Someone mentioned the VRinsight Flight Master Yoke II, yet no one else has followed up on this. Seems very beefy and feature rich for 360 Euros. Anyone have any experience with these?

Have not found a need for a clamp unless you are trying to get full aft or forward extension of the yoke and that takes some effort to do.In the sim it is typically 1/2" or so pitch axis motion in flight so it not normally at the extreme travel limits.I use a desk mat made out of the rubber tool box tray liner material is is very stable.If it was a permanent installation you could probably drill some mounting holes in the case bottom and bolt it in place.

The yoke stays put just with the tool box liner?  Thats pretty impressive.  I definitely don't need anything permanent but after dealing with the CH yoke's terrible design thats how I ended up with Saitek.  I loved the way CH felt but she just wouldn't stay on the desk.  One too many a takeoff where I start to rotate and the yoke rotated right off the desk!

 

Someone mentioned the VRinsight Flight Master Yoke II, yet no one else has followed up on this. Seems very beefy and feature rich for 360 Euros. Anyone have any experience with these?

Seems like they have alot going on in this yoke.  C172 switch panel built in?  Im impressed.  Curious to see if anyone has any experience with this one as well.

I will say springing for quality controls was the best decision I ever made. If you think about it, we spend so much on computers, visuals, software, etc. But most of us stick with the same old plastic controls. Sure they got the job done, and some are better than others but it seems so silly that the tool we use to actually interface with the sim and "Fly" with we skimp out on.

 

I know it is a large investment, and it is. I have had my pedals and yoke since about 2003, and they are still going strong. How many of us can say that with our Saiteks? The only thing that needs doing is lubricating and greasing every once in a while. 

 

The column yoke has changed the way I fly, being able to pulse modulate the pitch and have such fine, small but precise pitch authority in the flare is amazing. The smoothness and weight plus cold metal feel in your hands is another huge plus for me.

 

Here are a few pics of my setup.

 

 

 

 

It certainly is if you don't care what your yoke looks like.

 

I agree with you fully. The 737 yoke does look my prototypical, but the column shaft is boxed vs round, and the yoke mechanics do not match the real thing. So for me going the Saab route and saving hundreds was again a no brainer. 

 

I am treating myself to an upgrade and this time it will look and feel like the actual thing, hall sensors, no springs, gas tensioning, 3 step chart holder, checklist, I cannot wait to get this yoke.

 

Take a look at this, http://www.agronn.com/#!flight-controls-737/c14z0

 

The way I see it, we can have the fastest computers, biggest screens, nicest scenery, but without quality controls unless you plan on letting the AP fly it just doesn't feel right.

This mod produces a hat switch on the PFC yoke that feels and operates exactly like the on on my old CH yoke.
First, you need a hat switch. I like the CH one since I’m used to them and if you have an old CH controller to cannibalize you saved yourself $35. Yep – that’s what they cost ! When I did this mod, CH would not sell the hat switch as a part, either. I finally tracked them down here:

http://www.digikey.com/product-detail/en/apem-inc/500-526/679-2289-ND/2063280

only to be stunned at how expensive some of the other hat switches are ! ( Note that you can buy a CH joystick on online for $75-80 that has two of these hat switches in it.) Anyway, I bought the one from digikey. A cheaper option may be:
http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=98_87&products_id=210

but I don’t have any experience with them plus its overseas shipping (UK)

 

 

Now you need a controller. My first experiment was to use a CH joystick as another controller and simply extend its hat switch wiring to the mount on the PFC yoke. Clumsy, but it worked. Then I switched to a dedicated controller from DeskTopAviator.

 

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ! If you use EZDok, or think you ever will, it has to see a controller with a hat switch function coded into its firmware or it won’t pan. I learned this the hard way by starting out with the model 2238CON from DeskTopAviator. It pans fine in FSX but EZDok ignores it. Therefore, EZDok users need the one below (note the POV hat which showing up in the windows calibration window – that’s what you got to have with EZDok):

 

http://www.desktopaviator.com/Products/Model_2310-2312/index.htm

 

installation doc is here: http://desktopaviator2.tripod.com/Instructions/Model_2310-2312/index.htm

which shows how to wire up the whole board for a helo controller, but you are only wanting to do the hat switch (I assume). Forget the document’s warning statements that pots need to be hooked up to all 5 analog inputs. if you aren’t using any analog inputs – the other digital inputs (like hat) work fine without any pots . (note that a hat switch is just 4 SPST momentary contact switches arranged in a circle) The instructions also show wiring the hat switch with a common ground to save some wire, but the simplest to visualize is to just connect the pin pairs of each of the 4 hat switch switches as:
connect the 2 “North” switch pins (on the hat switch) to the number 13 pair of pins on the board.
South to 15
West to 16
East to 14

Its all in the installation doc and there are close up pictures in the instructions of the board. I can post
pics of the connections if need be. I know we’re at $80 in parts but it’s the best I could come up with.
The mounting of all this is self-explanatory in the pics. I would like to have put the board inside the PFC
Yoke’s metal case to hide it but opening it voids the warranty.

 

Note: the images are of the 2238CON controller board – not the 2312 above that you’ll need for EZDok
Functionally its excellent. Looks-wise………terms like “challenged” come to mind. I’m sure some else
can improve its appearance 

 

 

 

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UPDATE     well, this board continues to be very difficult to use......it won't let me post any images with the error message:

"You are not allowed to use that image extension on this community."

 

So I've had to delete them all....pity - but consistent with the last time I tried to post images here and finally gave up

(these were from shutterfly and appeared fine in the preview)  Of course, it won't let me just paste an image in either

 

Jeff

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My YOKO yoke arrived, created a thread HERE if anyone is interested.

 

Cheers, Rob.

Gents,

 

ACE desktop yoke is selling for $450 usd, and very popular since launch in march of last year.

 

You can find comments, information and even a video review of the yoke(s) on our FB page here:

 

https://www.facebook.com/Aircraftcontrolengineering/

 

You will need to scroll down on the FB page (way down) when you get to a review from a recent customer who says:

""Hi all flightsimmer

This yoke is probably the best thing in humanity, in all cases in flightsimmer. Very well functioning and very well made, heavy and stable. It is worth all the time i have been waiting, 4months.
Only minus for me is that it does not have "hat switch" but Darryl promise to help with it. Overall i am very pleased with it.
To you who hesitate, stop with it and buy... Did every one have it, ther would be no wars in the world "":-)"

 

Furthermore, due to our growth and overwhelming demand, ACE is partnered with AviationMegaStore who customers from Europe and neighboring countries can enjoy reduced shipping charges when compared to our original shipping from Toronto, Canada.

 

https://www.aviationmegastore.com/cat/yokes-pedals-joysticks-288.html

 

As of today, Desktop product line includes: 737, 747,757, 767, 777 yoke handles which work with all operating systems and flight simulator platforms (unrestricted).  We are including CRJ, 787 and 717 yoke handles to our product offering soon.  We also have EMB/ERJ/CESSNA handles available which can be used on the desktop "snap & lock" interchangeable system. 

 

If you require pictures or any more information, feel free to drop me a line at: [email protected]

 

Cheers,

D