Introduction For a number of years now, the Goflight team have been bringing us various hardware units for our Flight Simulation needs. In the past we have seen Landing Gear/Flap/Trim units, Autopilot and Communication modules. We have now been graced with two more products from the Goflight team. The two units in question are the GF TQ6, and RP48. If you were lucky enough to attend the Avsim conference last year in Reading, you will probably have seen these units being displayed by Doyle and Victor from Goflight, and used in the "Fly-Off" on the Saturday evening banquet. The TQ6 is a throttle quadrant module which is fully programmable to meet whatever discipline of flying you most enjoy. The RP48 on the other hand is a multifunction rotary and push button module which again is fully programmable. I should stress that this review has been written with the modules in question tested using only Fs2004. So, lets get down to the nitty-gritty and see what they are both about. Installation & Documentation The units were sent to me direct from the Goflight headquarters in Portland, and to my great surprise arrived far sooner than I had anticipated! Comfortably wrapped and placed in more than adequate packaging they arrived in pristine condition. I must admit I was like a kid with a new toy trying to get the package open! A few of my colleagues were around when I opened the package, and there were more than a few bewildered looks coming from them as I proudly checked them over. "Don't ask" I said!! As with all the other GF products, both the units came with full documentation, software and all the necessary components to get up and working in a matter of minutes. As with lots of computer hardware these days, its always a good idea to check their website for any software upgrades. Version 1.32 had only just been released which superseded the software supplied with the unit. The documentation is very easy to follow with no jargon to get you confused. After following it through step by step I heard the familiar "bing bong" that you get when Windows XP finds a new USB device. Although I have said the process was easy and straight forward, I did have to rely somewhat on my own knowledge to get it all working to my liking. Goflight have since released in .PDF format a "NOTVAM" (Notice To Virtual Air Man) which goes into greater depth the finer points of installing and calibrating the TQ6. Unlike previous GF modules, the TQ6 requires calibration. This has been kept as simple as possible by utilizing the windows game controller interface. The game controller interface is found within the operating systems control panel, and once the TQ6 is plugged in and recognized, it shows along with any other controllers you may have installed.
Included in the package are two strips of plastic which you will need to fix to the TQ6. Using the supplied hex-key, the strips fit either side of the Spoiler and Flap levers. Their purpose is to simulate the indents which you would find on a real aircraft. Although very simple in design, they are very effective! When you move the flap lever down, you get a positive jolt as it slides into the indents. As with all the other modules, both the TQ6 and RP 48 are of standard size, and will fit onto any existing racking you might have. The RP 48 is a 2" module where as the TQ6 is 4" module. If you plan to use the TQ6 in the flight deck console, the ideal place is in the corner section. I tried this to start with, but found sacrificing the space by removing other modules was more of a hindrance than help. I have since bought some industrial strength adhesive Velcro, and positioned it on my computer desk. TQ 6 Throttle Quadrant Having experienced a number of throttle units in the past, namely Thurstmaster and CH Products, the TQ6 is by far the most complex but also the most adaptable. The unit is metal in construction and feels solid and hard wearing. The levers that attach to the module are again metal, but have a plastic shrink coating, with plastic knobs on top. As with all previous GF modules, this unit has been designed to allow the user to configure it to his/her personal liking. All the levers have a 90° movement along the vertical axis. Starting from the left, the first lever is designed for the aircrafts spoilers. It has a smooth movement, and if using the supplied plastic strip, has an indent about an inch from the top to place the spoilers in an "armed" attitude. The next levers are the throttle quadrant levers. Four independent levers allow various configurations to be assigned. If your favoured practice of flying is General Aviation then, you can assign 2 levers to act as throttles, and two as pitch control. Or if flying a 747 is more favourable, then all four levers can be used to control each of the 4 engines. The last of the main levers on the right, is for flaps. Again, with the plastic strip in place, you get the positive indents as you move the lever through its various positions. Think that's all the levers covered?? Nope! There are still 4 more on the unit! The final 4 levers are designed for thrust reverse. Unlike the main levers, they work with the aid of a switch positioned on the levers articulation point itself. As the lever is brought back to initiate the thrust reverse, the switch makes contact with the throttle lever which in turn simulates the key press for thrust reverse.
Where I have commented that the levers on the far left and right are for spoilers and flaps respectively, they are however fully programmable and you can put whatever assignment you desire to them. Sounds complex doesn't it? Well it is and it isn't. It is a little daunting at first to get it all set up and get the calibration sorted out, but once that is done, flying is a dream. As with all the other modules that have been released by GoFlight, it brings a new dimension to your virtual aviation world. GF-RP48 Following on with the very popular 2" modules, the RP48 is another addition to the fleet with yet again remarkable versatility. The unit features 4x rotary control dials, and 8x push buttons. As already seen on the P8 module, each of the push buttons also has an illuminating LED to indicate whether it is active or not. Assigning commands to the unit is as simple as ever with the GF configuration software. Highlighting the button or rotary dial you wish to program, will place a red arrow to clearly identify it in config panel to avoid making mistakes. The drop down list beneath contains a whole host of pre-configured commands for you to choose from. If on the other hand, you have a specific key sequence you wish to responded to, then simply highlight the key sequence radio button, and press the combination of keys you wish to assign. Not only will it do as you request it to, it will also visually show the combination of keys for future reference. Quite a nifty bit of programming if you ask me! Using very much the same procedure, the rotary dials are programmed in much the same way. The drop down list is somewhat smaller, but then there are far less commands that would be simulated by a rotary dial as there are for push buttons. The rotary dials do not have the option to use a keypress.
