I just exchanged my X45 system for a new one when the hat and trigger switch began to become unreliable.
So, last evening in the TA doing my Trainer thing, I winged up with Badboy to do some work in P-38s.
Flying at his low 4 O'Clock about 50 yards behind, Badboy accelerates and breaks down to the left. I follow. We go through a series of maneuvers without incident, then he goes high to the right. I add some some right rudder, gradually increasing it when all of sudden the aircraft departs violently. I catch it quickly, rolling left, but Badboy is behind me turning hard. We get into a hard turning fight. However, every time I use any rudder to maintain the edge, the aircraft over-controls and I have to roll partially out of the turn to grab it back. I took more fuel than usual, but this isn't load related. Something else is going on. Down on the deck, it over-controls again and I auger.
While in the tower I check the sliders and nothing has changed. I recalibrate and we head off again. Once again, Badboy breaks and I follow, using rudder to quicken the roll in. Once again, it stalls, this time a flat stall.
I check the rudder output from the rocker and lo and behold, this brand new unit is spiking like crazy and even worse, slight inputs result in full rudder deflection.
Up in the loft of my garage is a year-old X-45 that I retired when the switches and pots began to get weary. So, I go out and get the throttle assembly and exchange it with the new one. I calibrate and launch out in a P-51B.
Ahhh, that's the way it should work! Vastly better.
My biggest complaint with X45s have been with the dirt-cheap switches they use. Garbage, really. Now for the first time, I have had a brand new throttle/ rocker assembly turn up defective right out of the box.
Has anyone else had similar issues with recently purchased X45s? My feeling is that the quality of components has gone down over the past two years.
My regards,
Widewing
