Saitek PH09 Pro Flight Headset Review

I am an avid flight simmer and these are a great set of "David Clark" like headphones.They are very comfortable once you get them properly adjusted I have worn them for 5+ hours at a time. They do make a pretty tight seal to your head and around your ears so I can see what the one guys was saying about wearing glasses and having issues.The volume adjustment on the side is a big plus!!

I thought I would add to this review after owning them a year.The only real issue I have encountered is that the ear cushions could be better. Either they have become harder or my ears more sensitive because after long periods of use they start to hurt.I think they really wanted them to be just like the real thing becasue they make such a good seal around your ear they block out external noise especially in the high end.I can never hear my wife at all with these on!!

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Product Description:
Take flight simulation to the next level with the Saitek PH09 Pro Flight Headset. Designed to look, feel, and function just like the real thing, this headset features excellent stereo sound and a cushioned headband for long-term comfort. Additionally, a microphone on an adjustable metal boom keeps you in touch with the tower during your simulated flights.
PH09 Pro Flight Headset
At a Glance:

Authentic-looking flight simulator headset.
Cushioned headband and ear cups.
Mic on adjustable metal boom.
Built-in volume controls.

Cushioned ear cups and an adjustable boom ensure a comfortable experience. View Larger. Stay in Touch While Flying
When you take to the skies for your simulated flights, you need to know what's going on around you. The Saitek Pro Flight Headset features a design that is closely modeled on professional pilot headsets. With stereo sound and an adjustable microphone, you'll have no trouble communicating with Air Traffic Control.
The microphone sits on a metal boom with three-way adjustable axes--there's even an integrated mute function for private conversations. The large ear cups have extra cushioning for comfort over long flights, and they provide passive noise cancelling, so you can concentrate on piloting your aircraft. Also, the left ear cup features volume controls, so setting the right level is always within reach.
High-Quality Construction
The Pro Flight Headset is constructed of industrial-quality materials that give it a realistic look and feel--with a metal frame and large, plush cushions for your ears and head. Additionally, the headset's speakers feature high-end drivers for audio clarity and precision.
The Pro Flight Headset works with PC operating systems that have a sound card and 3.5mm audio jack. The headset is backed by a two-year limited warranty.
What's in the Box
Saitek PH09 Pro Flight Headset



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Logitech Flight System G940 Force Feedback Joystick Review

I bought this from Amazon, took the super-saver shipping and received it two days later, on a Thursday evening.The packaging was more than adequate and the controller arrived without a scratch on it.I've now had an entire weekend to play with it so these are my thoughts.

I run Windows XP and, like other reviewers, I ignored the CD and downloaded the latest drivers from the Logitech website.The programming software works ok, but is nothing special.My previous stick was the Thrustmaster Cougar and the flexibility of the Foxy software is in a different world to the Logitech one.That being said, however, I didn't personally use the vast majority of those features and instead downloaded other peoples' profiles from the web.Hopefully, the community will also supply a large number of profiles for the G940.

There is a minor nuisance with the software in that you can't assign stick functions, program a profile or, in fact, start the software at all without the controller plugged in.This is inconvenient,but not a showstopper.

The stick itself feels good in the hand and has a slightly rubbery feel to it.It has a larger footprint on the desk than any other stick I've owned which, presumably, is to accommodate the force feedback motors.The micro-stick on the joystick that looks like a POV-hat isn't, and the castle switch is instead used as the POV.Not sure that I particularly like that choice but the micro-stick can be programmed to act as a normal hat if needed.I've found I need to keep the dead-zone on the microstick axes relatively high to prevent unwanted inputs in flight as the calibration seems to drift slightly.

The throttle unit also feels decent in the hand but isn't exactly going to win any beauty contests.The twin throttles separate easily and also recombine easily.The action is smooth and the friction adjustable.The lit buttons on the throttle base also function nicely as buttons and, I'm told, will function as working LED indicators in the future.One of my gripes with the throttle is about the R1 and R2 rotaries.It would have been nice to have had either a detent or at least some physical means of telling when they were centered without having to look at the painted line on them.But if you're picky about that you can always file a small groove into the center-point yourself.

The pedals are lovely.Nice and solid, and wide enough for me.I'm 6"3 and find them pretty comfortable.I've never actually used any other sim-pedals before but I fly little single engine planes in real life so have a pretty good idea how rudder pedals should feel.

I've been playing IL2 and DCS Black Shark and have been loving the force feedback.At the default settings the feedback is nice and strong, and the force can be ramped up or down in the Logitech software to suit your tastes.Using the trim function in Black Shark and having the stick actually stay in the trim position is fantastic and actually 'feeling' your warbird about to enter a stall in IL2 really helps with both my flying and my sense of immersion in the sim.

The 3-axis trims on the stick are great in IL2 and incredibly useful.Once again, no 'feelable' center position but you can't have everything.

One thing I did after a few minutes of using the stick was to put a little piece of tape over the "dead man's switch".This is a little sensor that detects whether the user's hands are on the stick or not and turns down the force feedback if necessary.It's a nice feature in theory but, especially in black shark with the stick in a trimmed position, I find the stick will jump around if I loosen my grip on the stick and no longer cover the sensor, so I took the decision to cover it up permanently.I just make sure to unplug the DC power to the stick if I leave it unattended.

