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The GoFlight GF-TQ6 throttle quadrant as installed. This is the default four throttle jet setup. Note how it fits in with other modules. The USB hub on the right combines all the GoFlight modules so only one cord goes to the computer.n our neverending quest to make flightsimming "as real as it gets" today we examine another step towards that goal, the GF-TQ6 throttle quadrant from GoFlight. GoFlight is well known for making a wide variety of avionics packages, some generic like their GF-46 multi-mode display module and others specific like the GF-LGT landing gear/trim module. Others fall in the middle. Given the wide variety available it's quite possible to assemble a rather realistic set of controls and avionics for many aircraft types. We covered most of the earlier GoFlight modules in an earlier review. The one thing that had been missing from the GoFlight line-up, though, was a throttle but with the release of the GF-TQ6 that has been rectified.
Most serious flightsimmers probably have a throttle of some sort, perhaps a control built into a joystick or a control actually intended for use as a throttle, such as that on the CH Products yoke. While this sort of thing works, the problem is that it's only a single lever. Since so many flightsimmers prefer to fly multi-engine aircraft the single lever is not quite realistic. Well, the GF-TQ6 solves that by offering the same flexibility in throttle arrangements that other GoFlight modules offer for avionics.
A view of the full installation including GF-TQ6 in the GoFlight Flight Deck Console. This arrangement is a nice match for an airliner cockpit. The compartment on the side is handy for storing paperwork.Introduction
The GF-TQ6 comes in a standard configuration with four jet thrust levers, four thrust reverse levers, a spoiler lever and a flap handle. This setup is a match for the Boeing 747 and probably many other four engine jets.Available as an option is a prop handles kit. This includes two throttle levers, two prop pitch levers and two mixture levers. This setup is a good match for typical light twins and also works with twin turboprops such as the Beechcraft King Air--just call the mixture levers condition levers. Use only half the supplied levers and you have the setup for a standard light single engined plane. Changing the levers is easy. With the GF-TQ6 powered off just pull out the lever you want to change and push in the new one.
The throttle case is 4" high and 4" deep, so it takes up two 2" slots in the GoFlight cases. More on that in a moment. Like all GoFlight modules it connects to your PC via a USB cable.
Installation
Mechanical installation is a bit of a challenge, not due to any fault of the throttle but in trying to figure out the ideal arrangement of modules to meet your personal flying preferences. The throttle is ideal for use in the Flight Deck Console, which has fourteen 2" slots. Seemingly you could get fourteen GoFlight modules in this console, but probably not. The GF-TQ6 takes the corner position and occupies two horizontal and two vertical slots. That's just to get the quadrant into the box. What you'll then discover is that the throttle levers restrict access to adjacent module slots so you may have to leave adjacent slots empty or at least stick to the low profile modules.
I ended up with an arrangement similar to that of the FS2004 default Boeing 747-400--I figured I'd try and match a real four engine jetliner as closely as possible, and the results are pretty good. You'll note in the photos how I left space around the throttle so full movement of the levers did not interfere with other modules. Others might want to do this differently. Since the GF-TQ6 is a stand-alone box it does not have to be mounted into anything else and could just be left on your desk. Or you could use several of the GoFlight boxes to mount things. The flexibility is pretty much limited only to your own imagination.
A side by side comparison of the default 747-400 cockpit and the GoFlight setup with the GF-TQ6 in the middle. The GF-TQ6 is a good match for the Boeing throttle.With physical installation complete software installation was next. GoFlight uses a handy configuration program call GFConfig. I already had it installed for use with the original set of avionics, but I downloaded and installed the latest version from the GoFlight web site as that was necessary to properly support the GF-TQ6. Normally, you get this utility included with each module you purchase but as it does get updated from time to time it's worth downloading the latest version.
Using GFConfig is easy, though it can be time consuming if you have a lot of modules installed as some modules offer many setup options. GFConfig automatically detects all the GoFlight modules you have plugged in (all plug in via USB) and displays miniature images of them on the left side of the screen. You can click and drag the modules around the screen so that they are arranged exactly like the modules in your console are. The throttle quadrant has a fairly limited range of choices, so setting it up is rather easy. You just select each lever one at a time and assign it to a function--throttle, mixture, prop pitch, etc. as appropriate for the type of plane you want to fly. If you switch aircraft type a lot you'll get very used to doing this setup, but it really takes very little time and you're shortly up and flying.
