New Saitek product

[Paul G]

Realizing this is probably toooooooo generic for most of us, Saitek are about to release a great hardware add-on, for those looking for a functional if not visually accurate, single engine GA aircraft cockpit.

Saitek control module (http://www.fspilotshop.com/product_info.php?products_id=1738&osCsid=68bd0fddfab14e2f0437b1c99edd63b4)

$100 gets you a range of electrical controls, gear control and magneto mechanism. That's several hundred bucks worth of IO boards and hardware in a single package. And, unbelievably, the unit is backlit!

I'm not sure how well it works. Surprised they have Cowl Flaps but not wing flaps. Also the placards are badly spaced which might confuse some users (e.g. on appears to be down if you look at the middle label). However looks really nicely built, with opportunities to connect with (presumably) other Saitek units.

Mix this with the Saitek throttle/yoke combo, a GoFlight RP48 for autopilot control, a couple of GF-166 radio units, and you'd have a pretty functional GA cockpit for less than a grand. That's half the cost of that stupid switch on ebay a few days ago.

I'm not expecting many on this site to go buy one, although I'd be tempted, if only to plug into a laptop for a truly portable cockpit.

[magicaldr]

Hi Paul,

I ran into this over the weekend, must admit to being very tempted. Although I prefer my keyswitch to the knob for startup, still I am sure 5 mins with a soldering iron would sort that out.

It beats a number of competitor products on cost right into the ground, will have to get to see one in the flesh so to speak as my only concern will be how solid it feels. Otherwise it looks great for a quick, and packable portable cockpit, especially when you see it paired with the yoke: http://www.gpstore.co.nz/Screenshots/1565447/1.html

[mlscotti]

looks sweet but switches are way to close together...

[Adino]

This is cool:cool: I have a couple of ideas already. This is in any way a better product than the CH yoke "crab" introduced earlier last week .
Saitek rocks!

[Paul G]

For $100 you could risk subbing your own switches and using their backlight, or create your own backlight panel and switches to make it look a little less game-like. I may just build a prototype / proof of concept if I get my mitts on one (what's that wife? no just talking about work stuff, not sims, honest).

This is clearly aimed at desktop and joystick market, which is probably why it's $100. I've modded a couple of X45 joysticks in the past and they were reasonably easy to get into and not difficult to tweak.

Saitek are WELL under-rated in my opinion. I've had a ton of their stuff in the past and still have and use it.

[P1IC]

Realism goes BONK!

Sorry, but this unit may be the best thing available at the price, but it just does not look like any part of any aircraft I have ever flown. It reminds me of several switch panels I have seen in this forum, made by members, which exist just to overcome the problem of mouse / keyboard input. Nothing wrong with any of that of course, but please don't try to say this is a leap forward.

OK, you can spend some more by adding a homebrew panel, substituting the switches in that unit for real-like ones, and so on, Then you'll have a unit that looks like it belongs in a real cockpit. At several times the price - so what's the point?

[Adino]

Realism goes BONK!

Sorry, but this unit may be the best thing available at the price, but it just does not look like any part of any aircraft I have ever flown. It reminds me of several switch panels I have seen in this forum, made by members, which exist just to overcome the problem of mouse / keyboard input. Nothing wrong with any of that of course, but please don't try to say this is a leap forward.

OK, you can spend some more by adding a homebrew panel, substituting the switches in that unit for real-like ones, and so on, Then you'll have a unit that looks like it belongs in a real cockpit. At several times the price - so what's the point?

Probably most of the audience here will agree with most of your comments, 'cause we are freaks we are homebuilders we are not desktop pilots(no ofens.:roll:). So you should read between the lines and you will notice that we are not talking about the unit itself but what we can do WITH the unit...;-)

[BlackWidow]

I think it s a great idea and doesnt look all that bad. I would purchase it just to use at my desktop until i fianlly build my shell and get my panel the way i want it. BUT i am very nervous about buying another saitek product simply because of the ghost that keeps pushing my buttons on my pro flight yoke. I hope that Saitek has fixed that issue. This time I will not rush out an buy anything until i read good reports about it.