The rotary dials are ergonomically designed to give a positive feel to their movement. Whether it be a few clicks to change the heading bug, or a few twists to increase your altitude, it responds beautifully to both. Depending on how fast you manipulate the dials will determine the increase of whichever function you have assigned. Although the usage of this unit is only limited to the imagination, I have found it particularly useful when programmed to act as an Autopilot.
If you have a number of the GF units, you can place them in a sequential order within the software. At a quick glance you can see what is going on with both the software and the physical units. The assignments to the RP-48 are listed in a drop down menu to allow your choice of selection.
It is near on impossible to say what are the best functions to assign to the units, as everyone's preferences are different. Some people will only fly GA, some commercial props and others the heavy iron. This is where the functionality and flexibility of these units come into their own. No matter what you fly, the GF units will accommodate that particular type. FSUIPC Module The majority will be more than familiar with the FSUIPC module by Pete Dowson. The latest release of this module now allows configuration of commands on the various GF modules. Where as before programming had to be done in the GF software interface, it is now possible to dynamically program commands whilst the simulator is running. From a personal point of view, I still prefer to program the modules using the GF interface. Using the FSUIPC module is however very convenient if you wish to experiment with a new command whilst in the simulator. Compatibility With the ever increasing development that goes on for flight simulation these days, there are undoubtedly going to be areas where total compatibility is not always straight forward. In the past, users of GF products have experienced difficulties with add on products such as Project Magenta and some of the more sophisticated aircraft publishers such as PSS. For example, PSS implement in some of their aircraft an autopilot system that is not of the conventional FS2002/FS2004 design, thus creating an area of incompatibility. GoFlight strive to make their units compatible with as many of these products as possible, and are constantly in contact with other developers to try and over come these areas. To try and overcome some of these areas, a key-mapping program is currently in development which will allow the end user to implement almost any keypress imaginable to the GF range of products. It is my understanding, that this will not be restricted to flight simulators, but almost any program you can run on your pc! Project Magenta A great deal of flightsim enthusiasts are now moving into highly detailed home cockpit design. Whether this is just using the GF modules, or going the full hog and using actual panels and components from real aircraft. Project Magenta will be an all important factor for those who are striving to create something a little more realistic. The question has arisen on a number of occasions as to the compatibility of Project Magenta and the GF units. Although I am not a user of the PM software, I have downloaded the demo software and run it across my network to test the compatibility. Initial tests show that the GF units work fine with the software. Without having the full product and doing extensive tests it would be wrong for me to say they are 100% compatible, but the tests I conducted showed very promising results. Magnetic Labels We see on a daily basis with aircraft, sounds, panels and especially liveries, other members of the flightsim community putting their skills to good practice and enhancing or recreating new and different products. (with the authors consent of course) Those who already use the GF products are constantly suggesting various additions to the fleet or improvements on existing functionality. One of the users of GF products has spent a good deal of time making a list of the most commonly used functions, and released them in a printable format which you can then place on the units themselves. Johan van Wijngaarden has produced these labels in various formats to meet as many of the customers needs as possible. The labels are ideally printed on magnetic paper which will in turn stick to the small indentations on the units and allow the user at a glance to ensure they are pressing the right button. Conclusion Especially with the TQ6, flying takes a new dimension by adding to the level of reality that has already been achieved in the continuing evolution of flight simulators. My particular style of flying is mainly small twins or medium sized turbo probs. Having independent control over each of the engines is amazing. There is nothing better than sitting on the end of a runway and advancing your throttles and knowing you have complete control. The RP-48 is a versatile unit with a plethora of commands waiting to be assigned to it. The functions it can complete are almost limitless which makes it a very attractive unit. Over the past few years I have reviewed all the GF products. Every single unit that I have used has performed flawlessly straight out of the box. The RP-48 and TQ6 were no exceptions and have been part of my simulator setup for a number of weeks now. The levers on the TQ6 have been backwards and forwards like an over used rocking chair, and the buttons and dials on the RP-48 have had more pushes and turns than I is actually healthy! Having sung the praises of these two highly rated hardware products, it now comes to the question of the price.
One comment that comes out in the feedback almost every time a hardware review is written is about the price. Does the reviewer appreciate how expensive these units are? I this case yes. I have bought a number of these units in the past, so I fully appreciate the cost involved. Yes they are expensive items, but when you weigh up the "Bang for the Buck" I would say you get a great deal. The beauty being that you are not obliged to buy a complete range of units, but can add to your collection at your own convenience. To find out everything about the complete range of GoFlight products you can visit their website here. To read the other reviews in this series click on one of the links below: Keeping with the high standards that GoFlight have demonstrated from their outset, this latest product receives the Avsim 4 Star award.
For those of you who are already familiar with the GF range, you will know that it will only be a matter of a short time before the next module is announced and advertised for sale. A few accessories for the TQ6 are in development and should be available in the near future. These include:
The current project being worked on is the GF-46. The GF-46 Multi-Mode Display Module enables the flight simulator pilot to control a broad range of cockpit functions, including general-purpose instrument panel settings, avionics stack, and 6-function autopilot. Based on GoFlight’s best-selling GF-45 product, the GF-46’s capabilities extend those on the GF-45 by including a single programmable pushbutton, dual concentric rotary encoder, and a rack mounting footprint ˝ the size of the original GF-45.
Using its programmable pushbutton, a single GF-46 unit can be used to control all cockpit functions while in flight. Mode selection on the GF-46 can be controlled using GoFlight’s GF-P8 and GF-RP48 modules when the GF-46 is operated in combination with those modules. Dual concentric rotary encoders provide realistic tuning of radio frequencies when used in avionics modes. Multiple GF-46 units can simultaneously display and control a large amount of cockpit information... Who knows, but you may see a review on this unit in the near future here on Avsim! |
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