RigorMortis

Thanks for the suggestion. I have an older laser printer sitting in my back room that I never used once I got my all-in-one laser printer. I was going to spend $50 on a new toner but maybe go this route. It would be nice if DCS actually offered a manual for sale. I'd gladly pay $50 for a professionally color printed and bound one like Falcon 4.

Thank you. I did find that X-52 profile link and will give it a whirl. That's 80% of the battle when getting into a new sim, although I frequently like to make my own that way I get familiar with the controls and the stick. I got my X-52 yesterday and I can see how it feels "loose" when centering. A second spring would be nice. Anyone manage to do a mod to add a second spring or make it more rigid? I just can't justify the cost at the moment for the X-52 Pro, although it looks like the best low cost alternative to CH or Thrustmaster setup.' Otherwise a very nice HOTAS. Will have to get into A-10 perhaps this weekend. :D

As it stands it looks great. I guess having a 24" touch screen monitor would be another option but that seems kinda pricey. lol.

If I start to really get into A-10 this may push me into buying an iPad. I invested probably a good $1500+ when I get into Falcon 4 between a projector, CH Products HOTAS, three monitors, and a second PC to drive gauges and other outputs. Great work. Looking forward to see how it develops.

Out of curiosity would this be possible using a regular touchscreen connected to the PC and a background app to drive it? Just thinking of a cheaper alternative. What was that at about 9:00? A web browser in the A-10 display on your iPad? Noticed you had to cross check the monitor to know which button to push. lol. I was just wondering, so you have a webcam and TrackIR fitted to your head?

Put gauges on there too? Nice app, too bad I don't own an iPad. I did an app for Falcon 4 for Palm PDA back in the day, checklists, frequencies, calculators, maps, etc. Makes me want to get back into that stuff again. Just need an iPad.

Yeah reflectors... lol. Freak! Better than the dot on your forehead from early TrackIR's. lol. Although wonder with the Xbox 360 kinect software if that will make its way to PC so no headgear is required.

Thanks guys. Look forward to it then.

Ok, here's my situation. I own a CH Products HOTAS setup with pedals Fighterstick / Pro Throttle / Pro Pedals. I rarely get to my desktop any more, which is in my den, but is set up to use my HOTAS just fine. However, I primarily use my laptop these days, which isn't in a good location for a full HOTAS setup and my kids might get ahold of it too. But really want to be able to play A-10c. So I ordered the standard X-52 from Amazon and will be here tomorrow. The one thing that concerns me is the potential sloppy centering, but most reviews I've read of the X-52 are from 2009 and earlier, so not sure if this has been addressed or not. Maybe there's other things I should be concerned about too. So maybe some testimonials from regular X-52 users good or bad? Thanks.

Thanks a bunch. I tried to give you rep but it didn't let me?

CH is a good option. I own the FighterStick, Pro Throttle, and Pro Pedals for a good six or seven years now. Granted haven't touched it much in the last three. You should be able to get that setup for ~ $300.

That stick looks phenomenal. So it's either a new swingset and sandbox for my boys or daddy gets a new toy... I think my kids win this time around! ;)

Has this become the non-sequiturial thread?

Did I hear ... F/A-18? Super HORNET? (screams with glee like a middle school cheerleader). Golf clap golf clap golf clap.

If I want to fly, it's my only option! Unless I let my kids run amok while I sit in my den.

Yeah I have a TrackIR 4... I invested in the CH Pro HOTAS / Rudder + TrackIR and dumped a good $500+ into that over five years ago, maybe six? Time flies. Thing is I do 90% of my gaming these days on my laptop which sits on my kitchen counter so we'll see how well this works out. TrackIR at least will sit nicely on the top of my LCD. Laptop is plenty powerful enough though: 17" 1080p, Core i7-2720QM, GTX 485m, 16GB DDR3, 120GB Intel X-25M G2 SSD + 750GB 7200RPM HDD. Oh yeah, however @ OP - CONGRATS ON YOUR NEWBORN! Kids are the most challenging simulation of them all!

Yeah, I was just trying to get out cheap, and that won't work. Gonna spring for the X-52! Sheesh, $130 just blew out of my wallet (A-10 + X-52)! lol.

Oh lord, not more gauges! Last time I got into that with Falcon 4 I probably logged in a solid 100 hours over the course of a month... This sim is making me revisit my "childhood" (ok, early 30's, lol).

Hmmm, maybe I'll spring for the X-52 then. I wanted to go cheap, but maybe not a good idea. I have heard of those Saitek's losing center calibration over time and becoming quite sloppy. But it seems to get favorable reviews.

@ OP, great video, thanks. LOL. If any of you have flown aircraft in real life (me only a Cessna 172), that reminded me of a 40+ knot head wind landing I had. Literally stopped in less than 50 feet on a 2500 ft runway.

Thanks for that. I was actually considering the Thrustmaster T-flight for about $50. http://www.amazon.com/Thrustmaster-T-Flight-Hotas-Flight-Game-console/dp/B001CXYMFS But maybe I'll look at the X-52 as well. I just have to consider cheap in case my kids get ahold of it and break it. But if it won't be sufficient for A-10 then not worth buying.

I do too. That was awesome, nothing ever like it that I can recall. Would be marvelous for DCS to do their own "sequel" to Longbow. :D. Matt Wagner was part of that wasn't he? Anyhow, I look forward to getting my hands and feet dirty again. It'll be like it's new all over again since it's been a solid three years at least since I touched Falcon 4.

And Steam auto-updates for this game, right? Not sure if that's a good or bad thing for a sim like this. I think I'll save the $15 (well $13 - stupid tax) and go with Direct2Drive then! Thanks for replies.

QFT! I used to be into sims big time. Can't even tell you total hours logged in between Longbow / Longbow 2, F-15, F/A-18, Falcon 4, IL-2, defintely hundreds and hundreds, maybe even over a thousand. Now I have two little guys and I play mainly FPS and RTS games because I can get in and out in a heartbeat. That being said, I am going to find time for this sim since it's been so long since I've delved into this world. I've found that you make time for things that keep you sane, and enjoy most. :D Although I play mainly on my laptop, and don't have room for my full CH Products HOTAS setup, so am going to have to settle for a throttle stick. :joystick: :doh: Either way won't miss the chance to fly my favorite bird!

A-10C is $45 now at Direct2Drive for the Easter Sale with coupon "bunny". What are the limitations / advantages of this over the direct DCS version or Steam version? If any? Thanks?