Not sure if any of you remember the concept that Saitek was trying to produce of the six main gauges. The pics showed that they were usin small LCD screens. I have tried to find the images of the prototype but since i lost my HD awhile back i have had no luck.

Mike

[Efe Cem Elci]

Interesting, I just checked Saitek's website yesterday to see if they had announced the release and there wasn't a thing on this panel. I think at this price (dunno what it will become when it gets here to Europe) its a good solution for desktop pilots and especially those using the Saitek pro flight system.

I currently have the yoke, pedals and two throttles combined into a TQ. Will phase them out as I develop the 'pit but currently its a good deal with no ghost effects yet.

Mike, I remember the gauge deal as well and the link with the picture is:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Saitek-Pro-Flight-Instrument-Panel/dp/B000VLNXRU

[BlackWidow]

Yes that is it. Funny not a single word about that since it was mentioned so long ago. I too looked for it on the Saitek website and did not see anything, if i rember correctly i did not see anything on the Pro Flight yoke either.

Mike

[Efe Cem Elci]

The Pro Flight System as it exists currently (yoke, pedals, throttle) is on the Saitek site (http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/proflight.htm) but I admit I haven't seen anything anywhere on the gauges and availability and very few sites that list the new panel.

[AndyT]

Its an interesting peice. Its not as realistic as Desktop Aviator's panel. Nice, but too late for me.

[magicaldr]

Its an interesting piece. Its not as realistic as Desktop Aviator's panel. Nice, but too late for me.

Hi Andy, I have the Desktop Aviator panel and agree when it comes to the keyswitch. However the DA panel relies on a joystick controller, and having the switches in the right place at the start. Since a pulse is sent on each move of the switch, it doesnt know if they are set to on or off.

Not sure if Saitek will have gone the same route or will map both on and off positions for each switch. If they have then the saitek panel will be more realistic than the DA one in my view. Also you get gear lights and gear lever.


Realism goes BONK!

Sorry, but this unit may be the best thing available at the price, but it just does not look like any part of any aircraft I have ever flown. It reminds me of several switch panels I have seen in this forum, made by members, which exist just to overcome the problem of mouse / keyboard input. Nothing wrong with any of that of course, but please don't try to say this is a leap forward.

OK, you can spend some more by adding a homebrew panel, substituting the switches in that unit for real-like ones, and so on, Then you'll have a unit that looks like it belongs in a real cockpit. At several times the price - so what's the point?

Ok its not like any specific aircraft, but its aimed at the small GA flyer. Compared to many ultralight / microlight class aircraft its quite realistic.

As you say it depends on what you are building. There are a number of 'generic' builders out there as well as desktop flyers who may find this useful. It has a lot of functionality in a very cheap package. Combined with a instrument monitor for the GA pilot with TrackIR this is pretty much all the switch inputs you need.

Not sure why I like this so much, Go Flight is not that 'realistic' but a lot of us use it, same with Desktop Aviator stuff. Its not going to be 'real' when compared to a replica cockpit, but it sure is real compared to a keyboard :)

[Paul G]

I'm not sure if my original point has become lost a bit. I wasn't really anticipating tons of orders for this product from people here. What I was remarking on was the shear value for the desktop aviator, especially as this unit allegedly has backlighting which is a first for a unit of this price. Also marks entry into a new level of fidelity for the desktop buff.

The other point is that when I started sim building, I only ever anticipated building a slightly more immersive environment than a desktop simmer would have. With a product like this, such an enthusiast could be up and running with reasonable level of functionality for about $1,000 which is not bad at all.

Adding some hardware to this unit would not cost much. $1-1.50 for toggles, and a keylock for the magnetos

[Efe Cem Elci]

Two new products have been added to Saitek's site, the instrument panel as talked about above and a headset.
http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/proflight.htm

[AndyT]

The headset looks really nice. Too bad its not USB.

[Holclo]

The new switch panel is only for FSX.
Bill

[Michael Carter]

That's the talk anyway. It uses sim-connect which is only in FSX. I don't know if there is a work around for FS9 or not.

I'm sure someone will come up with one, or just use their own input card.