Logitech Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel

Of all the flight simulator hardware I’ve purchased this has the least benefit but that doesn’t mean it’s worthless. I really enjoy the loud, tactile clicks of the buttons and being able to activate the starter on the device rather than on the monitor. Having the gear controller on it is also very helpful because that’s the one checklist item I was always forgetting prior to landing. For someone just starting to upgrade their system with external hardware to improve the sim experience I would recommend purchasing this last, after a yoke, pedals, throttle quadrant, autopilot and radio in that order.

Saitek has developed a series of panels to increase flight simulation realism. While added realism is definately achieved, basically they do nothing more than bring some of a plane's controls and gauges outside of the virtual cockpit onto your desk, freeing your screen. This saves a lot of view-changing and mousing around. However, since they do not bring all of those controls and gauges onto your desk, not even if you got several of all of those panels, view-changing is still essential. To avoid view-changing,something like Track-IR would be more useful. These panels are made to be screwed on the yoke which is meant to be screwed to your desk, but if you do not have a yoke, pressing the switches on the panel will just move the panel backwards. The panels are rather smoothly made so they slide easily. Saitek supplies velcro patches to stick on the panel and your desk so they won't move, but I would not want to stick those velcro patches directly on my desk. Sticking them onto another panel won't have much effect - screws are supplied for that purpose anyway. The supplied USB cable is kind of tough, not easily bendable. Some USB devices are lighter than the cable's toughness and as such will not stay where you put them, and this is true for the Radio Panel. But again, these devices were meant to screw on the yoke. USB devices may need more power than you think so it is advised to use a powered USB hub or directly into the computer. Esp. if you have more than one panel.The…