I would have thought the KEY point of the review for people thinking about this is that it isnt a push/stomp rudder but instead more like a car accelerator, heel on the ground, step axis. This means people in chairs with wheels WONT MOVE or wont be twisted in their chair unlike normal rudder pedals.
I started with t16000 setup. The stick felt great in the hand but the lack of buttons was one of the reasons I began looking at options. Went to a VKB NXT and the added resistance and smoothness of the return to center improved my flying. Then my pedals began ghosting so picked up these T Rudder pedals. Like you said, OMG the difference was amazing. I had to have so much curve in my TM pedals because I never really knew where I was. These pedals helped a ton and are so much smoother than the TM.
I bought these pedals about 6 months ago and love them. The action of treading down on them from the ankle, rather than sliding them forward and backward, makes them incredibly precise. One of the best flight simming peripherals I've ever owned, and worth every penny.
I always did wonder why other manufacturers didnt go for the car accelerator pedal-style anchored movement as its inherently more precise than a whole leg gross motor skill... But 🤷♂️
@@TheStaniG I agree - it is strange. Also, the heel helps keep the pedals in place on a slippery floor surface. I don't need that, but it's there for people who do.
@@VQadventurezz Im aware, more aware than most (Im a pilot). However outside a real plane and an anchored sim setup, which is the vast majority of cases I would think, a car accelerator style offers far more precision especially for video game-centric situations.
I own these pedals for more than a year and they are just excellent. I thought that braking would be an issue, but in fact you use braking so rarely that even a button mapped for them works very well in DCS. I've never ever had a single braking issue in DCS or IL2, even during emergency landings. Also, there is a software which allows to use some button as a modifier to switch the yaw axis into the toe brakes axis momentarily, making brakes work the same way they do on many Russian planes by default (brake lever + yaw input). The most important part to me is that basically there is nothing more precise than these out there, even for a higher price. Foot rotation under load (you press with one foot against the load created by another foot) is anatomically much more precise than foot sliding movement no matter the build quality. Might not be very realistic for the planes, but I'd take control precision and comfort over realism any day.
Im a pilot and I do wonder sometimes why we dont get higher resolution solutions like this for planes.... but then the whole "gross motor skills disappear last when you panic" argument comes in and I can understand why most rudders are large movement forward stomp instead of car accelerator fine heel on floor control.
@@TheStaniG IRL you also feel lateral forces on the plane and they make rudder corrections much more simple and intuitive. In the sims we need all the precision we can get, because we are basically memorizing how much rudder to apply based on our bank angles.
Thanks and totally agree with this review. Went from Thrustmaster T flight plastic slider pedals and the difference was night and day. The Thrustmaster slide up and down action never felt right for a helicopter. The VKB T Rudder pedals are totally solid and never move on my carpet - and as the review said unlikely to move on polished flooring either. Even if they did that could be easily fixed with a non slip mat. Unless you must have toe brakes these are the ones I would buy again but given the quality of construction I reckon I'll conk out before the pedals do ! The only negative is that the $215 USD you pay in the States is $390 AUD here in Australia when the conversion should be around $312 AUD so we are getting shafted on price. Come on VKB you can do better in that regard for us Aussies !
Bruh, wait until you see WinWing conversion + shipping 😂 Aussies shafted accross the board. And businesses like Monstertech dont even ship here... Cant even buy their seat to build my own sim from extruded aluminium lol, let alone buy their whole cockpit to have it done for me.
I own them and I love them. My old CH ones were giving me terrible back problems to the point where I couldn't bear to fly anymore. The unique pivot action that the T-rudder has (heels do not need to move) meant that I could totally readjust my seating position. I can fly for 6 hours straight now. I just love them.
Previously owned Saitek & CH. Bought a second hand set of these in January. No comparison as these are so much nicer. Should also mention that you can further fine tune the ergos by adjusting the the pedal height with the heim joints on the connecting rods. Also a very compact footprint so easy to unplug and stow when not in use. Could care less about a lack of toe brakes as most of my time is spent in the air. I spend more time crashing into the ground then I do taxiing on it. ;) Can't imagine ever wanting to upgrade from these. They fit my needs perfectly.
