Joe Lighty

I think what is trying to be achieved here is awesome, and I wish no ill-will to Winwing and the business venture they are trying to get going. But, was anyone really surprised when this didn't take-off on schedule???

Thanks, will have a look!

What's the VR experience like if you have reduced vision in one eye?

Just wanted to share my appreciation for your efforts with your profiles - I'm loving Helios with your FA18 profile. Many thanks, Capt Zeen, and look forward to the update.

Dear AUSTRALIAN DCS Community, **I regret that this is ONLY for sale in Australia - PM for further details if interested. Overseas postage is prohibitively expensive and I don't trust it to have the package arriving safely.** MASSIVE PRICE DROP - NOW FOR SALE - $350 AUD (plus postage) - PayPal or Cash on pickup ONLY. I am selling my rare, beloved and well cared for Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar. This HOTAS is in very good condition - please see the following specs: - as per original with the exception of magneto-resistive sensors replacing the stick gimbal pots https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=220916 - original protective clear film stickers still on the main gold label and the serial number label - all switches, buttons, axis controls are 100% working - comes with spare speedbrake button (and electronic switch) - home made dust covers with "Remove Before Flight" tags (throttle cover fits pretty poorly but works...) - F16 style 3D printed locking collar - grey (never used) https://www.shapeways.com/product/ZGV4GEZ23/locking-nut-f-16-version?optionId=63467229 - some original documents (Quick Install 1 and 2) Included but MAY NOT BE 100% COMPLETE: - Debolestis' 3D printed replacement gimbal with magneto-resistive sensors (seperate to already installed ones - may be missing some screws, but largely intact!) Photo below is as it was when installed - the flight stick has been returned to STANDARD (better IMHO). https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=195464 - magneto-resistive sensor for throttle (never installed) - not sure ALL the required parts are included (eg magnet, mounting, etc...) Missing: - original box - original Installation CD (drivers etc available on-line) - original pots from flight stick (I threw them out...) PICS: Overview - this HOTAS is in excellent condition and has had very little use. Everything works as it should - the stick gimbal is in really great condition - super smooth and the springs return the stick smartly and smoothly to the centre position. The new (only a few months old) magneto-resistive "plug and play" replacements for the stick pots are FANTASTIC - absolutely super smooth, no spikes, EXTREMELY accurate. Best upgrade for the Cougar ever, and the whole thing remains 100% TARGET compatible. For Australian Buyers: I will post this but would prefer local pickup so I can demonstrate the unit to the potential buyer. If postage is necessary, it will be EXTREMELY well packed - Auspost with tracking and signature on delivery - cost to buyer. For sale to interested buyers based in Australia only. There was a Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar (with original pots) on auction on eBay sold for $325 USD ($470 AUD) NOT MY HOTAS - JUST FOR COMPARISON!! See link: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Thrustmaster-HOTAS-Cougar-USB-F-16-Joystick-Flight-Simulator-Stick-and-Throttle/133059875532?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D0caa79ce3f684c7683f0b0a9e6a22104%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26sd%3D183821850378%26itm%3D133059875532&_trksid=p2481888.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A60345a85-80cf-11e9-afe9-74dbd180d300%7Cparentrq%3Afb6cde3516a0ac7298e6209effd007cb%7Ciid%3A1 PLEASE DON'T ASK ME TO SPLIT THIS SALE - SELLING AS A COMPLETE UNIT AT THIS STAGE This HOTAS Cougar is currently located in Eltham, Victoria, Australia. Contact me via PM for more info. Thanks for looking. Joe Lighty.

Thanks for the links, Sokol1_br.

Is there a "how-to" that details the process and the exact OTTO parts required anywhere? Thanks.

Infiltrator - well said and I concur with everything you’ve stated.

I beg to disagree, mdee. Most actual military flight sticks are made of high quality plastic/polymer and feel anything but cheap or like a toy. Also heavy is not what we need on our devices...

I agree wholeheartedly with that sentiment!