Overall, very happy with the product with just a small wish-list for extra software functionality.

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Product Description:
An authentic design inspired by military and commercial planes and helicopters provides a flying experience that's more realistic and more fun, with important controls that look, feel and work like the real thing. The force feedback joystick allows you to control your aircfraft with confidence as you feel its movement as well as its reaction to air turbulence and g-forces. The dual throttle allows you to precisely control multi-engine aircraft using the split lever. Rudder pedals with toe brakes give you true-to-life control, especially when rudder control is essential such as performing definsive maneuvers and crosswind landings, or piloting helicopters. Interactive, programmable throttle-base buttons integrate with simulation software and illuminate red, green, amber or off to indicate the status of critical aircraft systems, just like they would a real cockpit.

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Saitek PZ55 Pro Flight Switch Panel Review

This is a interesting little piece of plastic. And Irecommend and enjoy it with some unfortunate reservations. Be aware of a few little things that make you go, "Huh, what were they thinking?"

It ships with a hex tool to unscrew the screws on the companion pro flight throttle for mounting.Problem is, it's the wrong size....way too small...so you will need a #3 hex tool handy if you want to mount to the companion yoke. Also, the instructions suggest using the 2 inner screw mount points.I suggest you use 2 mount points wider apart, other wise the panel will sway from side to side.

The mounting bracket is quite flimsy.So much so that when you flip switches the panel console moves, front to back.Disappointingly poor engineering design especially when you see they have plans to hang more stuff off this in time to come.

The mag switch is mixed up (L/R should be R/L)

You can't assign or change functions to switches on this unit as you can with the yoke or throttle.

The Saitek website doesn't tell you what driver version is the latest much less what issues it addresses.

OK, that's the annoying stupid stuff.

The good stuff:There is a new driver available on the Saitek web site!The inoperative cowl flap switch has been fixed with driver rev 6.5.8.4(But it's either open or closed, nothing incremental.)

The inoperative deice switch has been fixed with driver rev 6.5.8.4(Still, if it's not implemented in FSX, why designate a switch for it?)

The incorrect landing gear light sequence has been fixed with driver rev 6.5.8.4 (Green is down, Red is in transit, Amber is gone)Everything else is really nice and I do enjoy not having to look for all these switches on keyboards or screens. Simply plug it into the back of the companion yoke and run a quick program which installs as an FSX (simconnect?) plugin and thats it.

My test flights were on a system running Vista 64 with an FSX default C172, a default Mooney Bravo and everything worked except the cowl flaps and as noted above.Also worked with an add on Eaglesoft Cirrus SR22. So, pretty successful for out of the box. And it looks cool.

But for silly oversights, Saitek could have had a brilliant unit here instead of just a good one.They need to pay attention to detail. Makes you wonder who is in charge of things there...and why?

So, it's 4 out of 5 now with the new driver.

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Product Description:
Feel like a real pilot with realistic clearly labelled controls in easy reach with the PZ55 Pro Flight Switch Panel from Saitek. Features include switches for engine on and off, landing gear, a large selection of cockpit controls, works with Flight Sim X, LED's for landing gear matching the status in the game.Works with XP, XP64, and Vista.

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CH Products Flight Sim Yoke USB ( 200-615 ) Review

See my full review with photos on my website (look it up by my name).
OPERATION: I used the CH Products Flight Sim Yoke with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004 A Century of Flight. Flight Simulator immediately recognized the yoke at startup and already had all the buttons mapped. I changed them to my preferences using the setup panel in FS. On my first flight I noticed that the elevator was really jumping around. It wouldn't stay where I put it! I really thought the yoke was broken. Then a very distant memory began to emerge from my checkered past. I recalled that I still had my old Gameport joystick plugged in...problem solved. These USB devices do not work with Gameport devices.

The yoke felt very much like the Cessna's that I fly (C172R), albeit a bit lighter weight. The resistance was a little surprising, very stiff, which is good for cross country flying. It took a little getting used to the button locations, especially the hat switch, but after a few hours it falls right into my grasp. Having an 8-position hat switch sure makes the landing pattern easier to fly, and with all the buttons on the yoke I don't need to touch the keyboard. The trim wheel was very stiff, so I wouldn't use it to trim the airplane, just to adjust the joystick centering during calibration.

SELF CENTERING OR NOT???
I was concerned about the lack of center detent when I initially read the literature. But this doesn't mean the joystick doesn't self-center. It snaps back to center with about 1/4 inches of center play, just like in a real airplane.

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Product Description:
Command the skies with the king of flight simulator controls, the Flight Sim Yoke USB. This one of a kind yoke offers features that will allow you to fly with the realism you've come to expect from CH Products. The Flight Sim Yoke USB provides 5 axes of control including, pitch, roll, throttle lever, propeller lever, and mixture lever. It also features 20 button functions, including 2-way gear switch, 2-way flaps switch, 8-way hat switch, two 2-way rocker switches, and 4 push buttons. Pilots around the world applaud the comfortably placed prop, throttle and mixture levers. It's the closest thing you'll get to sitting in your own cockpit.

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