I can vouch for this product. Construction is excellent. No issues to report, after about two years. They are very precise. They're a little different in that they're on a vertical axis, but that worked better for my setup.
I got the Thrustmaster rudder, stick and throttle set. The whole set was under $200. They're good enough to get you started, but once you become proficient they become the weakest link. In my case, the order of upgrades is rudder pedals first, then the stick, then the throttle. The pedals I have are sliders. They work, but just enough. Especially when flying the Huey. Low speed hover requires a fine touch that these mine just don't have. But all aircraft can benefit from good pedals. I will get me a set of these.
they are great and even on a non carpet, tile floor, they don't move around.. they are very precise and even when you dont wear shoes, you can use them without any effort or loss of precision
I have had mine so long they came with an "orange" BB Ver 1, and I have never had any problem with them other than having to tighten a nut now and then because I did want to over torque them when I put it together. Highly recommend for space combat and space flying. Can't give advice for air flight as I don't play any air combat games.
Phenomenal review - I have the T-Rudders, and they were amazing right out of the box. Paired up with my VKB Gunfighter Mk3's, these things are great. Durable construction, excellent price point, and VKB's customer support and software - what more can you ask for? - Great review StarScream!
They only do one axis of control. No breaking through them. They are great for a compact setup, but you'll have to map breaking somewhere else. The Orion 2 F16EX has a bunch of extra mapping options.
Ive had these peddals for a few years now along with a gladiator MKII stick, still works great. In that 3 years, I have never been able to get the virual toe brakes working. Not a huge deal hasn't ruined any flying, just a mild annoyance that I i haven't been able to do it.
Worth mentioning as well that they have a screw for fine tension adjustment; you aren't just limited to light and heavy spring swaps. I expect the main point of failure on these pedals will be the bearings, so it is good to see how easy VKB made them to replace. Important to note that these pedals do not feature toe breaks, if that is a control you need for your simpit. You have 1 axis input.
Absolutely love mine. One question concerning the Apache. Are you using any curves or saturation changes with this module? Still trying to dial these things in. Thank you!
There should not be, but I do remember they encourage customers to go through suppliers because want to make sure that people that carry their product get some of the business.
Yep. I've been holding out for months on my old CH throttle. If the US Virpil store gets here before TECS, I'm pulling the trigger on a shiny new T-50CM3.
+{UCZuXjkFY00p1ga3UyCBbR2w} *The Virtual Engineering Bureau NPO has yet to support helicopters with a collective arm; but the Gladiator NXT Series has the helo powertrain covered.* The T-Rudder MkIV is a practical mate for the Gunfighter Pro-L MCG-P as a cyclic. OKB Milja uses the Sikorsky kinematics with one main rotor and one antitorque propeller on the tail boom; but OKB Kamova uses coaxial main rotors for most products. One situation where ye'd want heavier springs on the T-Rudder is the differential-collective bar on coaxial-rotor models. Suggested for the fixed panels: The GNX MFH with GNX THQ-V (dual Condition and Rotor-Governor RPM) and GNX SEM (Landing-Gear, oil-radiator dampers).
Trying to decide on if I want to go for some VKB Mk V's or go in a bit more for some MFG Crosswinds - not sure if a toe brake is worth +$100... Any idea if the Mk V's are all that much different from Mk IV's?
@@c.g.262 Are you taxiing the Spitfire in DCS using only the buttons for braking ? I’m not good enough for that. Maybe I could with the P-51D but not every taildraggers.
@@36363ace Are you able to fly and taxi the most challenging warbirds, like the BF109 or the Spitfire, with the brakes mapped on your hotas? That seems a very difficult exercise of coordination.
Yes, they can help you turn a bit better but they are mostly used for precision stuff, like lining up a target with the gunsight when it's off to the side so you don't have to roll which would throw off your aim. For helicopters they are essential as you need them to control helicopters for basic flight.
@@rubiconnn thanks i just starting too learn about aviation i dont have dcs put i play war thunder and the yaw is where i am starting to practice too get better at..
@@anthonymoe5280 War thunder is pretty far from being realistic. You can get the base version of DCS for free and fly the SU25 and the TF-51 without buying anything and you can try out most aircraft for free for a short while.
