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Have you ever aspired to a home based cockpit, to really immerse yourself in Fight Simulation big style? But not had the Space in the house, the money, or a very understanding wife/girlfriend, or boyfriend come to that? Well, a small and affordable step in the right direction is the new Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel, a subtle unit but promises to provide multiple functions improving accuracy, effect and functionality.
OK, I am sure we have all dedicated various keys to perform the primary tasks, on flight yokes joysticks or keyboards, but it would be great have a single unit where the primary switches are bundled into one unit; this flight panel is the answer.
If you already have the Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System, I understand you can simply attach it onto top of this unit. I use a X52 Pro system, so what do I do? Simple, it has been designed to also be a free-standing use. This little beauty will control your landing gear, engine start/stop options, landing lights and eleven other important aircraft functions from one compact unit.
Some of the key features quoted are:
The unit arrives in a sturdy oblong box with impressive graphics and tech info. No confusion as to what is enclosed, there are several pictures of the panel on three sides. It does look pretty good.
Open the box, and once you have extracted the cardboard end support you can remove the panel, and as you do so, you will find a CD. This has the interface on it, which you will have to install. It is all auto executable, so no worries here.
As you remove the unit, and take a first 'peek' it looks, well, 'business-like'. Guess that is exactly as it should!
The dimensions of the panel are: 28cm w X 7cm d X 8cm H. It is made of a sturdy black plastic, and has a pleasing rearward slant with a series of brass threaded rings which fit into the holes across the top (6) and the same across the base (minus the brass threaded elements).
When you are facing the front of the panel, you will see at all four comers (facing) four knurled screws, situated at the four outer corners. They look very, well, purposeful, but are fixed. Then you arrive at all the switch options, rotary knob to the left of the panel, selecting the magneto's OFF option and BOTH/ALL one more click to the right, you have START, moving to the extreme right, you have the GEAR LEVER with the LED's showing you Wheels Travelling and Locked UP & DOWN. The white graphics used for the text is clear and works well on the matte black surface.
Pop the CD into the computer and follow the clear instructions, the entire installation process take approximately 5 minutes or less.
Plugged into a spare USB port, I selected the Panel Test option (after installing the set-up program from the CD provided) via START/ALL PROGRAMS/SAITEK PRO PANEL TEST, an image of the panel appears Select a few switches, and you should see them move on the test panel, and mine did not. I was utterly confused, I had followed the instructions to the letter. To cut a long story short, I traced the issue to the fact I had an USB extension cable affixed, once removed, and re-plugged, I got a recognition message on my desktop, opened the PANEL TEST page, and observed a perfect reaction/response.
So, close that down, open Microsoft Flight Simulator X, wait what seems to an eternity, selected the Mooney, (any aircraft of your choice) and wait.
Well, I selected one my favorite GA aircraft the Mooney, sat there 'cold' so, Master selected, Avionics Master on, Fuel Pump selected, strobes on,. Moved the start knob round to the right to select start. Sure enough the engine started, on command...lovely!
Engine running, taxi lights on, taxied to the hold, few final checks, onto the active, landing and nav lights on. Full throttle selected, gently eased off the ground, positive rate of climb, and selected gear up.
The LED's differentiate the travelling and locked cycle by lovely subtle color changes, just like in real aircraft. We have the obvious colors, with red for travelling/locked up, and green for gear down and locked.
A quick circuit, on long finals, I selected the Gear Down position, perfect timing vis a vis the colours changing from travelling to locked. The switch panel behaved perfectly.
So, 'flush' with success, I decided to select the Bell JetRanger. I switched every thing OFF in the panel, watched the JR appear, but the engine was running, so I selected the 'OFF' position on the panel, (despite the MASTERS OFF on the panel) and it had no effect. I closed it down via the master switch in the virtual cockpit, selected start on the panel, but it did not fire-up, again. I had to select Ctrl+E to get it running. However, all the other nav lights switches had an effect. The King Air behaved in a similar way. The Beechcraft Baron was perfect, all functions worked perfectly.
OK, you could not say it has been a complete success, in respect to perfect function in all aircraft types selected, though within the GA aircraft, indeed, all the functions work exactly as they are supposed to.
The action of the gear lever is purposeful and positive, and all the switches also give a positive feel, the selection being confirmed by a nice positive 'click'. The gear confirmation lighting via the LED's are really excellent.
A real 'natty' unit, it does exactly what is asked of it. You cannot help but notice the quality of the build, and possessiveness of the switches and landing gear lever. The rotary OFF BOTH/ALL START switch and the gear lever are moulded in a metallic looking plastic.
I do like this Pro Flight Panel because it is subtle, it sits on my desk 'tucked' away perfectly positioned under my monitor screen until I want to use it.
Being black plastic looks great. It comes with Velcro pads for free standing, and small screws for affixing onto the Saitek Yoke if you are lucky enough to own one.
I have to honest, and wasn't too sure if I would warm to the Pro Flight Panel (despite realising the obvious advantages) as all the functions are already catered for/programmed on my X52 system. WRONG! I simply love the functionality of a panel. I also warm to the accessible, positive switches located in one place on the panel. Actually it has become second nature in the use.
The other real advantage is that it's truly plug and play, with no massive set-up issues here. Just plug into a spare USB port and you are ready. But don't do as I did and use an extension USB cable, this could lead to some issues.
You know, selecting and using a 'physical' switch to start the engines, lower the gear, select the lighting options really seems to be the right thing to do...
One big downside of this product is that it's not applicable for use in FS2004 which is still, let's be honest, the platform for many simmers. It is a shame it cannot be compatible in both FS2004/FSX.
But, those who also love the effects offered within FSX, as I do, will have a wry smile, because this panel is exclusively for FSX.
I love it. I guess one of the main reasons why it has clicked so much for me is I enjoying flying GA aircraft within FSX, so my aircraft of choice have 100% function compatibility.
OK, some of the third party aircraft I have added to the fleet, do not work properly, i.e., the all the functions don't work as selected via the panel. This is a common failing of any add-on controller. While the add-on aircraft compatibility is a frustration it has not reigned my enjoyment.
The cost, well not small change at US $99.95, but if you are serious about realism, this is another unit to enhance that virtual flight experience. I guess I would have been more comfortable with the price to be 'tad' lower, but I guess who cares, because if it's on your Santa list he pays!
You know, the products being released by Saitek at such a volume, and quality, I can't wait to see the next release! It is difficult to second guess the next product? But I can't wait...
Onwards and upwards...
AMD 64X 2 Duel Core Processor 7500+
4Gig SD Ram
Nvidia G-Force 7900 GT
Windows XP
Nigel C. Martin
n.c.martin@btinternet.com
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