High end yoke owners...are they worth it?

[Bob Scott 7,721]

I use an 11-yr old PFC column yoke (and 6-lever throttle quad) that I custom retrofitted with Hall Effect sensors a few years back.  PFC sells them now with HE sensors as an option.  Worth it?  An unqualified "YES."

 

The Thrustmaster Warthog (comes stock with Hall sensors) is the King for my stick-controlled acft.

 

Regards

[Gregg_Seipp 568]

 

 

@ $1000 I am. Thats the price if they get enough for an AVSIM group buy.

 

It does look like the perfect yoke.  But I'd really need a review before I could even think that much.

[ErichB 3,643]

I'm also in the market for a high-end yoke.  But the shipping costs  to the UK make the cost almost prohibitive - doubling the cost for the most part.  If anyone in the UK or Europe knows local PFC distributor, I'd be interested.

[vololiberista 205]

I'm very tempted with the IRIS Dynamics force feedback yoke. 

That would seem to be the top of the bunch. Their price may come down after a while.

Froogle's video is quite persuasive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfDXrg1NpGU

[catonthemat 2]

I'm also in the market for a high-end yoke.  But the shipping costs  to the UK make the cost almost prohibitive - doubling the cost for the most part.  If anyone in the UK or Europe knows local PFC distributor, I'd be interested.

 

 

There's one in Barcelona at Simtechdesign.com   where the the postage will be around 70 euros or so to a European country.

[ErichB 3,643]

There's one in Barcelona at Simtechdesign.com   where the the postage will be around 70 euros or so to a European country.

 

 

Great.  Thank you

[jaguara5 1]

Simujabs.com offers  a full 737 yoke for 859 euro.

[fullmetal02 23]

So I've googled the aforementioned yokes. There does not seem to be a definitive answer on the best one. Seems that reviews are at best far between.

 

I was going to do the group buy on a force feedback in the fall, but the answers from the developers provided information that was not comforting.

 

So is there any additional info on this topic?Seems like high end joysticks are in a murky hole with little information.

[max2770 75]

I have a complete PFC system (yoke, throttle quadrant, rudder pedals) and I couldn't be happier. It's a night and day difference compared to my old Saitek set.

[signmanbob 592]

I'm also in the market for a high-end yoke.  But the shipping costs  to the UK make the cost almost prohibitive - doubling the cost for the most part.  If anyone in the UK or Europe knows local PFC distributor, I'd be interested.

 

This is a distributer of PFC products in Europe:

http://store.simtechdesign.net/

Oh, I see now that someone else already posted this.

I just purchased the PFC Cirrus Boeing 737 yoke, throttle quadrant console and rudder pedals.  I should have it by the end of the month,  so I'll let you know how they're holding up in a few years.  :smile:

After purchasing my JetMax 737 throttle quadrant last year, which I love, I now feel that what I touch, handle and manipulate is a big percentage of the experience of flight simulation for me.

That is why I want to have good quality controllers.

I have a a Saitek X-52 joystick, which I just use for a steering tiller, but it has a HAT switch that I will use in the sim, when I need one.

[ErichB 3,643]

Hi Robert

 

I purchased the beech yoke and throttle quadrant about three weeks back, so we are in for a similar delivery timeframe.  Really looking forward to experiencing the difference after years of Saitek yoking!

 

 

I have a a Saitek X-52 joystick, which I just use for a steering tiller,

 

That is a great idea!  Is that the twist motion?

[carlito777 712]

Hi Robert

 

I purchased the beech yoke and throttle quadrant about three weeks back, so we are in for a similar delivery timeframe. Really looking forward to experiencing the difference after years of Saitek yoking!

 

 

That is a great idea! Is that the twist motion?

It would be really great if you could share your experience with the yoke. I'm also kind of tired of the sticky movement and plastic feel of my Saitek yoke. However, before spending that amount I definitely need some feedback.

 

And one final question: What is actually the difference between the different Cirrus/PFC yokes apart from the shape of the handle and the available buttons?

[ckyliu 1,749]

I own a CH FlightSim USB with integrated throttle/mixture/prop (which is not top end at all) and generally it's quite satisfactory except for the plastic shaft and noisy springs which make the pitch axis "grabby" (for want of a better word). I've thrown lots of lubricant at it (silicone spray) which does help but also is a dirt magnet.

 

I considered Saitek's ProFlight yoke as it's got a nice smooth metal shaft but it only has 90 degrees of roll (versus 180 degrees for every other yoke) and the throttles were separate. However, Saitek have now fixed the roll issue with their Cessna yoke, and I rekon 80%+ of folks will find this perfectly satisfying.

 

Unless you've got a big budget or spend some serious time flight simming, I wouldn't recommend spending more than $200 on a yoke as beyond this point you get greatly diminishing returns.

[ErichB 3,643]

It would be really great if you could share your experience with the yoke. I'm also kind of tired of the sticky movement and plastic feel of my Saitek yoke. However, before spending that amount I definitely need some feedback.

 

And one final question: What is actually the difference between the different Cirrus/PFC yokes apart from the shape of the handle and the available buttons?

 

I will post my impressions, but having come from an eight year  Saitek experience, don't expect anything short of gushing about the PFC yoke.  I'm pretty sure I will be pleased.  But I'm looking forward even more to the Throttle quadrant.  I think in combo, it is bound to be really an amazing experience.

 

You must have seen Word Not Allowed's video's on the yoke and throttle right?  He also shows the internal mechanism's of the units in his reviews which are very indepth.  It's what pushed my over the line to purchase.

 

If you haven't seen it:

 

https://#####.wordpress.com/pfc-saab-yoke-review/

 

 

 

 

Unless you've got a big budget or spend some serious time flight simming, I wouldn't recommend spending more than $200 on a yoke as beyond this point you get greatly diminishing returns.

 

Some golfers spend more than both the throttle quadrant and the yoke combined on one club. If you are a serious simmer it is a justifiable investment.  If not, probably less so.  But your budget is what will dictate that and I have only recently been able to justify that type of investment after 17 years of flightsimming. The experience you get from it is very subjective, but I'm certainly not expecting deminishing returns on this investment.  I am pretty sure I'll be chuffed to bits.

[carlito777 712]

 

 

Unless you've got a big budget or spend some serious time flight simming, I wouldn't recommend spending more than $200 on a yoke as beyond this point you get greatly diminishing returns.

 

Whether or not returns are diminishing or not is really subjective. I've been in a full scale simulator once and flying a 737 with a proper yoke compared to flying it with a Saitek yoke makes a HUGE difference. Whether or not this justifies the investment is a matter of budget I guess... It's just the same with every hobby. Some people spend $200 on a bike, others $20,000. To each his own...