WestWind Airlines

Maybe it has been hashed out before, but I couldn't find a thread on it so here goes.   What is the Flight Sim "Yoke of choice" these days?  :)

My CH Yoke has died, and needs to be replaced.   This one served me well for several years so I could just get another, although the new gear from Saitek looks interesting...   Or maybe someone else out there has something different they could recommend?

I have a full compliment of GoFlight panels, but don't have the throttle.  At $400 I don't picture getting one, especially now as it won't solve the problem of not having a working joystick/controller.   I have a CH Throttle quadrant, one of the switches doesn't work but other than that it seems to work just fine.   I don't use those switches since I have everythign I need on the GoFlight panels.  If I went with another CH yoke I'd be all set.   Or I could get a Saitek setup and pass the throttle on to a friend who flies for another VA and doesn't have a throttle.

So whats the word?   Is the new Saitek stuff worth the $?   I don't mind  spending that much being as it is something I actually use.  Or should I get another CH yoke?    Or is there something else out there worth looking at?

Not long ago I'd just drive over to Frys and check them out.    But I live in South Dakota now, and there aren't any stores here that carry this kind of stuff - so if I go Saitek I won't be able to try one out first.   It may be a matter of personal taste - but the opinion of my fellow-pilots would be greatly appreaciated.

Thanks in advance,

Lou     WWA633/KSFO

 

 

Lou, I will be curious to see what response you get.  I am using the CH yoke and have been for about 3 years,  The HAT switch has started to stick a little and that red button under your left thumb (rear button) does not work anymore. I will probably buy another yoke should this one fail from CH Products.  I do not know about Saitek but am curious.

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Scott Williams
WWA 1404
Senior Command Captain KBOS
Commercial ASMEL Instrument
CFI #1876545

Here is a link my friend from United Virtual sent me.   Looks like they had some problems early on, but they might have been fixed by now:

 http://www.fspilotshop.com/product_info.php?manufacturers_id=13&products_id=1263&osCsid=587813ca79807f77696c3d651a0d8915

 Be curious to hear if any of our pilots here have it and what they have to say.

Thank you for the link Lou....and about $150 for the yoke may be a done deal if my CH dies.

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Scott Williams
WWA 1404
Senior Command Captain KBOS
Commercial ASMEL Instrument
CFI #1876545

For WestWind aircraft, I would recommend CH.  I have the CH Yoke, Rudder Pedels and a CH Quad Throttle.  Using FSUIPC, I am able to program to a specific airliner.  If I turn my chair 90 degrees to the right, I have another computer that has my old Thrustmaster F-22, a F-16 TQS and my old Thrustmaster Rudder Pedels.  I use that set-up for flying my fighter jets (mostly US Navy Carrier Planes).  I also have a Track-clip Pro (Track IR) headset that can be used in both computers. Both of my computers are quads and this might be a bit of over-kill on my part.

Please note, that this is my personal preference.  WestWind, VA does not endorse any products for use by our Captains.

Regards,

Ed

Have been surprised that there has been so little chatter...   Maybe everyone is out flying while I am 'grounded'.

 

I took the plunge and bought the Saitek.   Since none of the stores here in Sioux Falls has them, I had to mail-order it.   Dell had the best deal, with overnight shipping it came out to just over what it would cost me at Fry's if I were back in California.    I figure it will arrive Thursday, and if I'm not home in time and it requires a signature I'll sign the paper and have them leave it Friday.    That way I'll be back flying this weekend... and I have Monday off work too!

 

Will let you know how it goes... I'm thinking we'd better stock up on coffee - it's going to be a LONG weekend. :)

 

Lou
Command Captain, KSFO
WWA633

yeah.... a really long weekend.   Dell sent me an email tonight, my stick won't ship until the 15th.   Actually it won't ship at all, I cancelled it.    Thanks for nothing, Dell.

Dude, I shoulda bought it at NewEgg.    lol

 

Lou. I was going to ask you to keep us informed on the saitek model. Maybe not now. I had a fire in the cockpit a few evenings ago. While setting at the gate at KORD awaiting IFR clearence on Vatsim. Smoke pored out of my old MS sidewinder joystick! No joking!  ( that falls under "Oh crap").The old girls probably over ten years old and been a good one. Now I'm in the market for a yoke, pedals and throttles. Believe I shall go with CH. Anyone have a suggestion or experience with a vendor?

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Randy Donnelly
AHM KSLC
WWA2024

If GE CF6-80C2B8F engines were attached to a typical automobile, at takeoff power the car would accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in less than .5 seconds.

