Slaw Device Returns: RH Rotor Pedals Rule the Sky – $475

It’s always nice to see an email pop up from Vyacheslav Oziablo, better known as “Slaw”for Slaw Device. An engineer and supplier of high-end flight control pedals for the “crazy enthusiast”market, he is known for producing devices that look less like computer peripherals than shiny metal works of art.

It’s even more exciting when that email promises something new and cool. “After a long hiatus,” wrote Osiablo, “we have continued and completed preparations for the production of RH Rotor steering wheel pedals. At the moment I have several sets of these steering wheel pedals that have only been used for photos and videos.” He offered to send me one of the pre-series models for review, noting that it would have only minor differences from the serial devices.

I immediately agreed, and a couple of weeks later DHL had a heavy box on my porch. It featured Slaw Device’s latest offering: RH Rotor pedals.

RH Rotors

Let’s start with two things: First, these pedals are great. Second, these pedals cost $475.

If you can bear the cost, you will end up with a reliable device that will probably last you ten years or more. Like previous Slaw Device hardware, RH rotors are an interlocking dance of struts and sliding metal plates built around a central roller cam with two different engagement profiles, one with a pronounced central detent and the other smooth. Most of the controller is made of aluminum and powder-coated steel, and it weighs a whopping 7.7kg. It does require a bit of assembly – you’ll need to attach the pedal arms and brake toe struts – but it only takes five minutes maximum, and all the necessary tools are included in the accessory kit.

RH rotors have a wide and long base studded with rubber anti-slip pads; the pedals are designed to be stable and usable on just about any type of floor you might have. They also feature mounting holes if you want to bolt the pedals to the cockpit (or straight to the floor if that’s how you ride).