Rudder pedal opinions wanted

[Bruv119]

I have CH ones. 

At first it took some getting used to around about 2 weeks later everything started clicking.   

Taxiing around the runway for the first time with them is worth the entrance fee 

[lyric1]

Get the pedals it is so much better I have Saitek.

[Vudak]

Vudak cut yourself a piece of Styrofoam and glue it to the stick to raise your hand up a bit. After a couple of days the Styrofoam will conform to your hand.

I cut off a section of foam tubing and secured it to the joystick with a rubber band, same concept

I just don't know how he's going to adjust rudder pedals if he doesn't like the fit precisely.  I suppose it could be done...

[2bighorn]

Rudder pedals are HUGE if you fly fighters.

Lets say rudder usage is huge if you fly fighters. Pedals are good to have, but not essential IMO. They may help with precision a bit though.

[blkmgc]

CH...period. If you waste your money on anything else, you'll be replacing/repairing them before you know it. Been there done that.

[DustyR]

I have CH ones. 

At first it took some getting used to around about 2 weeks later everything started clicking.   

Taxiing around the runway for the first time with them is worth the entrance fee

I would recommend rudder pedals (I've the CH and I have to stretch for the toe brake, but how often do you use the brakes if you are on the way to the ground with only one wing). :-(   They are definitely worth it in a dog fight.      

[SD67]

I use all Saitek gear, nearly 3 yrs on the FCS an well over a year on the pedals without a single glitch.
I used to have CH gear, and I like the Saitek pedals better that's for sure. They seem to be a wider stance than the CH stuff from what I remember.

[Ghosth]

First off I don't use either, I can't walk & chew gum at the same time. My feet are NOT connected to my head, they go where they please. So for me rudder pedals simply do not work.

I have however seen, and flown with both CH & Saitek pedals.

My advice, go with the saitek.

They are considerably wider. Giving you a more secure feeling.
And to my unexpert feet they felt better.

If your feet are naturally coordinated, then yes, get a set of peds. You will have better control eventually.
You will also struggle for a while switching over.

[Ghastly]

I've had both the older analog CH's and a new USB pair - and the older analog ones were constructed better.  There is a very annoying hitch in the newer pair where they do not move smoothly through the entire travel.

My favorite pedals were my older analog Simpeds.

[SD67]

First off I don't use either, I can't walk & chew gum at the same time. My feet are NOT connected to my head, they go where they please. So for me rudder pedals simply do not work.

You should have a couple of flying lessons It'll bring your feet right into the equation

[Max]

OTOH, the Saitek controllers I've used weren't exactly durable.  They aren't bad compared to some other types, from what I've heard, but I've yet to hear a guy claim he's still using his original a decade later (watch one pop up now ).  I have no idea if their rudder pedals follow this trend or not, and if I recall, they're a fairly new product, so no one really does yet.

Durability, per se, has never been an issue with previous Saitek joysticks. I've never had one fall apart though I did lose a HAT button on an old Evo. I do find them to get sloppy as the Hall Sensors tend to "drift" in time. I retired my X52 (original flavor) about a year ago and bought a CH Fighterstick, which is flawless to this day.

Bottom line, Saitek peds and the X52 throttle are fine. If they could correct the nose bouce/drift on the X52, they'd have a great set-up at that $100 price point.

[SD67]

I cannot say I've had any drift/bounce issues with my saitek setup

[Vudak]

Durability, per se, has never been an issue with previous Saitek joysticks. I've never had one fall apart though I did lose a HAT button on an old Evo. I do find them to get sloppy as the Hall Sensors tend to "drift" in time. I retired my X52 (original flavor) about a year ago and bought a CH Fighterstick, which is flawless to this day.

Bottom line, Saitek peds and the X52 throttle are fine. If they could correct the nose bouce/drift on the X52, they'd have a great set-up at that $100 price point.

I didn't mean to imply the things would disintigrate in your hands, Max

Saitek does have a good, deserved reputation for being one of the better-built affordable models, and in all honesty if they still made the X-45, I'd still be using one...  BUT...

The "sloppiness" is not a unique thing, nor a small thing for everyone.  I purchased several on E-Bay and found many completely sloppy from the previous owners use.  They'll spike, slide out of position on auto climb, etc.  They don't, after some wear and tear, (and not a whole lot, in my opinion) provide the kind of precision I like to have.  Also, the X-45 starts off with great resistance to movement, and gradually gets less and less, making even going from one of the same model to the next a pain for the next few days.

Anyway, like I said, that's been my experience with their joysticks.  Whether or not their rudder is any different, I don't know.  It very well could be. 

I'm still not suprised at all that everyone says the Saitek's are more comfortable. 

[Ranger45]

For me it was a huge learning curve, I almost quit trying a couple of times.  But I am getting used to them and they definitely give you added performance.  The only place I am struggling now is my gunnery and fine tuning my position to make a shot.  If you get them don't get discoraged.

[Max]

Ranger try flying offline using the lead computing assistant. Use the tab key to enable it, and the ` (tilde) key to select targets. Some of the vets claim that turning off tracers will force you to aim at where the target will be when the ammo converges vs "walking" the tracers to the target. It seems that most shots require more lead than you think.