The picture on the right is a parking brake module I bought from Desktop Aviator many 
years ago. It didn’t even come with a decent brake handle. The device was kept in the storage until I “discovered” it when I was looking for something else.
Although it is trivial, I told myself that it should add fun to my system — I finally recalled that was the idea I bought it originally.
But then I found it too big to fit into the location under my yoke. So I opened the case to check out if it could be modified.
Luckily it is possible since the housing is wasting an awfully lot of space with just one tiny circuit board and a pull-push knob inside.
After some searching, I eventually picked a dental floss picks plastic box as the new case for it.
Pictures below tell the story itself about the shrinking of the device and how it is mounted to the typical position properly.
The modification of the parking brake is generally done and the result is more than acceptable up to this point. However, in order to enhance the rigidity of the push-pull button face-plate, an angled metal bracket is further added to it. And the result is largely improved.
For the mounting of the parking brake, all components inside the unit were removed temporarily and then reassembled after the case is mounted properly.
Following is how the modified parking brake looks like under the Yoke. The original lamp logo on the button was removed by some dark grey paints.
Adding the parking brake to FSX/P3D or X-Plane is plug-n-play. However, it is still required to assign the button as Brakes (set parking) under Key Assignments of Options in FSX/P3D or similar function command in X-Plane.
Although the parking brake might not be an essential gear in a flightsim cockpit, I do get extra fun from it even though it doesn’t come with a more realistic handle.
After all, the modification not only meets my need but is also green by utilizing the waste.
FS Times 
Nice article Tom … always wanted to have a small footprint USB parking brake for my Sim Flying … it would have been the icing on the cake :)
I always thought it might be the next thing Saitek did after the trim wheel, very cool what you have done there, Tom.
Notice too you have the Honeycomb yoke now, bought one too late last year … I like it a lot, much more superior to my Saitek Cessna Yoke.
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Yes, I am glad that I finally added it to my system too. Don’t think Logitech will do anything like this, they seem not care much about flightsimming group.
I hought the Honeycomb yoke a monthn ago. Not bad at all even though it is not perfect. It does save some space from the switch panel.
May do a quick review on it. Are you interested to contribute your view on it ?
Tom
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Yes, I’d be glad to Tom, we all need some hobby diversion feedback in these times :)
Let me know when you want to post about it Tom, will plug it in tonight for a refresher thought
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Indeed!
Don’t have a schedule yet. What about you let me know your timeframe and I’ll try to cope with it ?
We can continue our conversation via email. You know my email right ?
Tom
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Not sure I still have your email, Tom? please send again, been dong a fair bit we all might like here, mine is katana1000s@gmail.com
Keep this private please.
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Desktop Aviator has it for US $55. But you can easily make your own. Cockpit PHD sells a selection of I/O boards, switches, etc. The basic $30 board will do, and they have a a Airbus brake handle + potentiometer for $20. Not much cheaper, but with the I/O board you can easily make other switch panels. Vero easy, you don’t need to be an electrical engineer for this. In my cockpit (shown in the Cockpit Section here) I have made my own Comm Panel, as well as controls for the Transponder. Parts are available from both Cockpit PHD and Desktop Aviator, and another good source in AllElectronics.com.
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Yes, there are many options available out there from many shops including the two mentioned. So far I am quite happy with the parking brake.
Actually I have almost all the instrument I need. Just need to put them together.
Thanks for the information.
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Nice adaptation for tight space. I have this unit and I think it’s great. Desktop Aviator used to sell a brake handle that was marked “Brake Release.”. I don’t see that in their catalog any more, but they do have a suitable T handle for IS US 3.75. Don’t know what the shipping might be though.
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By the time I ordered the device, the company said that the T handle was out of stock and the button was given as a temporary measure. They would sent me the handle later.
However, I asked them a few months later. They just ignored my request. No big deal.
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Well done
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