Why is this?

[Michael Carter]

Maybe I'm really clueless here, but why do some of us spend untold amounts of money on commercial panels, PM software, hundreds of dollars on interface cards and other hardware...

Only to end up with a CH or Saitek yoke and throttle sitting amidst all of this high-end electronics, software, and equipment?

I really don't understand this. The yoke and throttle are two of the most important controls in the aircraft and I see these beautifully built cockpits that you couldn't tell from something at Flight Safety International until you look at the flight controls and throttle.

I tend to think of these two items as must-haves, even if your panel is not up, or all of the electronics are quite interfaced. After all, this is what you use to fly the aircraft.

To make a cockpit as real as it gets if you are spending thousands on the rest of the cockpit, doesn't it make sense that the flight controls be as realistic as the rest?

Just something that crossed my mind.

Opinions or thoughts? Reasons?

[spitfire9]

I agree 100% .

As a pilot in R/L I always like the feel of the yoke and rudders etc to be as close as possible to the real thing.

[737NUT]

I am with you 100%!!!!!! I see it over and over in the online pictures. That is the FIRST comment my friends had when they flew my real 737 after using my old CH yoke hacked onto a PVC pipe. The weight of the yoke and clm made it seem more realistic and easier to fly. I used to say, it should feel real because it is! LOL Point is, you are right, spend the money on a good control system first. At a minimum, attach a yoke to some pipe like you did. This is how I feel things rate on importance, Yoke, TQ, MCP,CDU(if flying the type), rudder pedals, MIP, avionics,Overhead.

[Michael Carter]

I agree 100% .

As a pilot in R/L I always like the feel of the yoke and rudders etc to be as close as possible to the real thing.

Maybe you're right. It might be a pilot thing. :D

[Tomlin]

Because some people hit a financial wall and cannot move forward for a bit. Some people like the CH Yoke, and some have no choice. I would be willing to even go as far to say that some people dont care...the CH Yoke definately meets the 85% rule.

That's the best answers I can think of.

[Michael Carter]

But don't you think for something as basic as flight controls that those items would be higher up on the list than say the overhead or radio stack?

[ivar hestnes]

But don't you think for something as basic as flight controls that those items would be higher up on the list than say the overhead or radio stack?

Not really I think, because with a joystick or saitek/yoke you actually can use the flight controls.

Most people want as much functionality as possible as fast as possible. Thats why many people have all the other items in the cockpit at a higher priority than realistic appearing flight controls. That goes for me aswell;)

But as you say, realistic appearing flight controls is very important for the complete result. And I guess most people want it badly:)

I have now functioning MIP, overhead, CDU and some radios.

Throttle is in place now.

Will move forward to yoke/pedals and tiller very soon. That is the next to do in my setup. After I build the interior;)

[andarlite]

Most people want as much functionality as possible as fast as possible. Thats why many people have all the other items in the cockpit at a higher priority than realistic appearing flight controls. That goes for me aswell;)

But as you say, realistic appearing flight controls is very important for the complete result. And I guess most people want it badly:)



I agree with this completely. Back before I even considered a cockpit, I got a CH yoke and throttle because I wanted to fly. Then I decided it would be nice to have a cockpit. If I were then to blow a couple of thousand $ for a real yoke and throttle, I wouldn't have any money to start the cockpit for another year or so. I would rather spend the money to get as much of the cockpit functionality going as quickly as possible.

Regards,
Henry

[Michael Carter]

I think that may be part of the thinking behind this. Some don't consider the realistic controls as part of the cockpit and would rather have the panels up first.

Nothing wrong with that. I asked for reasons and that's what I've gotten.

Thanks for everyone's input.

[AndyT]

When you first start, you are flying a desktop and one day you decide to get a little more realistic. So you get a yoke and pedals. WOW you think, how much better this is! Then a bit later you decide you want some switches because you already have a yoke and pedals. So you get a peice orr two of GoFlight or maybe Desktop Aviator, or something homebuilt. Then you stumble on MyCockpit and think, Ok, I gotta have it all! So you pick up with what you don't have and build from there. Once you get the MIP and overhead finished, you start looking at better controls.

They were first on the list, and they are last on the list.

