Just wanted to share it with you guys, exactly how I'm spending this summer in front of FSX, mostly.

 

Fear?

Yep, I will start with my fear ragerding simming. Last few months I practically live with a fear of, well, how to put this... A FEAR of to get boread frim simming! Yes, to get bored, to be totally not interested in simming, to be completely cold about it. This fear comes mostly because I strongly believe that I will spend the most quality my free couple of of hours daily beside FSX. No other games, no music, no movies, no nothing. Just simming. If suddenly I got bored by simming, I believe that I would not spend quality time with something else, not even close. Strange?

Well, this my fear is directly connected to a confession and a statements, so I will jump straight to a confession.

 

Confession?

 

I bought Saitek Pro Flight system a week ago. Decided to pay it via "web credit", 15 euros per month, 12 month credit. I just wanted to fulfill my simmers dream and buy it without any thought that I spent precious 150 euros on some toy, and to leave my family with 150 euros less. I have 2 year old daughter and just don't want to be "selfish". Thank God for a web credit. B)

My fear was connected to this bloody Saitek yoke simply because I thought maybe I will got bored with simming now when I bought the yoke I wanted for so long. You know that feeling when you are waiting for some moment for months or even years, and when that moment come you are very cold about it, just that expectations will kill all the fun.

Anyway, after 23h hours owning that yoke, I opened it and tried to mod it, because in its default state, it's completely not usable. Pitch axis is sticky, with huge detents, every approach and landing was a nightmare. So, 7 days passed and so far I opened it 5 or 6 times, solving the sticky axis problem, and solved it! The confession is... I voided the warranty, after just only 24h hour owning it, and I simply don't care! In default state this yoke is not usable, so I'm not sorry for opening it a single second, now it's smooth, without detents, and I'm enjoy simming like never in my life... which brings me to a statement. Oh yes, screw the warranty!

 

Statement?

 

With that fear in the back of my head, and the heavily moded Saitek yoke, I'm enjoying simming and FSX like never before in my life. After all these years, FS2002, FS2004, FSX and some bit of X-Plane, I can freely say that I'm interested in flight simulation much more than ever. It's not only because of the yoke, DX10 and the Fixer, it's mostly because of that "natural evolution of simmer" syndrome I suppose. Errrr what did I say? "Natural evolution of simmer" syndrom? What the...? Yes, I'm using my free selection of expressions to describe my state. I evolved from beginner to semi-pro simmer, and it feels so good. When I will start using full charts with SIDs, STARs and follow every procedure to extreme detail, well I will be a pro simmer and I will post a thread similiar to this one, trying to describe a feeling of evolution like this one. :ph34r:

 

Now, I have only 4 days left of ASN trial, and I must bloody find a way how to buy that thing, because my wife will not understand how good the feeling is when you are the poor guy stuck in the middle of pinnacle of flight simming. :wub:
Took A2A Cherokee (best purchase for me in the last few months without doubt), flew from Ljubljana to Split, and ASN made the weather so utterly realistic, I was amazed. Thunderstorms, heavy turbulence and rain around Split in Croatia, I had one of the most immersive experiences ever.

 

What can I say more? Maybe my confession and a statement are not that interesting for you guys to read, but I had an urge to tell you all, and I hope you can share my passion and visions. And I hope you don't have similiar fear like me. :ph34r:

 

 

EDIT: it took me staggering 45 minutes to write this post, blimey. :blink:

Cracking open a brand new Saitek Yoke to correct the sticky is an important rite of passage in the flight simulation hobby.   To be a true master, though, you have to open up a Saitek Throttle and clean the potentiometers!

you have to open up a Saitek Throttle and clean the potentiometers! 

 

 

That is my fear and it is creeping closer I am Afraid!!

 

 

that is a good post Pe11 e.   I can understand your feelings.

take comfort in the fact you have brought a little person to the world  and treat yourself with ASN you only live once !

Oh no, nonononnnooo, I will not opet Saitek Throttle anytime soon... I'll repeat - I will not open Saitek Throttle anytime soon! Enough of open close operations, already sick of it.

 

Is it voiding the warranty after 24h owning the yoke an important rite of passage in the flight simulation hobby also?

If you can afford your toys then fine, but what's the point of saying so.

 

If you can't then I suggest that your wife and child are more important that your hobby.

I opened my Saitek throttle a couple of times and cleaned the potentiometers, it did not last long each time. The third time the wires ended up breaking where is was quite fragile and I ended up having to buy a new one.

 

They are not expensive to buy but obviously not expensive to build.

 

The parts from the old one will come in very handy for a future project though.

If you can afford your toys then fine, but what's the point of saying so.

 

If you can't then I suggest that your wife and child are more important that your hobby.

 

 

I think the rubber band on your propeller is wound a few turns too tight...

Modding the Saitek yoke is not only an inevitability, but a requirement.

Hey, this is your hobby.  If you played golf, like so many family men do, you would be spending thousands on golf clubs and fees, if you were a fisherman, you would be spending thousands on boats, rods and reels.

I don't feel there is any guilt on spending a few Benjamins on my favorite hobby and mental escape. 

Hey, this is your hobby.  If you played golf, like so many family men do, you would be spending thousands on golf clubs and fees, if you were a fisherman, you would be spending thousands on boats, rods and reels.

I don't feel there is any guilt on spending a few Benjamins on my favorite hobby and mental escape. 

I do all three!

I can really agree with what's been said above, I'm still a student but I love my flying! Luckily my girlfriend and soon to be more totally understanding of my feelings for flying and simming!

Oh my, enough with the Saitek pots guys, you will make me to think about another fear.  :ph34r:

 

Modding the Saitek yoke is not only an inevitability, but a requirement.

 

Sadly. At least that's how I understand it.

 

I can really agree with what's been said above, I'm still a student but I love my flying! Luckily my girlfriend and soon to be more totally understanding of my feelings for flying and simming!

 

My wife also is starting to accept flight simming as a passion and a hobby, not as a gaming as she thought it is. My little escape from everyday life, and everyone should have it.

 

 

I think the rubber band on your propeller is wound a few turns too tight...

 

I think the rubber band on your propeller is wound a few turns too tight...

 

I always end up with more parts than I had before! Dunno where they come from.

I always end up with more parts than I had before! Dunno where they come from.

 

Hhahaa, that's qute strange, because in my case I've already lost few screws.