This isn't your average flight stick. Oh no. This is a flight simmer's dream. After doing my due diligence on it, I already expected it to be high quality before I purchased it, but after receiving it, it was evident that that bar was raised even higher. First off, these things are heavy. If you're like me and like your tech to have a bit of heft, then these are for you. Even the UPS guy was like, "What did you order, gym weights?" When I saw they had bolt holes drilled into them I sort of figured they need a permanent mount. Nope! Rest assured, once you put these puppies in place, they're not moving anywhere. You're not just gonna toss these aside when you're done with your aeronautic adventures. And although the wide plate underneath the flight stick takes up a decent amount of space, it prevents any tipping, even in the most chaotic of dogfights. Software Controller It comes with control software that allows you to set up different configurations for use in different applications. So you no longer need to reprogram buttons from one sim to another. You'll have your DCS, MSFS2020, or Star Citizen controls already programmed so you can just load them up and go. The software also gives you the ability to brighten or dim the LEDs on the throttle control. Flight Stick Modeled after the U.S. Air Force's A-10, this stick gives you the sensation of being in control of the actual aircraft. In DCS World, you have 1-to-1 control, so you no longer have to send commands to keys on your keyboard for those extra buttons. You can also purchase a separate stick modeled on the F/A-18. Throttle Control Lights, switches, and LED goodness reside within the box that houses the dual throttle controllers. The controllers have the option of working separately or as a single unit. It also comes with a removeable throttle stopper installed so you don't accidentally shut off your engines mid-flight or bump them into afterburner. It also has a friction controller that allows you to control how much resistance you feel on the throttle. Make it stiff when flying those huge air busses in MSFS2020 or loosen them up for fast response in fighter jets in DCS. Price - $$$ The price stood me off for a long time on these controllers, but once they were within my budget I jumped at the chance. While they won't appreciate in value, I do consider them an investment in my flight sim endeavors because I know I won't need another controller for a long, long time. PROS Well built, precision manufacturing Programmable configurations Heavy and durable CONS Price Takes up a decent amount of space Read more
So when I finally bit the bullet and decided to buy this thing I thought for sure I'd regret it later. I'll admit I still kinda do but the more I used it the more I fell in love with it. My biggest surprise when it finally got to my door was just the pure weight of the thing, I mean both units together weigh nearly 14 pounds. But, if you think of it other then maybe several buttons and the handle part of the throttle it is a complete metal construction so I guess that's to be expected. Personally I really wanted this for all the buttons and mini joysticks which may sound like a waste but how many setups do you know of that have a total of 51 mappable buttons/actions. Now some of you might think that's a bit Overkill but in Elite: Dangerous I'm using all but 9 of those options. Given most of them don't get used a lot but I've found I hardly need to use my keyboard at all anymore. As for using it, it definitely requires some getting used to. I've probably had this for about a month now and still haven't fully mastered it yet. But it does allow for some very precise adjustments in times when that's very important. And really its just a lot of fun to use. Everything moves so smoothly with almost no bumps due to the joystick having a very slight one when in it's upright position. But other then that it definitely makes me feel like I'm flying a real spacecraft/plane. Plus all the toggle switches give a very satisfying click that I just can't seem to get enough of. Now some disadvantages/cons that I've so far encountered with this setup is a lack of yaw (z axis left and right) on the joystick, the amount of USB slots it takes up, and really the weight of it. The lack of yaw isn't really that big of an issue since the throttle does have a mouse hat that I can rebind it to without it acting like a full left to right button press. Of course this could also be fixed by buying some flight pedals but this type of immersion isn't for everyone plus I don't really have the space/setup for it. The USB usage probably isn't that big of a deal for some people but I game on a laptop so losing two slots is a big deal for me. Mostly because two of the four slots mine has are already occupied by my mouse and RGB mousepad. I mean I could go out and buy a USB hub or something to make up for it but then that's more money down the drain. And my last con I've encountered so far is pretty much the weight of it. Yes it's nice cause its very stable and definitely wont move around unless you want it to, but again I game on a laptop while might I add mostly laying on my bed. So whenever I need/have to get up it requires me to move it around a lot. But this is really just a personal issue since I don't have an actual desk/desktop setup yet. Would I recommend this to anyone? Well yes and no. Honestly if you want one of, if not thee best joystick-throttle setup's out there then look no further. But if you still can't get past that heffty price tag then I'm sure you can find something for a much cheaper price, I'll be it a much cheaper feeling one but still. And really this setup is targeted at people that want the best immersion in their games. I mean the joystick can literally be taken off it's mount and used in a real cockpit for crying out loud. Nevertheless this is still a great setup and if you do decide to buy it I can almost guarantee that you won't be disappointed. Read more