@@rubiconnn Amatures like me don't use them very often except on runaway or loosing an engine. Really good dog fighters learn to use their rudders and can get a great advantage in a dog fight.
VKB makes really good kit, but alas, they don't have pedals with toe brakes. Ended up getting Virpil pedals for myself. If I hadn't wanted the toe brakes I probably would have gone with these.
I love my VKB Gunfighter Mk II, Pro Combat Stick. I believe it's one of the best on the market and definitely has the most Functions .. BUT .. these pedals seem a bit pitiful considering their Motion and most importantly because they lack Toe Brakes that most North American and European Aircraft use.
I would have thought the KEY point of the review for people thinking about this is that it isnt a push/stomp rudder but instead more like a car accelerator, heel on the ground, step axis. This means people in chairs with wheels WONT MOVE or wont be twisted in their chair unlike normal rudder pedals.
Excellent point, thanks for pointing that out. Cheers!
I started with t16000 setup. The stick felt great in the hand but the lack of buttons was one of the reasons I began looking at options. Went to a VKB NXT and the added resistance and smoothness of the return to center improved my flying. Then my pedals began ghosting so picked up these T Rudder pedals. Like you said, OMG the difference was amazing. I had to have so much curve in my TM pedals because I never really knew where I was. These pedals helped a ton and are so much smoother than the TM.
I bought these 1 months ago. I'm very pleased with my purchase. They are very precise and high quality.
I bought these pedals about 6 months ago and love them. The action of treading down on them from the ankle, rather than sliding them forward and backward, makes them incredibly precise. One of the best flight simming peripherals I've ever owned, and worth every penny.
I always did wonder why other manufacturers didnt go for the car accelerator pedal-style anchored movement as its inherently more precise than a whole leg gross motor skill...
But 🤷♂️
@@TheStaniG I agree - it is strange. Also, the heel helps keep the pedals in place on a slippery floor surface. I don't need that, but it's there for people who do.
@@TheStaniG its because commonly in aircraft, the pedals are operated with your legs, not like car pedals.
@@VQadventurezz Im aware, more aware than most (Im a pilot). However outside a real plane and an anchored sim setup, which is the vast majority of cases I would think, a car accelerator style offers far more precision especially for video game-centric situations.
@@TheStaniG I agree with you. The small footprint and up and down motion also makes it easier with a regular chair
I own these pedals for more than a year and they are just excellent. I thought that braking would be an issue, but in fact you use braking so rarely that even a button mapped for them works very well in DCS. I've never ever had a single braking issue in DCS or IL2, even during emergency landings. Also, there is a software which allows to use some button as a modifier to switch the yaw axis into the toe brakes axis momentarily, making brakes work the same way they do on many Russian planes by default (brake lever + yaw input).
The most important part to me is that basically there is nothing more precise than these out there, even for a higher price. Foot rotation under load (you press with one foot against the load created by another foot) is anatomically much more precise than foot sliding movement no matter the build quality. Might not be very realistic for the planes, but I'd take control precision and comfort over realism any day.
Im a pilot and I do wonder sometimes why we dont get higher resolution solutions like this for planes.... but then the whole "gross motor skills disappear last when you panic" argument comes in and I can understand why most rudders are large movement forward stomp instead of car accelerator fine heel on floor control.
@@TheStaniG IRL you also feel lateral forces on the plane and they make rudder corrections much more simple and intuitive. In the sims we need all the precision we can get, because we are basically memorizing how much rudder to apply based on our bank angles.
Thanks and totally agree with this review. Went from Thrustmaster T flight plastic slider pedals and the difference was night and day. The Thrustmaster slide up and down action never felt right for a helicopter. The VKB T Rudder pedals are totally solid and never move on my carpet - and as the review said unlikely to move on polished flooring either. Even if they did that could be easily fixed with a non slip mat. Unless you must have toe brakes these are the ones I would buy again but given the quality of construction I reckon I'll conk out before the pedals do !
The only negative is that the $215 USD you pay in the States is $390 AUD here in Australia when the conversion should be around $312 AUD so we are getting shafted on price. Come on VKB you can do better in that regard for us Aussies !
