Hello AVSIM!

i am looking for recomendarions on hardware to make my flight sim experience more realistic, and immersive.  I currently own the following:

-Saitek Yoke

-Saitek rudder pedals

-Saitek throttles (3 levers)

-Logitech joystick 

 

I use the yoke obviously for aircrafts that use a yoke, and my joystick for the Airbus aircrafts.  I'm looking into panels mainly as I'd love to have something like an MCP to dial heading, and modes in as opposed to clicking around.  I just think sometimes when trying to change, speed, heading, altitude all at once with a mouse while trying to meet a crossing or speed restriction can become a bit overwhelming sometimes.  

 

Anything you guys suggest?  Could be panels or anything.  I fly mainly jet liners, but I do the occasional GA flying as well.  Thanks in advance everybody! Cheers!

I think the VRI MCP combo 2 is a good all-rounder. As well as doing all the normal autopilot functions, it does NAV/COM functions, inc DME readouts, Transponder, ADF tuner,  plus it can be utilised by the "LINDA" prog to greatly extend its functions. 

Not overly cheap, around €500 in Europe, but a lot of bang for the bucks. They do a Boeing style or Airbus style, which is a nice touch.

http://www.aerosoft.com/en/fsxp3d/hardware/instruments/502/mcp-combo-boeing-type-mcp-combo-ii

At the budget end, the Saitek pro multipanel offers a lot for the money, about £85 UK, a little clunkier to use, as you have to switch between functions a lot, but includes a flap lever, and gear lever. Both save a lot of mouse clicking, and add to the realism

I've both, and find they integrate well with default and payware aircraft.

Eugene

http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/multi.html

20 minutes ago, Overload said:

I think the VRI MCP combo 2 is a good all-rounder. As well as doing all the normal autopilot functions, it does NAV/COM functions, inc DME readouts, Transponder, ADF tuner,  plus it can be utilised by the "LINDA" prog to greatly extend its functions. 

Not overly cheap, around €500 in Europe, but a lot of bang for the bucks. They do a Boeing style or Airbus style, which is a nice touch.

http://www.aerosoft.com/en/fsxp3d/hardware/instruments/502/mcp-combo-boeing-type-mcp-combo-ii

At the budget end, the Saitek pro multipanel offers a lot for the money, about £85 UK, a little clunkier to use, as you have to switch between functions a lot, but includes a flap lever, and gear lever. Both save a lot of mouse clicking, and add to the realism

I've both, and find they integrate well with default and payware aircraft.

Eugene

http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/multi.html

The first one is awesome it's just a bit out of my budget right now.  I have looked into the Saitek multi panel before.  I'm in the process of looking up videos to see how easy it is to use.  

Anything else you would recommend?  Doesn't have to be specific to MCP's.  I very rarely fly online so a radio panel would not be much use for me.

To be honest, you'd probably have more fun making your own panels and controls, and it's cheaper too. Have a look at the following links to sites which sell components to enable you to do that. It will become readily apparent it ain't rocket science, you don't even have to solder stuff most of the time, and even if you do it's easy anyway.

http://www.leobodnar.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=94

http://www.opencockpits.com/catalog/general-simulation-panel-p-137.html?cPath=64

http://www.cockpitsimparts.co.uk/category.php?id_category=3

http://www.737ngsim.com/index.php/shop/mcp-efis/213-2013-08-21-detail

http://www.opencockpits.com/catalog/#

 

Another thing to consider, if you have a tablet, is to use an app that gives you simulated panels. I use the RemoteFlight Radio HD panel on my iPad - https://remoteflight.net/. For Android, take a look at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tambucho.fsradiopanel&hl=en_GB.

Thanks everybody for the help!  For now just to kinda get a feel for what it's like to work with panels I went cheap and got a Saitek multi panel.  I have it setup to work with my PMDG 737, and 777.  So far I like it.  As stated above there is a little switching back and forth between modes but once you plan ahead and find your rhythm it isn't bad and everything flows.  Loving It so far.

 

i think in the near future I might definitely consider the VRI MCP Combo suggested above.  

 

Once again thank you all!