Zulu111

As I begin my journey into DCS World I want to try a Beginners joystick to get to know what I want before I invest in a more costly HOTAS. I have received many suggestions to look at the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick as a choice. I did look at the online videos and generally they seem very positive. Be that as it may I wanted to ask if anyone here has used this joystick and if so how was the experience? I presume at this price point the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick doesn't have advanced features like magnetic sensors, high durability, etc but at the same time I would hope that it won't break apart in a few months. What say you please? Is there any issues I should be aware of?

I have seen comments that both the VKB and VirPil products are hard to buy and subject to long wait times for delivery. I even heard VirPil doesn't even have a North American based distributor. Is all this true?

Thank you for the reminder. Yes, I guess I will have to go "whole hog" and get the Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS plus rudders.

Hmmm, no point in resisting the inevitable ... Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS it is over the Gladiator Mk II or TM T.16000M.

One review I saw about the Gladiator Mk II seemed to indicate that it uses "contactless" sensors for the X, Y, and Z axis's. This goes a long way toward improving durability and movement control. Isn't this a very big selling point for the Gladiator Mk II?

Thank you for the assessment! I am pleased that your choice to upgrade to the Warthog is motivated more by an usability issue versus a technical failing with the T.16000M.

I too have been eyeing the TM Warthog HOTAS kit but at the moment I can't seem to find anyone with them in stock without paying a "premium" price. I also want to make sure I am fully committed to play the flight sim long term before I drop down $500+ for a HOTAS system. Thanks.

Is there a reason why you abandoned the T.16000M in favor of the Warthog?

Thank you for the update. If I got pedals I presume I could significantly reduce the need to twist the T.16000M joystick and therefore minimize the occurrence of this problem?

As a beginner to DCS I was thinking to buy a TM T.16000m FCS HOTAS package to start with. This accessory reviews well yet I keep seeing comments that the joystick has a durability problem and they tend to break down quickly. Is this true?

I have read comments about the TM T.16000M joystick breaking after only a few months of use. Weak gimbal joint?

I wanted to ask if the VKB Gladiator Mk II joystick is sufficient as a starting joystick to get flying in DCS. It seems to be a quality joystick that has all the basic flight controls and doesn't cost too much. I discovered the Gladiator Mk II while browsing through some X-Plane material and it seems to be rated well. Thanks.

Thanks for the feedback. If I am running the TH Warthog HOTAS without the pedals does that mean I should assign the rudder control to the HOTAS or does the DCS software have an option to auto-coordinate rudder control for me?

Hi Folks, I am just beginning my journey into playing DCS and I wanted the benefit of your advice please. PC wise I meet or exceed the recommended hardware to run DCS so my next focus is on the aircraft accessories to run the sim. As luck would have it I have access to an used but fully functional Thrustmaster Warthog HOTAS setup but the package doesn't include any pedals. Could I actually fly the DCS A-10c or F-18 with just the Warthog HOTAS and no pedals? Are there any other DCS aircraft I could fly without pedals? I understand that the experience might not be so complete without the pedals but if I could just get airborne for now that would be useful to help gain flying experience in the meanwhile. I also saw that the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS HOTAS joystick has a twist function that can be used to control rudder action in lieu of pedals. Does anyone use this joystick in that manner? Let me thank you in advance for any feedback.