Bruh, wait until you see WinWing conversion + shipping 😂
Aussies shafted accross the board.
And businesses like Monstertech dont even ship here... Cant even buy their seat to build my own sim from extruded aluminium lol, let alone buy their whole cockpit to have it done for me.
I own them and I love them. My old CH ones were giving me terrible back problems to the point where I couldn't bear to fly anymore. The unique pivot action that the T-rudder has (heels do not need to move) meant that I could totally readjust my seating position. I can fly for 6 hours straight now. I just love them.
Previously owned Saitek & CH. Bought a second hand set of these in January. No comparison as these are so much nicer. Should also mention that you can further fine tune the ergos by adjusting the the pedal height with the heim joints on the connecting rods. Also a very compact footprint so easy to unplug and stow when not in use. Could care less about a lack of toe brakes as most of my time is spent in the air. I spend more time crashing into the ground then I do taxiing on it. ;) Can't imagine ever wanting to upgrade from these. They fit my needs perfectly.
Great timing, reinforced what I'd already heard, getting mine next week.
I can vouch for this product. Construction is excellent. No issues to report, after about two years. They are very precise. They're a little different in that they're on a vertical axis, but that worked better for my setup.
100% agree! I love these rudder pedals. Very precise for helicopters and no fatigue as for several other rudder pedals
I got the Thrustmaster rudder, stick and throttle set. The whole set was under $200. They're good enough to get you started, but once you become proficient they become the weakest link. In my case, the order of upgrades is rudder pedals first, then the stick, then the throttle. The pedals I have are sliders. They work, but just enough. Especially when flying the Huey. Low speed hover requires a fine touch that these mine just don't have. But all aircraft can benefit from good pedals. I will get me a set of these.
they are great and even on a non carpet, tile floor, they don't move around..
they are very precise and even when you dont wear shoes, you can use them without any effort or loss of precision
I have had mine so long they came with an "orange" BB Ver 1, and I have never had any problem with them other than having to tighten a nut now and then because I did want to over torque them when I put it together.
Highly recommend for space combat and space flying. Can't give advice for air flight as I don't play any air combat games.
Thanks for the excellent review Starscream, the VKB pedals look like a fantastic bit of kit for helo pilots. 👍
Nice job Starscream, 💯
Phenomenal review - I have the T-Rudders, and they were amazing right out of the box. Paired up with my VKB Gunfighter Mk3's, these things are great. Durable construction, excellent price point, and VKB's customer support and software - what more can you ask for? - Great review StarScream!
Thank you.
Thanks for the review. How is braking accomplished? Pressing both pedals at the same time? Can you easily differential brake this way?
They only do one axis of control. No breaking through them. They are great for a compact setup, but you'll have to map breaking somewhere else. The Orion 2 F16EX has a bunch of extra mapping options.
Good questions. Matthew is correct there is no "toe break" option on these. I have that bound to another control. Thanks. - Starscream
Sweet! Definitely on my "want" list now!
Thanks for the review. The only downside I could see is the lack of braking functionality that some other pedals have.
Ive had these peddals for a few years now along with a gladiator MKII stick, still works great. In that 3 years, I have never been able to get the virual toe brakes working. Not a huge deal hasn't ruined any flying, just a mild annoyance that I i haven't been able to do it.
Worth mentioning as well that they have a screw for fine tension adjustment; you aren't just limited to light and heavy spring swaps. I expect the main point of failure on these pedals will be the bearings, so it is good to see how easy VKB made them to replace.
Important to note that these pedals do not feature toe breaks, if that is a control you need for your simpit. You have 1 axis input.
Loved the vid definitely something I’m adding to my setup. Anyone at GR have any ruff idea when F15e by Rasbam is out.
Absolutely love mine. One question concerning the Apache. Are you using any curves or saturation changes with this module? Still trying to dial these things in. Thank you!
Strange that google pay doesnt work on their site and they dont offer paypal. Is it safe to buy from them direct?
