VDO games childen: best Saitek PRO Flight Switch Panel (PZ55)

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List Price : $99.99 Price : $79.49

Product Description

Upgrade your flight simulation experience for Microsoft Flight Simulator X with the Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel. Whether attached to the Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System, free standing on a desk or mounted into your own cockpit setup, the Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel is an ideal way to expand the number of controls for your flight simulation setup. Control your landing gear, engine power, landing lights and 11 other important aircraft functions from one compact unit.

Realistic landing gear control with LEDs indicating actual gear status from Microsoft FSX
Start your aircraft engines and access other cockpit functions with ease
Conveniently attaches to the base of the PZ44 Saitek Pro Flight Yoke System (sold separately)
Compatible: Windows 7, XP/XP64, and Vista
Connects via USB 2.0

Saitek PRO Flight Switch Panel (PZ55) Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful

Getting there is half the fun, January 19, 2009

CST "Psybearian" (Colorado, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saitek PRO Flight Switch Panel (PZ55) (Personal Computers)

This is a interesting little piece of plastic. And I recommend 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... Read more

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful

A nice addition to Flight simulator X, January 16, 2009

R. L. Frank - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saitek PRO Flight Switch Panel (PZ55) (Personal Computers)

I've now had a good amount of time to put the Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel. I use it in conjunction with my CH Products yoke, pedals and throttle quadrant Clearly, Saitek saw this as an addon for its yoke, sine you can screw this item into the to off the yoke. While that may save desk space, I don't recall having ever seen an aircraft with these controls in that position.

I mounted mine on my desktop to the right of my yoke and to the left of my throttle quadrant. That seems to be a convenient location for ease of use. I used the supplied Velcro strips. I agree with the other reviewer that this is not the best way to mount the product on the desk as it does, indeed allow the unit to wobble. The wobble can be minimized by placing your fingers on the top of the unit and working the panel's switches with your thumb. There are numerous other ways the average person could mount this product more securely. A little ingenuity is all it takes.

For the default... Read more

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Does what it's supposed to, but could be so much better, November 12, 2009

T. Norris (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Saitek PRO Flight Switch Panel (PZ55) (Personal Computers)

I won't re-hash all of the previous comments but merely add my experiences that I haven't seen posted yet.

First, the good points (from a real-world pilot):

Unit functions as described. I used the included screws to mount it solidly on top of my Saitek radio panel.

I am building a center console for my simpit and the option to de-mount the unit from it's plastic enclosure is a big plus. This will allow me to mount it in the center console with no problems.

The landing gear lights sequence CORRECTLY when the gear is coming down. For instance, if the right main gear goes down and locks before the others, then that gear light will correctly turn green while the others are still in-transit. Very nice touch since Saitek could have simply went with "all up" or "all down". I had a left main gear failure on an EMB-120 and this unit correctly showed that gear to be stuck in-transit so it really added to the experience.

Although there is... Read more