Your oldest flight sim products - hardware and software.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,961]

I’m curious about how long users have been using either a specific piece of software or hardware for flying in your preferred simulator.

I’ll start the ball rolling. In October 2003 I bought several GoFlight units - 2 GF166, 2 T8, 1 GF-LGT and 1 P8 unit. Later I acquired the MCP-Pro and EFIS. The oldest units have remained operational over 20 years.

Radar Contact v4 is my oldest software. I’ve been using that since 2006. Just 18 years!

Both have been exceptional in performance and reliability.

[crosswind 825]

Ray,

It is a pity we cant get RC v4 to work in MSFS 2020 - for a program that old to still be leaps and bounds ahead of MSFS 2020 ATC.

I too use some GoFlight pieces which have served me well over the years since 2007.  I also use a column yoke from time to time, but PFC's customer support is atrocious after they sold me a lemon (I paid for shipping both ways along with repairs twice which amounted to twice what the yoke cost), so I have moved on to other yokes. they'll never get my money or my clients money again.

I also have some low-end gear which works quite well on a back up machine:
CH Products - Yoke, throttle quadrant and pedals (some occasional maintenance required on pot replacement)

Software:  Well the Majestic Dash 8 - I still use the Q300 on FS2004,

[Ray Proudfoot 8,961]

Hi @crosswind. I’m not sure of the reasons why RC4 is incompatible. Perhaps getting key responses to be read.

I was quite close to buying PFC gear but held back because of the high prices. Given the problems you’ve had it was a wise decision. They used pots which eventually wear out. Now on Hall Effect sensors I believe.

I forgot to mention my CH Pro Pedals. At least 15 years old and still working well. 👍

[edetroit 933]

FS2004, CHProducts Yoke/Rudder Pedals (still have throttle quadrant but don't use it), Thrustmaster 16000M,

Win7 64bit, 1600x1200 pix (4:3 ratio) monitor.

Absolutely loving it!

Regards

Ed

[JRMurray 214]

I've been using a PFC Cirrus Saab Yoke (similar to this one: https://flypfc.com/shop/yokes/desktop-yokes/cirrus-beech-desktop-yoke/) since January 2016, a little over 8 years. It has Hall Effect sensors, so it still works very well. I use RC4 for ATC. I can't remember when I bought it, but it was in CD form in a jewel case. I do have an e-mail record of upgrading to v4.3 in 2010 and getting help from John Dekker himself.

As for other hardware, I have a bunch of now-archaic joysticks, yokes, and throttles, most with serial connectors (remember them?). For software, there really isn't anything other than RC4 that I use; I have a CD full of archived FSX aircraft and utilities, which I'll probably never use again. 

Edited February 12 by JRMurray

[rmeier 473]

I purchased my CH controls (Yoke, Rudder and Throttle Quadrant) in January 2006. Eighteen years later, I just replaced the pots in the Yoke and Pedals. (As well, just replaced the springs in the yoke with the rubber band mod...what a world of difference!)

These have served me well...and peanuts for maintenance.

[DD_Arthur 1,050]

My cpu is now into it’s fourteenth year and still going strong. It’s base clock speed is 3.2Ghz but it’s spent it’s entire life running at over 4Ghz. For five years it ran at 4.6 when I used VR.
I’ve had my TrackIr 4 since 2008 and I’ve lovingly protected it from the ravages of marauding children, dogs and vacuum cleaners ever since. 
I think what has really helped is that we’ve lived in the same house for twenty eight years and my set up has not moved from the same spot for twenty of them.

 I also own three MSFFB2 sticks which are all at least twenty two years old now. I used to rotate their use to extend their lives but for the last ten years I’ve used the same one and kept the other two in reserve.

They seem to be indestructible. 
 

 

 

[Jeffg817 26]

I have been using Aerowinx 747 sim since 1996 when it was a dos program on floppy disk. 
 

jeffg

[Bob Scott 7,721]

Hardware--PFC Jetline yoke, throttle quadrant, and pedals (serial I/O version) which I first acquired in 2002 and later retrofitted with Hall sensors and USB interfaces in 2012.

Software--Radar Contact, since 2003 thanks to the rock that is the FSUIPC interface, in use since 1999.

[Ray Proudfoot 8,961]

Some great stories chaps. Keep ‘em coming! 👏

[Ray Proudfoot 8,961]

2 hours ago, DD_Arthur said:

My cpu is now into it’s fourteenth year and still going strong.

Although it’s not used for flight sim my Samsung netbook bought in May 2009 has been running virtually continuously since then. It receives data from my Davis VP2 Pro weather station and uploads it to my hosting company every 15 minutes. Wind data is updated every 2 seconds. My website is shown in my signature.

The fan failed in 2020 and was replaced. The hard drive failed in 2021 and I now have a SSD holding the data.

Your post gives me renewed optimism that it will last a while longer. Samsung make great computers although netbook production has been shelved as iPads have become popular.

[johncott 177]

I'm still using my CH Products Yoke and Rudder pedals that I purchased in 2009. The only thing I've had to do is tighten the wire terminals on all the pots in the yoke.  I also mess around a lot with scenery design as well as some gauge programming and I'm still using my trusty Texas Instruments TI-66 Programmable calculator that I purchased in 1984 for most of the math. I have newer calculators, but still prefer this one. 

John C.

[Patco Lch 1,465]

I still use my CH throttle quadrant in conjunction with my Quattro custom made quadrant for the extra axis I assigned to prop and mixture controls when flying four and two engine prop planes like my DC6, Connie, B17 and DC3. If I’m using an FMC jet liner like the NGXu or QOTS I have the switches programed to control the MCP. That unit is about seventeen years old and still works flawlessly and is very versatile for a less expensive entry level piece of kit.

  I also have the CH throttle profiled for single engine GA recips. As far as software that would be a number of FSX era airport sceneries adapted to P3D, some freeware, some pay.

And oh yea Ray, least I forget, RC4.

Edited February 13 by Patco Lch

[jon b 2,050]

Not really within the confines of the question, but in another thread I recently discovered that my old favourite ATC simulator Kennedy approach was available on steam.

That program was written in 1985 ! The one on steam is obviously a rewrite for modern windows but it’s an exact replica, apart from a hiatus of about 37 years of not playing it, it’s now my oldest software.

Unlike looking back at flight simulation of that era Kennedy approach is still highly engaging and fun to use.

£3.39 well spent !

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2373380/Kennedy_Approach/

Edited February 13 by jon b

[Mace 1,927]

CH Products Flight Sim yoke, I don't know how old it is, perhaps 15-20 years old. 

Saitek Rudder Pedals similar age, although one of the toe-brake resistance bands is broken now.

And a Thrustmaster T16000M won't last 3 years.