There should not be, but I do remember they encourage customers to go through suppliers because want to make sure that people that carry their product get some of the business.
would be nice if they released their TECS throttle
Yep. I've been holding out for months on my old CH throttle. If the US Virpil store gets here before TECS, I'm pulling the trigger on a shiny new T-50CM3.
@@gamehulk it's a nice one but so freaking exp. I might go Orion 2, my twcs has seen better days by now
+{UCZuXjkFY00p1ga3UyCBbR2w} *The Virtual Engineering Bureau NPO has yet to support helicopters with a collective arm; but the Gladiator NXT Series has the helo powertrain covered.* The T-Rudder MkIV is a practical mate for the Gunfighter Pro-L MCG-P as a cyclic. OKB Milja uses the Sikorsky kinematics with one main rotor and one antitorque propeller on the tail boom; but OKB Kamova uses coaxial main rotors for most products. One situation where ye'd want heavier springs on the T-Rudder is the differential-collective bar on coaxial-rotor models. Suggested for the fixed panels: The GNX MFH with GNX THQ-V (dual Condition and Rotor-Governor RPM) and GNX SEM (Landing-Gear, oil-radiator dampers).
Trying to decide on if I want to go for some VKB Mk V's or go in a bit more for some MFG Crosswinds - not sure if a toe brake is worth +$100...
Any idea if the Mk V's are all that much different from Mk IV's?
Does this make flying aerobatic aircraft easier and more fun to fly?
For aerobatic nope, but if you are heavy armed that helps a lot
Is it really possible to fly the warbirds without differential braking? The BF109? The Spitfire?
I suppose you COULD… but I use buttons for the breaking to get me to runway and initial take off.
@@c.g.262 Are you taxiing the Spitfire in DCS using only the buttons for braking ? I’m not good enough for that. Maybe I could with the P-51D but not every taildraggers.
@@lucidlynx918 I do taxi the P51, P47, FW190, and BF109 all with buttons. Sorry I don’t own the Spitfire.
@@c.g.262 Impressive. Not sure I could do that. Still for the simulation realism, I think braking with the rudder pedal is a better solution.
@@lucidlynx918 Spitfire doesn't have a toe brake.
I have them too. They are pretty well made. But i have a question: How do you Taxi the A4 with them?
Have you flown other helos? The HIP is NOT the hardest helo in the game. :) Great video, thanks for the review.
Looks great for choppers. But it looks like it lacks toe brakes which makes it a deal breaker for me.
No toe brakes. You have to map somewhere else.
@@36363ace Are you able to fly and taxi the most challenging warbirds, like the BF109 or the Spitfire, with the brakes mapped on your hotas? That seems a very difficult exercise of coordination.
Can u use this on carpet
how often do you use rudders in a dog fight do they help you turn better i am just now getting in to aviation .
Yes, they can help you turn a bit better but they are mostly used for precision stuff, like lining up a target with the gunsight when it's off to the side so you don't have to roll which would throw off your aim. For helicopters they are essential as you need them to control helicopters for basic flight.
@@rubiconnn thanks i just starting too learn about aviation i dont have dcs put i play war thunder and the yaw is where i am starting to practice too get better at..
@@anthonymoe5280 War thunder is pretty far from being realistic. You can get the base version of DCS for free and fly the SU25 and the TF-51 without buying anything and you can try out most aircraft for free for a short while.
@@rubiconnn i will when i get my new pc next month then i will install dcs not sure what i want too fly first but can't wait thsnks again ..
@@rubiconnn Amatures like me don't use them very often except on runaway or loosing an engine. Really good dog fighters learn to use their rudders and can get a great advantage in a dog fight.
VKB makes really good kit, but alas, they don't have pedals with toe brakes. Ended up getting Virpil pedals for myself. If I hadn't wanted the toe brakes I probably would have gone with these.
Fine for helicopters but no toe brakes...no bueno, for me.
I'd love to order these but the shipping price is insane
Two cable for a simple pedal, sorry never
HIP is one of the easiest helos to fly
I love my VKB Gunfighter Mk II, Pro Combat Stick. I believe it's one of the best on the market and definitely has the most Functions .. BUT .. these pedals seem a bit pitiful considering their Motion and most importantly because they lack Toe Brakes that most North American and European Aircraft use.