I’ve been using the SIMiONIC G1000 bezels for about 5 months and wanted to share my experience after trying just about every configuration I could think of.
For context, I’m an instrument student in a Part 141 program and regularly train in a Redbird simulator. I’ve also experimented with LCD panels, iPads by themselves, iPads running the SIMiONIC app, iPads with SpaceDesk, VR-only setups, and various combinations of all of the above.
The SIMiONIC bezels are easily the best hardware component in my simulator setup.
What surprised me most was the build quality. Looking at pictures online, I assumed the knobs and buttons would feel somewhat 3D printed or hobby-grade. They don’t. The controls feel like a refined commercial product. The knobs have a solid feel, the buttons provide consistent feedback, and after months of use they still feel as good as the day I received them.
In fact, I prefer the SIMiONIC setup to the Redbird simulators I use at school. That’s not a criticism of Redbird; it’s a compliment to SIMiONIC. The bezels feel more realistic, more responsive, and more enjoyable to use during actual instrument practice.
Another thing worth mentioning is reliability. I’ve used these extensively over the last five months and they’ve simply worked. No constant troubleshooting, no hardware issues, and no concerns about durability.
Li Chen has also been excellent to work with. Communication was professional, questions were answered quickly, and the overall experience felt like dealing with someone who genuinely cares about the product and the customer experience.
If your goal is serious G1000 training rather than just adding another gadget to a flight simulator, I can confidently recommend the SIMiONIC bezels. They’ve become one of the few purchases in my simulator setup that I would buy again without hesitation.
I’ve been using the SIMiONIC G1000 bezels for about 5 months and wanted to share my experience after trying just about every configuration I could think of.
For context, I’m an instrument student in a Part 141 program and regularly train in a Redbird simulator. I’ve also experimented with LCD panels, iPads by themselves, iPads running the SIMiONIC app, iPads with SpaceDesk, VR-only setups, and various combinations of all of the above.
The SIMiONIC bezels are easily the best hardware component in my simulator setup.
What surprised me most was the build quality. Looking at pictures online, I assumed the knobs and buttons would feel somewhat 3D printed or hobby-grade. They don’t. The controls feel like a refined commercial product. The knobs have a solid feel, the buttons provide consistent feedback, and after months of use they still feel as good as the day I received them.
In fact, I prefer the SIMiONIC setup to the Redbird simulators I use at school. That’s not a criticism of Redbird; it’s a compliment to SIMiONIC. The bezels feel more realistic, more responsive, and more enjoyable to use during actual instrument practice.
Another thing worth mentioning is reliability. I’ve used these extensively over the last five months and they’ve simply worked. No constant troubleshooting, no hardware issues, and no concerns about durability.
Li Chen has also been excellent to work with. Communication was professional, questions were answered quickly, and the overall experience felt like dealing with someone who genuinely cares about the product and the customer experience.
If your goal is serious G1000 training rather than just adding another gadget to a flight simulator, I can confidently recommend the SIMiONIC bezels. They’ve become one of the few purchases in my simulator setup that I would buy again without hesitation.
I bought the original set of bezels in April of 2018 and both are still working trouble free. Very happy with my purchase!!