8 hours ago, tutmeister said:

Hi all, thank you to everyone for your interest. It does mean a lot and we value your support.

I will be updating the website and Facebook with this but thought I'd post here as a lot of you are members here.

Thanks very much for the update -- sounds like yoke frustration is becoming epidemic.  🤔

Looking forward to better news in the hopefully not too distance future.

Al

I am looking for a new yoke to replace my CH Products one. Since I won't need it until MSFS comes out I'm not in a hurry.
One question is burning on my mind, though. How is the yoke when used single-handedly? Often one flies with just one hand on the yoke and the other on throttles and with my current yoke (CH Products) that's hardly possible due to the skewed force which makes the shaft stick. Maybe someone who has tried the yoke already can shed some light on this.

2 hours ago, orchestra_nl said:

I am looking for a new yoke to replace my CH Products one. Since I won't need it until MSFS comes out I'm not in a hurry.
One question is burning on my mind, though. How is the yoke when used single-handedly? Often one flies with just one hand on the yoke and the other on throttles and with my current yoke (CH Products) that's hardly possible due to the skewed force which makes the shaft stick. Maybe someone who has tried the yoke already can shed some light on this.

The reason the CH yoke shaft sticks is because it's plastic. Once you switch to steel as in the Saitek that problem disappears. The Fulcrum has a steel shaft and even with one hand you won't have any problems adjusting pitch.

@Ray ProudfootThat's great to hear. There are quite a few yokes available or announced but this one both durable and affordable. Now if only Fulcrum made a generic quadrant as well, but I guess there must always be something to wish for😀

On 2/1/2020 at 12:11 PM, tutmeister said:

Hi all, thank you to everyone for your interest. It does mean a lot and we value your support.

I will be updating the website and Facebook with this but thought I'd post here as a lot of you are members here.

Unfortunately we are still waiting for a part. While the chassis, case and all the engineering and assembly takes place here, part of the electronics is from China. As you no doubt know, the country is facing a bit of a crisis at the moment. We have heard that the factory has had to close for a while due to the Corona virus and we won't be getting what we need until potentially the end of February. This means that we have lines of yokes here with nothing to plug the switches and sensors in to.

As frustrating and as fed up of waiting as this might make you, please remember that nobody is more frustrated about this situation that we are. I have sunk thousands into this company to get the manufacturing to this point and to have it stall this close to launch for something outside of our control is very annoying.

We are currently looking for a contingency supplier now because nobody knows how things in China are going to go over the next couple of weeks and months. I don't like being in this position so we are looking at other sources and solutions. Rest assured that whatever control system is inside it, it will retain the same quality of hall sensors and aviation switches it currently has. The feel and smoothness is also unaffected as the mechanism is all made in house.

To anyone considering going with another controller, I understand the impatience of wanting a new device. I'm a simmer too remember! This whole situation is the main reason we didn't want to give release dates or take pre orders. IIcan say we are working hard on this road block and I will update you soon.

As Ray has pointed out, we also have various quotes and feedback from multiple world class developers, a 747 pilot, a 737 pilot plus various other simulation hardware and software shops, suppliers and manufacturers. I'm just not ready to name names yet! All of the feedback is positive and very flattering about the quality and feel of this yoke to the point of it being called the best desktop yoke out there. This sounds like a bold claim but it really needs to be felt to understand the difference between this and other controllers.

Thanks for your time again everyone.

Chris

Chris,

thanks for the update.  Remaining in holding pattern, eagerly awaiting release.  

Thank you for the update Chris. However, as there are no pre-orders and we are holding our money for a day one purchase, can we get an estimate of how far off this mishap will approximately move the release? at least roughly? would be appreciated.

I'm hoping another month at most but this is a big task, please remember though that we are working as fast as possible to come up with a solution. Nobody wants this out there more than me! Currently redesigning the electronics from scratch but keeping the same modular functionality and making it all fit in the same box. Fortunately not much of the internal mechanism needs to be remade. Also making sure this isn't a rush it out of the door but find it needs a second redesign later job!

Chris

On 2/6/2020 at 6:08 PM, tutmeister said:

Currently redesigning the electronics from scratch but keeping the same modular functionality and making it all fit in the same box.

Is this redesign the result of the part(s) non-availability issue, or is it due to something else?

Thx,

Al

2 hours ago, ark said:

Is this redesign the result of the part(s) non-availability issue, or is it due to something else?

Thx,

Chris said this in his post a few days ago...”part of the electronics is from China.”.

So yes, he’s trying to work-around the non-availability of that part.

 

Yes, correct Ray. This is purely to do with availability of some electronics due to some shutdown in china. Changing the design and suppliers is only because of the hold up. Annoying as the electronics has been locked down for ages!

Just to be clear, we are hoping that the supply will resume in about 10 days. This remains to be seen though. The design change and replacement supplier is a contingency in case they don't come through. Obviously it is not a good situation for people in China and our thoughts are with anyone suffering, but equally we can't wait indefinitely - hence the contingency planning. Either way, we are hoping to have the parts by the end of Feb but dont hold me to that!

One of the problems is how this whole situation will affect everyone. It doesn't matter what the product is or where it is assembled - the fact is that a huge amount of the world's electronics comes from China. Even building a complete circuit here will rely on some parts from china. Potentially this outbreak could cause a lot of disruption around the world for lots of manufacturers.

Anyway, fingers crossed!

Chris

Thanks for the update Chris.

Hi Chris

Have been waiting for your Yoke liked the look initially of the  Honeycomb but have a hunch yours is in a  different league so going to wait. With MFS2020 going to spalsh out on a whole new rig/hardware etc this year... Exciting 2020

Will there be an opportunity to try it I imagine you would be at Cosford in the autumn but wondering anywhere else before. Just like to see the size and feel but to be honest 99% already sold..

:)

Hamish

Thanks Hamish, yes we will be at Cosford again. It's likely you can come and try it at our workshop in Lancashire once we are caught up with getting them out of the door. Still an unknown at the moment. We have been told they are not sure when the Chinese government is going to allow them to start posting stuff yet.

We aren't really geared up for visitors at the moment so you will have to put up without having the dedicated simulator area built. Yes it is a different league to the honeycomb and actually the Yoko too. I so badly want to shout about it in threads where I see people say the honeycomb is amazing but to be fair we are different marketd. That would be deeply unprofessional!

Just so you know. It works very well in a certain unreleased simulator....

Edited February 14, 20206 yr by tutmeister

@Hamish100, I started this thread around 15 months ago after seeing a 3D prototype yoke that Chris was demonstrating at Cosford 2018. I am in no way associated with Chris but I have been extremely impressed with the yoke having had the opportunity to use it both at Cosford 2019 and also at the NWFSG monthly meeting in Heald Green near Manchester Airport when Chris has brought it down for a demo.

A real-world 747 pilot tried it at Cosford 2019 and was very keen to buy a yoke at the show. He also tried the Yoko The Yoke which is nearly double the price. He preferred the Fulcrum and so is holding back and saving a load of money to boot.

And having also tried the Honeycomb there really is no comparison. The Honeycomb is just a slightly improved version of the Saitek.

It must be very frustrating for Chris being so close so let's hope this chronovirus is soon under control and life over there can return to normal.

Edited February 14, 20206 yr by Ray Proudfoot