I got my CH yoke at www.amazon.com.  Looks like they are still about $100.  I received it pretty quickly if I remember correctly.

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Scott Williams
WWA 1404
Senior Command Captain KBOS
Commercial ASMEL Instrument
CFI #1876545

I am currently using the Saitek Pro Flight yoke and rudder pedals!  Good luck with your purchases!

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Justin L
WWA2153
CAT III
KBOS - AHM

Ok. Just broke down and ordered the Ch Products yoke, rudder pedals and throttle from Amazon. Spurred the economy and saved the world!! Only a sim aviator would be making a large capitol investment now. These really have gone down in price. Must be coming out with new models!  Just like life. When I was younger I wanted everything when it was coming out. Now I get it when its going out!

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Randy Donnelly
AHM KSLC
WWA2024

If GE CF6-80C2B8F engines were attached to a typical automobile, at takeoff power the car would accelerate from zero to 60 mph (96.5 kph) in less than .5 seconds.

Sorry to hear of the smoking joystick - I've never heard of that one!  Didn't think there was enough voltage going through them to do that,  I had one of those for years too, it was a rock.

As for me, the oddities continued...  I got a response from Dell about my order cancellation the next night saying my order already shipped!    And a confirmation email as well.

but the fun didn't stop there....

I checked the FedEx tracking number they gave me, and it said they tried to deliver it that day but the location was 'unsuitable for leaving the package'.  HUH????   They also didn't leave a sign/release tag.    I was tracking it the next day (friday) when my daughter was home... and just after noon they posted on the account that the drver couldn't find the house!    I'm right off a major intersection for crying out loud..

So I went to the FedEx facillity after work, and the agent called the driver and he went to the location and I picked up my package in person.  He mis-read the street name and was looking on 'cane' avenue instead of "crane"    2 days after my next-day package should have been delivered I left the FedEx facility with my package.  One advantage to living iin a small town.

Anyway I'll be posting a review later today/tonight.   It is setup and ready to go and I'm about to make my first flight right now.   Given my luck lately I don't think I 'll take a route to KLAS.   :)

Lou
WWA633
Senior Command Captain/KSFO

I have the CH yoke and a Saitek flightstick & throttle.  Can't speak for the Saitek yoke, but I have been very happy with the flightstick

 

 

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Andrew Podner, WWA1662
Command Captain
VP - Hub Operations - N. America, West
ZME ATM, I1 Controller/Instructor
Monster Driver - EHAM/NZAA

I bought the Saitek yoke and throttle combo and pedals from Dell and had no problems (other than my impatience for it to show up ) I haven't had any problems with them so far except for the pedals which I found a solution to online. Now everything works great!! I had a Saitek X52 before this, and I couldn't be happier with their products. I wouldn't use any other brand anymore :) 

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Travis Iversen
Hub Manager-SEA
WWA1111

This post was written using 100% recycled electrons for a greener internet :)

Well it was a little later than planned thanks to work issues....

The Saitek controls have been working great for me so far, no issues with repeating keys that were reported when the product was released.   All in all I am quite pleased with it.

A few things that should be noted

The base of the yoke is metal, as is the shaft of the control, but everything else is plastic.

The yoke needs a lot of room under the desk, so much so that I had to remove my under-desk keyboard drawer that lived comfortably under my old CH yoke.   Ditto for the throtlles.

there is ONE big plastic screw that holds the yoke onto the desk, and one more for the throttle.   Surprisignly it does hold them in place quite securely.   The entire attachment pieces are plastic, so it would be easy to replace if it became damaged.

Its going to take a while to get used to having the hat on the left side, but I'm getting used to it.   The slide-switches they use rather than rockers on the yoke handles are a nice upgrade IMHO.

The LCD on the yoke has two funcitons:  time of day, and a stopwatch.  it also shows which of the three 'modes' your system is in.  As with the X52 you can use the enclosed software you can program three sets of control programs, which you can switch to using the wheel on the right side of the yoke handle (right under your index finger).

I like the feel of it.   The detent on the throttles is much more noticable that my CH was.   Having 3 throttle controls is OK for me as I don't fly 4-engine aircraft anyway.  An additional throttle switch is avaialble for about $50.

Don't expect to be able to plug a USB drive into the usb ports, there won't be enough power to drive it.   To be honest I didn't expect this to work. :)

 

So, is it an 'upgrade' to my old CH system?  I think they are very comparable so maybe not an 'upgrade' is not the right word, but since my CH yoke broke I was in the market for a new one.   I like the Saitek and have no remorse about buy it, but I don't think you can go wrong with the CH either.