579: My Cockpit Rev #13 – FIP Adaptation Mod

As stated in the Alpha Yoke review earlier, the “extended” FIP adaptation approach makes it even harder for users to access switches on the face-plate.

Here’s my correctional modification so as to place the FIP stack backward a bit behind the bracket-mount of the Alpha yoke. 

Firstly, remove the FIP stack from the yoke.  The 2nd left and 2nd right FIPs in the middle row are detached for next processes.

Then create two new holes on the two brackets of the FIP.  The centers of the holes are 16mm from the front-edge of the bracket.

The FIP bracket is made of ABS plastic and it is pretty soft.  Use a tweezer to pierce a small dent first and then use a drill bit to extend it carefully.

Then use a drill to open the holes in similar size of the original.

Mount the two FIP brackets onto the Yoke again via the new holes.  Then assemble back the rest of the FIPs in the stack.

The left and right FIPs on the third row now move back quite a bit (Left photo is before and Right photo is after modification).

My hands are having more rooms to access the switches on the face-plate again, even though the yoke control is still caught in the middle.

The FIP stack sitting on the corrected location looks even better.

The modification is pretty simple…right?

The designer of the Alpha Yoke really should have considered and implemented this change on the bracket mount of the yoke in the first place, rather than taking it for granted from the original Saitek design.

 

2 thoughts on “579: My Cockpit Rev #13 – FIP Adaptation Mod

  1. Looks great Tom. I’ve been doing some research on building my throw over yoke column for the beaver. Have it built and working the potiometers for controls. Your setup modification works.

    Take care

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