Force Feedback Can Be Dangerous

[NeoMorph]

While looking for bits and pieces that I can use for my current cockpit project I found my old MS Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 joystick that I used for Combat Flight Simulator. It was originally modded so that I could fit it to the floor of my cockpit and then the joystick outer part was removed, the wires extended and a piece of copper pipe slotted over the inner pipe and fastened down. The extension then got bent slightly and then another piece inserted to get the top of the pipe to match the old inner part of the joystick so that I could fit the old joystick outer part again.

Now all was going great. It was fitted and then I was flying with what felt like a real floor mounted flight stick. The thing really made you feel like you could feel the wind buffetting the control surfaces.

Anyway, the next time I went to have a go I sat in the pilot's seat and booted up the PC, completely forgetting there is this initial glitch  when the force feedback kicks in. I had disabled the sensor that only caused the force feedback to kick in when it detected your hand on the stick (BIG mistake there) so the system decided it would push the stick forward and then backwards REALLY, REALLY FAST.

*THUD*

I then said... "OUCH!" as the stick hit me in the... ahem. Put it this way, it brought tears to my eyes. Oh and I didn't say "OUCH!" exactly.

So, boys and girls, the lesson for today is DON'T DISABLE THE SAFETY FEATURE ON MODDED FORCE FEEDBACK JOYSTICKS. They are there for a reason.

I'd completely forgotten about the force feedback cockpit I had made... I think I used to use it for the F22 sim along with several PC DASH 2 boards and a 19" monitor (even found the monitor). I'm such a packrat that I never throw stuff away if I think it might come in useful.