Using GFConfig to setup the throttle. It's a simple matter to assign a function to each lever. The view of all installed GoFlight modules as seen on the left exactly matches my setup.You may have to calibrate the throttles when first installed or when changing the lever arrangements. This is done in the usual manner right in Flight Simulator itself. Just pop up the appropriate menu, select GF-TQ6 as the device you want to calibrate, and have at it.
It's a little hard to find on the GoFlight web site, but they have handy "NOTVAM" (Notice to Virtual Airmen) which you can obtain here
that explains GF-TQ6 configuration for many popular flightsims and offers information on preventing interference with other installed controllers. Before I found this I was having some odd problems, such as the throttles making both the throttle and the rudder move--kind of exciting when going to full throttle also pushes the rudder full right!
Here the GoFlight GF-TQ6 throttle quadrant is setup using the optional lever set to match the arrangement found in a typical modern twin.
Using The Throttles
With hardware and software installation out of the way I was ready to go fly. I'm not usually a jet jockey so flying the 747 was a bit of a challenge. It took me a few flights with it before I started to get some command of the big plane but the GF-TQ6 certainly gave the feeling of flying a big jet...grabbing a hand full of throttle levers and shoving all four of them forward for takeoff is quite a rush. Similarly, coming in for landing and having fine throttle control, finished up by touchdown and pulling back on the realistic thrust reverse levers offers another thrill.Now, I did run into one more setup problem while in the air that will probably affect others too. While flying along the engines would go to idle, even with the throttle full forward. A slight wiggle of the throttles and the engines would return to their desired settings...for a while at least, and then the whole thing would repeat. Quite annoying to say the least. Well, this one will have to be blamed on FS2004 and not on GoFlight. Through trial and error I eventually determined that FS2004 was still
reading the throttle on my CHProducts yoke...even though this was clearly setup as being disabled. The last time I had used it the throttle was left at idle and that's what Flightsim was reading. The fix, oddly enough, seems to be to leave the yoke's throttle lever at full power. You would think this would cause the opposite problem, with the plane occasionally jumping to full even when you had the power reduced using the GF-TQ6 but this did not happen. Since I suspect many potential customers for the GF-TQ6 will have already in place a throttle of some sort this of unpleasant interaction is something to be aware of.
A different angle looking at the default four throttle arrangement. Note the blank panels left below the throttle; anything mounted here is hard to access when the throttles are set to idle.Unplanned glitches fully out of the way, the throttle quadrant was a joy to use. The controls are stiff and especially when using all four throttle levers at once do require a bit of force. I suspect this would get better with use over time but initially at least it's a bit stiffer than I would like but something that can be adapted to. In flight fine adjustments are easily made.
One of the best and most important features is that having a complete set of throttle levers makes possible things that could not be done before. For example, differential thrust can now be used on the ground to help taxi around corners. It takes some practice, but it really does work! In the air it's now possible to practice engine out procedures in a realistic manner. When transitioning from a single engine plane to a twin this is probably the one thing that students spend the most time on since it's fairly difficult to handle. Well, with a multi-lever throttle flightsimmers can now try challenges like this too. This opens a new dimension to flying...we're getting one more step closer to "as real as it gets".
I used the GF-TQ6 for quite a few hours of enjoyable flying and with a number of different aircraft, including the default 747-400, King Air and DC-3. I was able to get realistic throttle quadrant arrangements for all these aircraft types, even the DC-3 which has a non-standard (at least according to modern practice) layout. This was nice, since I could fly with the levers matching the virtual cockpit view for any plane I tried. Although I didn't do it, the GF-TQ6 could also easily be set up to control a three engine or single engine plane, so there's really very few planes that it would not work realistically with.
Modern twins typically have 2 throttle levers, 2 prop pitch and 2 mixture, but the old DC-3 has the throttle in the middle and prop on the left. Maybe the lever colors don't match, but the GF-TQ6 was easily setup to match the DC-3's lever arrangement.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that the throttle works, and works well. With the optional set of extra levers it can be setup to handle the majority of aircraft types accurately, whether flying with 1, 2, 3 or 4 engines. It was a bit stiff for my taste, but that's just a personal feeling, not a fault. Installation and setup are well thought out but it's quite possible that there will be some glitches due to interactions with other products--but I suspect that most potential customers for this product will be experienced flightsimmers who are well able and used to handling such things.The GF-TQ6 is great fun to use and significantly adds to the realism of flying multi-engine aircraft. It's another great addition to the GoFlight product line.
Nels Anderson
webmaster@flightsim.com
GoFlight® USA
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