Picked up a set of Saitek Combat Rudder Pedals...Wow... absolutely amazing. For years I've been using a MS FFB2 twist stick as my rudder. I love the tension adjustment - I can make them really tight like the real ones I'm used to. They are well-built, installation was fairly easy (I actually had to read the manual to learn about the reverse axis lol), but other than that - cool beans!A bit pricey, but I got them off Amazon for about $180 with free shipping.Highly recommended.

Congrats! Yes nothing like a good set of rudder pedals for the immersion effect!

I have been debating over these for a while. How are they space-wise? Do they use up all the space under your desk? Can you leave them there all the time or do you need to move them for "regular" computing? Are they clunky to move and store? I have a home office (no place for a dedicated FS station) which is spilling out into the hallway as is and this is a concern I've had about these.

I'm using an old logitech R100 steering wheel as the rudder pedals. It has a single axis for both throttle and brake, which is just fine as rudder control. Not has toe brake though but hey, it costs almost nothing, what more can we expect?

I have been debating over these for a while. How are they space-wise? Do they use up all the space under your desk? Can you leave them there all the time or do you need to move them for "regular" computing? Are they clunky to move and store? I have a home office (no place for a dedicated FS station) which is spilling out into the hallway as is and this is a concern I've had about these.

Well I've got a really cramped setup... the dimensions are on the site, but just from looking down at my feet,... the pedal base is about 1.5 ft in length, 1 ft deep (the footrest adds about 6 inches), and maybe 6-8 inches high (with the pedals in the lowest tilt). For regular computing I don't move them - there's this little foot rest thing that's real handy, where I rest my feet. Clunky as in heavy... yeah they are fairly heavy but solid, that's one of the reasons I bought them. They look really professional if you care about asthetics... i don't lol! The pedals themselves are much farther apart than say, CH pedals. There's maybe 6-8 inches between the pedals. But they feel a LOT better than CH. Those felt like toys to me, these feel like the rudder pedals on the Warrior I use to fly. The toe brakes are still too easy to push but with the tension adjuster the pedals can be very stiff like some real planes. I've got mine set in the middle for now. They were out in the cold from shipping and still are as I write this.One negative is carpet. I use carpet in my office and the base slips around like none other. I see Saitek included two strips of touch tape (velcro) but what I did was stick my 15 lb dumbell behind the unit and that buts against the power strip, which buts against the wall. Simple setup but maybe I'll find a better way to stop the slippage.They also feel good with socks. The part I rest my foot on is rounded (and textured), so it feels good and no sock slippage. You don't have to rest your feet on the pedals (like CH) - you simply rest your toes (or the first quarter of your foot) on the round part like I might when flying irl. Then you "jump up" to the toe brakes if needed. You can put the majority of your foot on the pedals if you so desire. The pedal angle can be adjust, 40 degrees to 70... I've got mine set at default 40.The software is simple to use and in the manual they tell you exactly how to set it up for FSX and FS9. I didn't rtfm at first so I screwed it up but a quick read explained everything. If you're on the fence, check the dimensions with a tape measure. I hope you buy it - they are very professional and feel of quality.Good luck.

I believe far too many "avid" simmers underestimate the value of adding some good hardware to their systems. The last time I thought I would upgrade my CPU, Graphics Card, memory, etc. I elected to pass and instead put the money into a PFC Saab yoke, some go flight modules, and a couple of BU0836X I/O cards. (I already had pedals and a quad) Being able to control your aircraft without having to reach for the mouse brings me a lot of satisfaction.

One negative is carpet. I use carpet in my office and the base slips around like none other. I see Saitek included two strips of touch tape (velcro) but what I did was stick my 15 lb dumbell behind the unit and that buts against the power strip, which buts against the wall. Simple setup but maybe I'll find a better way to stop the slippage.

Couple of suggestions for your pedals...If your going to keep them on carpet, Home Depot or Lowes sells a lot of cheap, clear plastic hallway runners that are smooth on top and cleated on the bottom. Cut to fit and bond with contact cement and your done. Being military I move too much and can't always guarantee my pit will be in a room with carpet so I made a base out of 1/4" mfd that looks sort of like like the letter H when viewed from above. I covered it in cheap gray "speaker box" fabric so it wont scratch the floor or a wall and adjust the distance as necessary to the wall behind my desk.The hardest part of having some nice pedals in my opinion is finding a chair that is comfortable for long periods, easy to get in and out of, yet doesn't pivot when you need to apply hard rudder!

Anyone have any ideas on suitable chairs for pilot seat?

Ryan: Thanks for all the good info. The reason I'm interested in this model specifically is because they look closest to real life; the kind you rest your feet in don't appeal to me at all. The Saitek "Cessna" model looks even better, but I've read it's exactly the same as the "Combat" model and you spend an extra $20 or so for the Cessna name.One more question, the pedals themselves look like metal from the pictures I've seen, are they?

I believe far too many "avid" simmers underestimate the value of adding some good hardware to their systems.

I fully agree with you, the best "add-on" I ever bought was a real Garmin GPSmap 196 which I plugged in to the computer with a USB adapter and interfaced it with FSX via Flight1's SimLink96. It is immeasurably cool to use a real GPS unit with MSFS instead of their on-screen approximation.

The hardest part of having some nice pedals in my opinion is finding a chair that is comfortable for long periods, easy to get in and out of, yet doesn't pivot when you need to apply hard rudder!

Haha I use a swivel office type chair. This could be a factor - something didn't feel quite right. Never thought about the chair. I've always liked the swivel though.

Get a used car seat: cheap and very comfortable - mine is out of a '94(?) VW Passat, and works very well

When I got my first set of pedals, I had to spend several hours doing "taxi practice" to get used to both steering and differential braking... Now I don't know how I managed BP (Before Pedals)...

Get a used car seat: cheap and very comfortable - mine is out of a '94(?) VW Passat, and works very well

I have a friend that uses a VW Golf GTI seat for FS. He pulled it out out of a car at the junkyard and paid $15.00 for it; it just happens to say "Recaro" on it! (lucky #$@%$#!) LOLIf you go that route you might want to use a couple of 2 x 4's under the seat to elevate it some. Make sure you BOLT the 2 x 4's to the rail of the seat so it won't topple over!Personally I use an office chair like Ryan does; it fits my bulbous body much better! :PAlan

Haha I use a swivel office type chair. This could be a factor - something didn't feel quite right. Never thought about the chair. I've always liked the swivel though.

Lol, same here on a hardwood floor no less!At first took me some getting used to, with this swivel chair , once I got the hang of it I can do it without any problem. My rudder pedals but up against my Klipsch subwoofer, so at least they dont' try to push away from me...

4' x 6' x 3/4 plywood sheet, with a sliding frame welded up for the VW seat.https://www.dropbox.com/gallery/52676345/1/Chipmunk%20Cockpit?h=aaf690

Chrysler's seat are pretty nice for flight simming: cheap, leather and two armrests. But there is no 'hole' for the Yoke column...