Rowsfire has been in existence since 2018 and, like so many success stories, was born out of personal necessity: the founder searched in vain for high-quality but affordable hardware for his own A320 home cockpit project. The company is based in Hong Kong, but is led by a Briton and relies on a team distributed all over the world.
In the meantime, the product range has grown considerably and covers almost everything: from G1000 and MFD panels to EFIS, RMP, and ATC units, as well as various overhead panels for Airbus and Boeing.
I must admit that Rowsfire completely passed me by until a few months ago—a real oversight! Therefore, I am all the more pleased that the company kindly provided me with the “Rowsfire A107 A320pro/A320 MAX Light Overhead Panel (OVH)-V3.12” for testing.
Hardware and Haptics
Right from the unboxing, the device impresses with its solid feel. The aluminum housing, combined with the electronic components and the acrylic front, results in a substantial total weight of 1 kg. Given the compact dimensions of 26 × 21 × 3 cm, the overhead panel feels exceptionally high-quality.
The clear acrylic front features white printing and is protected by a film. I haven’t removed it yet, but I assume that it will become unsightly or peel off over time—at which point it should be removed.
Due to the compact, rectangular design, the layout of the controls on this overhead panel takes some getting used to at first, but overall it poses no obstacle to operation. On the back, you will find the USB port and four VESA mounting holes. An alternative bracket, for example for use on a desk, is not included and is apparently not intended by the manufacturer.
Commissioning
There were some small hurdles during commissioning: the included manual mentions a “Rowsfire App,” which however does not yet seem to be available for this model. After installation, the software was unable to find the device. Therefore, I fell back on the second option: MobiFlight. My last experience with it was years ago—back in the early days of MSFS 2020, it offered far more freedom for peripherals than the simulator itself—but compared to today’s plug-and-play competition, this manual route feels almost like a little trip back in time.
In the process, I discovered that MobiFlight has since advanced through many versions and has changed significantly in terms of both appearance and functionality. A certain learning curve was therefore unavoidable. To make matters worse, the enclosed instructions from Rowsfire were not very helpful here. It took me some time to find the correct download sources for the files. I was particularly surprised to find that the device first had to be flashed with the appropriate firmware via MobiFlight—I had incorrectly assumed that the panel would be delivered ready for use from the factory.
Only when I came across a blog article by the manufacturer did I realize the hidden cause for the connection problems: software conflicts. For the firmware to be successfully flashed via MobiFlight, background apps from other hardware manufacturers must be completely closed. In my case, competing programs blocked access to the device. Only after closing these apps could the firmware finally be installed. (https://rowsfire.com/blogs/product/when-the-rowsfire-a107-v3-won-t-connect-a-real-case-revealing-the-hidden-cause)
After the successful firmware installation, the rest of the process was straightforward. Using the official project file provided by Rowsfire, the panel was quickly integrated and put into operation via MobiFlight. Fortunately, the software conflict is limited only to the flashing process: during regular operation, the driver apps of other devices can run alongside MobiFlight without affecting the hardware peripherals. This is the current state at the time of writing; once Rowsfire’s own app supports this version 3.1, the process will certainly be much easier.
Flight Operations
The haptics of the overhead panel underline its robust construction: the push buttons are generously dimensioned and offer a pleasant resistance that prevents accidental activation. In pleasant contrast are the metal toggle switches, which, despite their sturdy design, react very smoothly and precisely. A small drop of bitterness is the finish of the rotary switches, which—as seen in the photos—is not 100% perfect. However, these are minor details that have no influence on the device’s function.
I noticed a strange behavior regarding the power logic: Even when the APU was already running and providing power, switching off the External Power caused the entire backlighting of the panel to go dark (see video). This appears to be a bug that will hopefully be ironed out in a future update.
For my test, I used MSFS 2024 in combination with the Fenix A320 as usual. According to the manufacturer, the panel is also fully compatible with the FlyByWire A320, with the corresponding MobiFlight configuration files provided. For the Inibuilds A350, partial compatibility is offered, while for the FSLabs A320, no support is explicitly provided.
The price of this overhead panel is listed in the manufacturer’s shop at USD $379.99, including shipping.
A Vital Practical Tip: The “Cold & Dark” Check
A crucial point when using external overhead panels is the synchronization between the physical panel and the simulator. I found—and this applies to this panel as well as products from other manufacturers—that you should absolutely put the aircraft into a Cold & Dark state using the hardware panel at the end of a session!
If you simply end the simulation while switches on the panel (e.g., for the battery or lights) are still active, you will encounter a problem during the next Cold & Dark start: the software starts in the cold state, but the physical switches on the panel are still set to “On.” This discrepancy means that the switch positions do not match the virtual cockpit. Consistent “power-down” via the overhead at the end of every flight is therefore mandatory for a smooth experience.
What to do in case of asynchronous switch positions?
Should it happen that the switches on the panel do not match the state in the simulator, a manual alignment is the only solution: before switching on the battery in the simulator, physically move all switches on the panel one by one to the correct position (usually everything to “Off” or “Auto”). Only when the hardware and the virtual cockpit “speak the same language” again is a smooth startup without error messages possible.
Conclusion
The overhead panel itself is mainly operated in practice at the beginning and end of every flight, and it is my observation that once you have one, you no longer want to be without it. This is also the case here.
Looking at the overall package, the Rowsfire A107 V3.12 is a real statement in terms of material quality. For a price of USD $379.99 incl. shipping, you get a real aluminum housing that immediately impresses with its massive feel and weight of one kilogram. The mechanical feedback of the pushbuttons and toggle switches is excellent and conveys exactly the robust feeling one seeks in a virtual cockpit. Even if the finish of the rotary switches has slight optical flaws, this does not affect its solid function in any way.
A significant disadvantage for users without a fixed rig, however, is the limited mounting options: the panel is intended exclusively for operation on a VESA mount. Since no desk mount is included or intended from the factory, desktop pilots will have to resort to their own DIY solutions.
Furthermore, commissioning remains the biggest hurdle at present. Anyone expecting a pure plug-and-play solution will be disappointed: the dependence on MobiFlight, the insufficient documentation, and the necessary workarounds for software conflicts require patience. This is where the greatest potential for the future lies, should the announced proprietary app simplify the setup.
My Verdict: If you have a VESA mount and are willing to invest the time in a one-time, somewhat tricky configuration, you get a haptically first-class overhead panel at a very fair price. It noticeably enhances flight operations in the Fenix A320 and is a clear recommendation for sim pilots who value high-quality materials and a compact design.
Manufacturer Website: https://rowsfire.com/
Order Page: https://rowsfire.com/products/rowsfire-a107-a320pro-a320-max-light-overhead-panel-ovh-presale
