Saitek Pro Flight Yoke with Three-Lever Throttle (PZ44)
by Saitek
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Category: CE
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: SaitekAudio: German (Subtitled); German (Manual)
Format: CD-ROM
Platform: Windows XP
Model: PZ44
Color: Black
Product features:
- POV Hat, 14 button controls, and 3-position mode switch
- Stainless steel yoke shaft and 2-position clamp
- Comes with separate three axis lever throttle
- Integrated 3-port USB 2.0 Hub
- XP, Vista and Windows 7 compatible
- Integrated 3-port USB 20 Hub
- AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to A-Female Extension Cable (3.3 Feet/1.0 Meter)
- AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to A-Female Extension Cable (9.8 Feet/3.0 Meters)
- AmazonBasics USB 2.0 A-Male to B-Male Cable (6 Feet / 1.8 Meters)
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Saitek Pro Flight Yoke with Three-Lever Throttle (PZ44)
Customer Review: What I Got for Christmas
Summary: 4 Stars
I have been flying Flight Simulator since the days of wire frame graphics and keyboard controls. Usually behind the curve on technology, I have, in the last couple of years, been enjoying advanced control systems to make flying more precise and immersive.
I have enjoyed many different HOTAS (Hands On Throttle and Stick) configurations, but when I finally got Saitek's Saitek X52 Flight Control Systemand Saitek Pro flight Rudder Pedals I was in virtual aviation heaven. I learned quickly of Saitek's sturdy construction and the smooth precision of action.
But, as good of a controller the X-52 was for military aircraft and helicopters, it detracted from the immersion factor for general aviation and transport aircraft. So what I got for Christmas was the Saitek Pro Flight Yoke with Three Lever Throttle (PZ44):
Features:
The Yoke has two two-way switches and a button on top of the right post. It has one two way switch, an eight-way POV on top and a trigger switch on the front of the left post. The Mode switch is on the top-front of the right post. The front of the yoke has a backlit LCD display that displays the Mode and time (24 hr format) or elapsed time {I would like to research if there is a way to have the yoke display GMT }. There are three buttons on the front. One is a mode select between time and chronograph, the second is start/stop and the third is a reset.
The quadrant has the three levers with zero detents. If you go below a detent, it counts as a button (I have the power lever detent setup as F2 repeating for thrust reverse). Below each lever is a two-way rocker switch.
So, let's see here...excluding the 5 axis and POV, you have seventeen potential inputs times three modes for a total of 51 possible inputs. Mode select is only effective if launched through SST though. Haven't got the time yet to mess with software.
First Impressions:
It took a while to setup the functions I wanted within FS. Then I spent sometime offline flying to get the feel for it. I still have some tweaking but here is what I found out initially.
The yoke is very smooth and precise. It does have definitive centering which you can come out of smoothly with little effort but I ended up putting in just a tad of "null zone". This reduced the tendency to over control. I have seen electric trim in some light planes positioned on the yoke. I have set the tree two way switches as my trim. Initially I had the "repeat" slider set to full and found it very difficult to precisely trim. I have backed it off to the middle setting and it is better but still easy to over trim. I believe that taking "repeat" off completely will be best.
The quadrant movement was likewise smooth and precise. I found the zero detent very obvious, it takes very little effort to move past it, but you will know when you did. The step below the zero detent is a "button" and I have the power lever's set to F2 repeating and the prop lever's to feather. For the first time in my sim flying I can touch down and immediately move to reverse without hunting the keyboard or assigning another valuable button to do it for me. It is very intuitive.
I hate the idea of reaching over a yoke to operate the engine controls as it is on the CH Products Flight Sim Yoke USB ( 200-615 ). The separate control quadrant allows me to place it in a position that approximates a Cessna or other light plane. Of course there is a great deal more cable, so if you have an eight foot arm, knock yourself out.
I flew the C172, B1200 and CJ700 in Microsoft Flight Simulator X Deluxe DVD while making small tweaks to fit my preferences. In Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: A Century of Flight, I toured around in the Herc (C-130), C40 (737), C9 (DC-9) and T39 and B1200. What a difference!
I went online in real weather and went up in the B-1200 and shot some non-precision and ILS approaches. The power response was smooth and authoritative and the precision was such that speed control and descents and climbs by power were easily accomplished. The yoke made fine control input the norm.
There are several things I want to try yet. Setting all of the engine levers to separate engines and tooling around in a 727 and then yanking into reverse on all three pipes at the same time, as an example.
The one limitation, and this is true for all but the high end quadrants is that in multi-engine scenarios you will still have to select an engine to make individual adjustments as in a fuel cut off/feather problem. Or select out the bad engine and pull off with the mouse. The neat thing here is, you can stack another quadrant and have a true twin engine quadrant for about the price of one of the stand alone sticks.
There is a lot of territory to explore yet, but so far I am more than pleased. The overall quality seems very good to excellent and the smoothness and precision are as good as I have ever experienced or heard of.
PROS:
Good size, ergonomic, sturdy.
Simple setup.
Smooth, precise inputs.
Adaptable.
Plenty of Buttons.
Affordable.
Cons:
Would have liked the engine control levers constructed with metal instead of plastic.
The power quadrant's case is entirely plastic, would have liked some more metal used throughout the set.
Some very minor assembly required (mounting clamps, etc).
Ethel's Very Happy Husband
Description of Saitek Pro Flight Yoke with Three-Lever Throttle (PZ44)
Satie pz44 pro flight yoke system.Digital Cameras & Photo Categories
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