Are CH Pro Pedals good for flight simulation? See their strengths, drawbacks, modern PC compatibility and the checks that matter when buying used.
Yes. USB CH Products Pro Pedals are still a good, dependable choice for general PC flight simulation, especially if you value durability and independent toe brakes over premium feel. Their main drawbacks are narrow pedal spacing, a noticeable centre detent, potentiometer-based axes and ageing optional software; the older gameport model should be avoided.
Why do CH Pro Pedals still hold up?
CH Pro Pedals remain useful because their straightforward mechanics provide the three controls most fixed-wing simmers need: a rudder axis and two independent analogue toe-brake axes.
- Durable construction: The plastic housing does not feel luxurious, but the design has a strong reputation for lasting through years of regular use.
- Independent toe brakes: Differential braking makes taxiing, tight turns and crosswind control much easier than using a single keyboard or joystick button.
- Standard USB input: The USB model operates as a conventional PC game controller, so most simulators do not require dedicated aircraft-specific integration.
- Compact footprint: The relatively narrow unit fits beneath desks where wider metal pedals may be impractical.
If you are still deciding whether a separate pedal set adds enough value, our explanation of when rudder pedals materially improve a flight simulator covers fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and taildraggers.
What are the drawbacks of CH Pro Pedals?
The limitations are primarily physical feel and ageing sensor technology rather than basic functionality.
| Characteristic | Practical effect |
|---|---|
| Narrow pedal spacing | Your feet sit closer together than they would in many real aircraft, which can feel cramped during long flights. |
| Sliding pedal action | The fore-and-aft movement works accurately, but it feels less like an aircraft linkage than wider pivoting pedals. |
| Spring centring and detent | The defined centre helps fixed-wing flying but makes tiny corrections less fluid and feels unnatural in helicopters. |
| Potentiometers | Older or heavily used examples can develop jitter, spikes or an unstable centre as the sensors wear or become dirty. |
| Plastic construction | It keeps weight and size down but lacks the rigidity and tactile detail of metal, cam-based designs. |
CH Control Manager is not normally required just to use the USB pedals. Modern simulators can bind the physical axes directly, and the older optional software may add unnecessary complexity on newer Windows installations. Use it only if you specifically need its legacy profiling or device-combining functions.
Which aircraft are CH Pro Pedals best suited to?
They suit conventional fixed-wing flying better than helicopter simulation or applications where pedal geometry and centre feel must closely resemble the real aircraft.
| Aircraft type | Suitability | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| General aviation | Good | Accurate enough for coordinated turns, crosswinds and differential braking. |
| Airliners | Good | They handle runway tracking and taxi steering well, although the spacing is not cockpit-like. |
| Taildraggers | Good | Independent brakes and direct rudder control are a major improvement over a twist grip. |
| Combat aircraft | Serviceable | Functional for yaw and wheel braking, but less refined than newer contactless-sensor pedals. |
| Helicopters | Limited | The stock centring spring and centre detent oppose the smooth, non-centring pedal feel preferred for rotorcraft. |
Will CH Pro Pedals work with modern flight simulators?
The USB version normally works with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024 on PC, X-Plane, Prepar3D, FSX and most other PC simulators, although you may need to create the control assignments manually.
- Connect the pedals directly: Use a motherboard USB port initially rather than an unpowered hub, particularly if the controller disconnects intermittently.
- Check all three axes in Windows: Open the Game Controllers panel with
joy.cpland confirm that the rudder and both toe brakes move independently without spikes. - Assign only the required axes: Bind the rudder, left brake and right brake axes. Remove duplicate yaw bindings from a joystick twist grip, yoke or throttle.
- Check brake direction: If the simulator shows full braking while your feet are off the pedals, reverse or invert each toe-brake axis in the simulator.
- Tune conservatively: Add only enough dead zone to suppress centre jitter. A large dead zone conceals wear but also removes useful precision around neutral.
FSX users can follow our practical FSX rudder and toe-brake assignment procedure. If the controller is missing, erratic or permanently braking, use our USB detection, calibration and axis troubleshooting checklist.
Console compatibility should not be assumed. CH Pro Pedals are PC USB hardware and are not a safe purchase for Xbox or PlayStation flight simulation unless the simulator and console explicitly list them as supported.
What should you check before buying used CH Pro Pedals?
The connector type and sensor condition matter more than cosmetic scuffs when assessing a used set.
- Buy the USB model: Older gameport versions are unsuitable for most modern PCs, and generic gameport-to-USB adapters may not preserve all three analogue axes correctly.
- Test the centre: The rudder indicator should settle in one place rather than flickering or drifting after the pedals are released.
- Test both brakes separately: Each toe brake should move smoothly through its full range without activating the other side.
- Inspect the cable and rails: Intermittent USB connections, cracked housings or sticking pedal tracks can turn a cheap purchase into a repair project.
- Judge the price against newer designs: CH Pro Pedals make sense when appreciably cheaper. At a similar price, wider pedals with contactless sensors and smoother centring are usually the better long-term purchase.
Should you keep or buy CH Pro Pedals?
Keep a working set unless its narrow stance bothers you, the axes have become unstable or you need more realistic helicopter control. Buy one when you want durable PC pedals with toe brakes at a sensible used price; choose a newer contactless-sensor design when smooth centring, wider geometry and reduced sensor wear justify the extra cost.