When equipping ourselves with one two three, or all of the many peripherals now available from the Saitek Pro-Flight range, or other items from other manufactures for that matter, all you need to do is to stand back for one minute, and realise the incredible technology now available for us, the flightsim community, to buy and improve our lot.
The latest release form Saitek, the Backlit Information Panel (BIP) is one more to add to the myriad of high tech to adorn your particular virtual cockpit, may that be relatively simple, or highly complex.
With all the peripherals active, it may well be a complex array of tech in front of you. I guess all you will need to do is to is welcome the passengers on board!
What does this panel do? What does it show? Well, as in real life, within the cockpit of any aircraft, or at least most, there is a massive array of warning lights, which illuminate when you switch on/off, select from one to another, gear/flaps travel, door open, low fuel, etc...the list is massive. This Saitek (BIP) panel in essence, replicates these caution/warning annunciators. Very clever indeed! How on earth the boffins at Saitek have got this to work beats me, I want to get this baby plugged in and give it a try!
When that package arrives, now customary with any of the Saitek Pro-Flight range, the packaging is quite superb, and sturdy. The restrained use of gloss varnish on the matte cover enhances the product and builds the anticipation to open that there box, and plug it in. Excellent graphics on the box indicates what is enclosed.
The box is an oblong, with a cover sleeve. Careful opening will present you with some instructions, and the very firm high density foam inner holding very firmly a further box with BACKLIT INFORMATION PANEL, in white text on a blue background. Carefully lift out, open the box, and you quickly realise these are additional 'lozenge' shaped screens (Tri-State Lenses) which you can replace the 'active' ones already fitted to the main panel which will be illuminated when activated.
I have referred to the lens as Tri-State, the reason for this is when programming the light commands, and you have the choice of selecting one of THREE colors for that command, an incredible option, and very handy, if you are seeking an advice/caution or danger state, identified by the color selected, i.e., green, amber and red.
There are 27 spares each with a specific command available for you to customise the selection to your preference. There are 24 'active' lozenge lenses in the panel as well, so you really do have a massive selection available to you. 51 in fact.
The massive array is extremely handy, as the selection you can make will best replicate the aircraft type you are flying, i.e. sport, civil, jet, etc. While not all the symbols can be replicated as if you were in a A360, I will wager, the main major or primary 'lights' can be included on the panel you will use. Having 24 'active' lights will allow you to appreciate what is happening at any time. Actually, I did note, you can if you wish buy more than one panel, and link then together, so the potential of various light indicators 'boggles' the mind.
Further investigation of the dense foam packaging will present you with the panel itself, a dark plastic screen, to the front with a black plastic body. Again in the packaging you will find the mounting unit.
This can be used as a stand-alone item or you will be able to attach this to any other Pro-Flight accessory which has a mounting unit, or as Saitek refers to it as a Uni-Rack. These are designed to be inter-linked, to present an incredible multi function ensemble.
There is a USB cable running from the rear of the panel (a good length of cable is included) and you will find some small fixing knurled top screws, for affixing the panel to the mounting unit and to any other unit, if you are lucky enough to have some. When affixed, and standing on your desk, the rake is approx 30% rearward, so in essence, the screen is in a better position for clarity when in use.
So, like any careful user, I read the instructions first (don't quote me on that statement!). The instruction manual sates place the CD-ROM into the computer, odd since I could not find one. A quick call to Saitek and this was an error, in fact you download the program direct form Saitek. Actually I prefer this approach, then, in my view, you are assured of the most up to date driver set.
OK, that done, saved on my desktop, installs, which I may add went without any issues at all.
The program is Saitek's SMART TECHNOLOGY programming software. Once installed, provides the user with ultimate interaction and configuration. In this series of screens you can alter the colors as covered in the above.
Not to bore you to death, at the end of your programming, you will see an HD version of the panel you have selected. Actually you will see an image of the panel 'glowing' on screen (small); this informs you the profile as seen is 'active'.
You have the added benefit to use multiple BIP programming if you have a second panel...Phew that could offer real creative light show possibilities! Guess we want REAL, we got it.
Well, all plugged in, and programmed, hit the FSX icon on the screen, and waited the customary 25 minutes to boot-up, (OK slight exaggeration) and as the FSX screen appeared, the panel came into life. I selected the default Baron, and had pre-selected the warning lights that would be found in this aircraft type. Sure enough, there they were, providing me with the information I wanted.
Lights on, and that 'safe' light illuminated, taxied the active, rotated, selected gear up, and there it was, gear travel/unsafe/safe warnings, flaps, etc. I must confess to have had a smile on my face when the function I was requesting was accurately replicated on the panel. In fact a low fuel warning state came on in flight, just at the appropriate time, very impressive.
This is not an instant plug'n'play item. Like any precision piece of equipment it requires to set up carefully. Once done, within a few minutes, will offer you an amazing addition.
If you want to alter the messages, the process is simplicity itself. Simply remove the front cover of the panel and replace the new front fascias, adjust the option via the program, and hew presto, replace the front cover, via four small screws at each corner, and job done.
I did find the reference to the 'install the CD-ROM at the installation stage a tad annoying, i.e., there was not a CD enclosed, nor was there supposed to be one, it is a driver download option, but very quickly overcame that. Perhaps Saitek will pop a sticker on the box, or on the front of the instruction booklet, to negate any frustration.
I am not going to mention where is the flight sim peripheral market taking us next? Oops just said it. Oh well, I hold that view, we are constantly seeking 'reality' within FS, and we are being offered especially by Saitek's Pro-Flight series, the hardware to achieve an ever more realistic flight experience. I had real fun with this hardware, and has it enhanced the flight sim experience, you bet. Guess we want REAL we now have one more piece of hardware to achieve that goal.
Works with Microsoft Flight Simulator X
Connectivity: USB 2.0
Windows 7, Windows XP, XP64 and Windows Vista (all versions)
Nigel C. Martin
n.c.martin@btinternet.com
Learn More Here
Reviews Of Other Saitek Products:
Pro Flight Combat Pedals
Pro Flight X-65F Combat Control System
Pro Flight Multi Panel
Pro Flight Instrument Panel / Radio Panel
Pro Flight Switch Panel
Pro Flight Yoke System