[Geremy Britton]

i agree, i look at other websites all the time of home built cockpits and see these fantastic cockpits and then when you look at the yoke and throttle they have non realistic plastic ch ones - realy demotes the standard of your sim i think!

thats why i am building my yoke now which is on the top ten things of getting done properly. i already have a 737 throttle made that looks real.

geremy

[737NUT]

I think that would be a good market, decent yoke mounted to a painted PVC column that is weighted for a realistic feel.

My very first sim went from a CHPro yoke, then gutted CH yoke on a PVC clm. Then the real plane. I built the yoke the same time i got the MIP. Right now i am flying with a joystick and it is NOT a joy!:) I'm waiting for real yoke to become available or i may go with Simparts yoke.

This is how i personally see it,

1000.00 cdu
1000.00+ MIP and pnls
Flying it all with a 100.00 plastic yoke,

Priceless!!!!!!!!!



Just trying to be funny, don't get mad:)

[Michael Carter]

Well, mine was built rather backwards from what I've seen from nearly everyone else.

My overhead was the first thing I built. Then the control stand and throttle. The MIP was being built at the same time the control column/yoke was, but was finished much sooner and being used long before the MIP was ready.

There's just something about having a real Boeing yoke in front of you that really 'make's' it.

I like your explanation Andy.

[Michael Carter]

I think that would be a good market, decent yoke mounted to a painted PVC column that is weighted for a realistic feel.

My very first sim went from a CHPro yoke, then gutted CH yoke on a PVC clm. Then the real plane. I built the yoke the same time i got the MIP. Right now i am flying with a joystick and it is NOT a joy!:) I'm waiting for real yoke to become available or i may go with Simparts yoke.

This is how i personally see it,

1000.00 cdu
1000.00+ MIP and pnls
Flying it all with a 100.00 plastic yoke,

Priceless!!!!!!!!!

Just trying to be funny, don't get mad:)

:D:D:D

You really should visit Nick's site at APHS. He has decent prices for a variety of yokes you can build from. Mine came complete with the wiring harness and switches for around $500. Add another $50 or so for column hardware and you have a decent yoke for a single-seater.

Of course, if you are building a dual-seater the complexity goes up enourmously and so does the cost.

[David Rogers]

Good original question BSW - I think there are numerous reasons for yoke choices among pit builders.

One is the cost of "off the shelf" realistic airliner yokes. At around £1,500 for a fully assembled airliner yoke (on a control column, not a desk mounted box), the yoke is arguably THE most expensive component. Same with the throttle. Around £1600 for a fully assembled plug and play realistic 737 throttle.

So consider the costs of each 'chunk' of the type of cockpit that I've gone for:-

PM £565
Engrav Captain MIP £275
Engrav Centre MIP £235
CP Flight MCP £485
CP Flight EFIS £200
Engrav CDU £745
Triple Head2go £135
3 x 19" TFT £450
2 x 17" TFT £140
Airliner 737 Yoke £1,500
737 Throttle £1,600

........see what I mean. So the other option (for some) is building your own. But we don't all have engineering or electronics skills.

The other point is the fact that no matter what Yoke or throttle we use, we're still interfacing with the same $50 core simulator. So the control wheel is only part of the overal flight dynamics experience.

The Saitek Yoke is excellent. If you craft a 'checklist' board and attach it to the front (to hide the tacky on yoke display), you have a pretty credible steel shafted, smooth yoke.

As has been said by others - for some, where cash or skill is the constraint, CH and Saitek are the only options for out pits. :D

[Tomlin]

... when you look at the yoke and throttle they have non realistic plastic ch ones - realy demotes the standard of your sim i think!

geremy


My point is that (just like others have pointed out) that sometimes you just have to use what you can afford. For me, it was 'use a yoke you have, buy another to make it look uniform' and that would compliment my full size instrument panel.

The CH yoke itself is very realistic looking, and if it werent for the cheesy mini throttle quad mounted on it, it looks great (and actually close to the L45 yoke with a clipboard attached).

[737NUT]

I still remember the first comments my friends made when they flew in my real cockpit i used to have. These where the same guys who flew my 1st sim which had a chpro yoke. There comment was, "man it sure is allot easier to fly and more realistic with this real steering wheel"! LOL Goes to show a good wheel means more than having a roof over your head.

[Tomlin]

:-)

In time....