be tuned to the Airfield's VOR station, and the other to the ILS approach frequency, and both observed on the VOR 2, and HSI, (and ADF), gauges... ...!

Paul .....I love full Bendix-King Radio Panels... 8-)...!

P.S....I use the default, full Bendix-King Radio Panels, with a one button click, displayed on one Monitor, with my FS 2004)...

Switch panel attached to the yoke, but I use CHProducts rudder peddles as they are built stronger.  I have used a CHProducts yoke for about ten years and I'm finding the feel of the Saitek yoke is taking some getting used too.  I do like the throttle unit though.  I did have a seperate throttle unit that I used with the CH yoke, but the puppy chewed through the cable. 

The thing I like about running Two Nav Radio panels, is that one can be tuned to the Airfield's VOR station, and the other to the ILS approach frequency, and both observed on the VOR 2, and HSI, (and ADF), gauges... ...!

Paul .....I love full Bendix-King Radio Panels... 8-)...!

P.S....I use the default, full Bendix-King Radio Panels, with a one button click, displayed on one Monitor, with my FS 2004)...

Thanks, NOW I know everything

Well.....

Except for all the other stuff

So there's one person who clicked only on the Pro Flight Switch Panel. First panel purchase?

My first Saitek panel was the radio panel.

My first hardware add-ons were - joystick, yoke, throttle quadrant.

My first Saitek panels were - radio panel, and then the switch panel. After a (relatively) long time I bought the multi panel.

I was surprised at how much I liked the switch panel after I bought it. The only thing that I changed about it was to make switching the fuel pump and the magnetos to the off position kill the engine.

I do want to do something about the color/texture of the gear knob though.

I may have to think about another radio panel. First I'll try doing the same thing some other (cheaper ) way.

I use two Saitek radio panels, one multi panel and one switch panel plus the Saitek yoke and rudder pedals

I still have a lot to learn, and I've seen pictures of others who have 2 radios. But why 2 radio panels? Is it for convenience?

For me, it's about realism... I want to add the flight instruments and build a virtual cockpit, just need to fix my current issues with my PC and it being slow / freezing with FSX first

So there's one person who clicked only on the Pro Flight Switch Panel. First panel purchase?

That will be me as I only have 1 thing listed   ;D

As I said, in order that I bought them, throttle (USB) and killed by puppy, switch unit, yoke and throttle unit.  Not got the room for more 

Aren't there any other POOR people in here like me who have to fly using the ol'keyboard/mouse
and an imagination?

Course, I'm not flying these days cause my HDD took a crap!

But I always have the old imagination. ...

This is my "Cockpit".


Although I can use all 3 monitors for flight, I normally just use the center & right screens. The left hand screen (22") is slightly smaller than the two 23" ASUS monitors. And both the color and the image quality of the left hand screen is much lower.

I would use only one large screen (37"-40") TV for a monitor if I had space to set up another computer just for flight. Last year, when my wife was away, I connected her 40" screen TV to my computer and started up FSX. For me, at least, that was MUCH better.

A couple of people have explained the advantage of having 2 Radio Panels. As you can see there is no easy way to do that with my setup, as my desk is used as both an office desk and an entertainment desk.



Another thing that I would change if I had the space would be to use a single wide aspect monitor for an instrument panel rather than 2 small monitors.

BLAZE wrote:Aren't there any other POOR people in here like me who have to fly using the ol'keyboard/mouse
and an imagination?

Course, I'm not flying these days cause my HDD took a crap!

But I always have the old imagination. ...

I live, more or less, between NYC and Philadelphia. I don't have to use my imagination too much. I just have to look up. There are planes flying to & from three major airports and 4 regional airports. Nice view.

I've been working on building a simulator cockpit to model a single engine prop aircraft, so far I have the following items:

(9) Saitek Flight Instrument Panels (setup as 6 pack instrument, 1 for engine instrumentation and, vor1, vor2)
(2) Radio Panels (1 setup as com1/nav1 the second setup as transponder/dme)
(1) Multipanel (used as my autopilot)
(1) Switchpanel
(1) Pro flight Yoke / throttle quadrant combo
(1) Pro flight rudder pedals
(1) Pro Flight Cessna trim wheel
(1) Desktop Aviator 2390 Fuel Selector Panel (Very easy to program with FSUIPC)
(1) Desktop Aviator 2450 GPS Panel with working LCD
(1) Desktop Aviator 2130 USB Junction box (used to convert momentary switches usable format in fsx)
(10) Circuit Breakers found here: http://diyrealism.webs.com/apps/webstore/ (to be used to control functions in the simulator such as reset the flight, etc)
(1) Parking break handle found here: http://diyrealism.webs.com/apps/webstore/

I haven't taken the time to setup lighting and take some serious photos but I have some quick snapshots I took posted on my website.
http://www.jspeergraphics.com/cessna172simulation

Sounds great

I envy you the Desktop Aviator 2450 GPS. If I hadn't concocted my own I would buy one.

This is what I rigged up. The standard FSX GPS pops into one of 2 small USB monitors. It uses the concentric radio panel knobs and the ACT/STB button as well as a touch screen. When the GPS isn't showing the screen shows other instruments.



The one on the right is the touch screen.

But keep going. A lot of us would like to do the same.

WOW! Y'all got me drooling a bit!

And here I though I had a cool set-up with an X52-Pro, Switch Panel, Multi Panel, and 4 Flight instrument Panels mounted around a 24" monitor. I have the instrument panels below, between the monitor and keyboard, and the multi & switch panels slanted toward me above the monitor.

Works rather well for me as space is a bit of a premium, but moreso is funding! The 'finance manager' keeps denying my request for an uppie to a 2 or 3 monitor 'pit.
{Although I am looking to "get away with" a graphics card uppie pretty soon! Shhhhhhhh!}

Almost forgot, I have a Saitek Cyborg keyboard.

Although I've seen where some folks have had difficulties with Saitek stuff, I have had nothing but an excellent time with putting together the set-up I have now, one piece at a time.