It's here: http://www.thrustmaster.com/en_UK/press/fa-18c-hornet-hotas-add-grip-thrustmaster-locks-availability-date Interesting - French page says RRP is 199 Euro - English page says RRP is 179 Euro - bloody expensive either way, I reckon! Edit: Pre-buy page says 199 Euro - IMHO appallingly expensive.

From US service, one would assume... It's a BIG world out there!

High quality polymer plastics are abundantly available to the manufacturing sector and easy to mould/shape accurately, with an incredibly high surface finish. I don't understand why the "proposed" TM grip or the Winwing grip is made of metal - it has the wrong feel, will likely be unnecessarily heavy and I guess is more expensive to manufacture and hence sell. I don't get it but I, for one, would MUCH prefer a quality polymer/plastic grip.

Same, would have preferred it to be a high quality plastic/resin as per real and therefore perhaps be a bit lighter.

Yeah, I agree, Svend. Nothing on Thrustmaster website, too early to call, I say.

Wow!

That's what I thought... I have one "Open for Offer" (in Australia only at this stage) in the For Sale sub-folder: https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=241757

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?t=220916 Hey 1987kess, have you seen this? I've replaced the pots in my Cougar stick with the sensors from rel4y - not going to bother with the throttle as it works perfectly and has had very little use... The magneto-resistive sensors in the stick are AWESOME - extremely accurate and smooth - much better than the original pots. But, I'm still using the original gimbal, which is only ok.

Looks like a RAAF jet?

Yes, I have also just got this all working - very impressed and an awesome way to fly - especially with a touchscreen like the Dell 2418HT! Thanks!

Yep, Mud is correct - they are the latest.

With much thanks to Capt Zeen and BlueFinBima I have had success with Helios and Capt Zeen's FA18C profile. A complete uninstall, including manually deleting any Helios related folders in Documents and Saved Games allowed Helios to be reinstalled and run successfully. My previous issue with DCS not talking to Helios was fixed when I realised I had two folders in Saved Games (DCS and DCS Open Beta) evidently my working DCS (which is actually the Open Beta version) is NOT in the Open Beta folder) - anyway, with the scripts in both, the initial test worked fine. So, working now and whilst I have some additional queries to tweak it to be even better, I'll ask those in the appropriate existing thread for Capt Zeen's FA18C Profile. This really is an awesome setup - thanks to the developers.

Will attempt to get back to square one and start again! Thanks for the advice - I'll report back...

Thanks to both BlueFinBima and Capt Zeen for getting back to me - I'll continue my explorations of Helios in this thread in case it helps other in the future, it's easier to find under the "Open Source Helios" sticky. I'll respond to BlueFinBima initially: I have only just dipped my toe into Helios and have only ever installed 1.4.2019.317. Here's the ControlCenter.log contents: Note - program then crashes (shuts down and closes) with no error messages. Perhaps something funny going on with loading both A10 and F18 interface?? From Capt Zeen Thanks for getting back to me, Capt Zeen. I am trying to install your profile for the FA18C. I did misread an earlier post from BlueFinBima and thought I had to setup the FA18C profile from within Helios Profile Editor. I did that because I believed I'd followed your instructions from your video to the letter and I was still not displaying any output from DCS (this was prior to setting up the MFDs) during the "testing DCS" phase. I realise I have made this difficult for you both to assist me as I've probably ended up with a mishmash of an install that is only half correct. I'm considering trying to completely un-install all Helios related stuff - including Helios directory in Documents and the Script folders in "Saved Games" - and then try a reinstall. My aim is to use Capt Zeen's profile as my starting point - so just trying to get that running at this stage. Before I leap into all of that though, I'll await your response and recommendations. Again, I really appreciate the help. Cheers, Joe

Many thanks for your response, Capt Zeen - I'll continue this discussion in the "Open Source Helios" sticky in the "Home Cockpits" sub forum for continuity. I'll respond to your queries there.