Any joysticks/hotas out there?

[Sheldor]

After a very long time away from flight sims (and pc games in general) I have gotten back into it. When I say a long time away I mean a LONG time...like almost 20 years.

 

A good friend of mine got me introduced to DCS and I was hooked. Finally was able to get the wife to let me get a new PC (yes, I know). Downloaded DCS, broke out my almost 20 year old Logitech Extreme Pro 3d and jumped in. Well, soon discovered that some of the buttons no longer work. No huge deal. I also found that the analog whatevers are totally unstable. The plane jumps around all over the place. It's impossible to even fly straight and level. So, I figured it's time to upgrade. After a lot of research, I decided that my budget would allow for a nice T16000m & throttle. So I go looking around the internet. There are none to be found...anywhere. The few that are available people have jacked the prices up to a ridiculous level.

 

I was wondering if anyone here either 1) knows where I can get one at a reasonable price or 2), has one that they upgraded from and is willing to sell it.

 

Thanks.

[Yurgon]

Can't offer anything in that regard, sorry.

 

Just a bit of explanation: With the recent release of a well known civilian flight sim, the market seems almost swept clean of used sticks (and throttles, pedals, HOTAS and everything of that kind), or the prices have gone through the roof.

 

But I'm sure many DCS pilots have old gear stashed that they don't use anymore, hopefully you'll be contacted soon by a fellow simmer who's willing to part with it for a reasonable price. :thumbup:

 

Might still be a good idea to check ebay, or maybe keep your eyes on more local advertisements, e.g. Craigslist, where there's a chance that people haven't caught up with the price surge.

[Thinder]

After a very long time away from flight sims (and pc games in general) I have gotten back into it. When I say a long time away I mean a LONG time...like almost 20 years.

 

A good friend of mine got me introduced to DCS and I was hooked. Finally was able to get the wife to let me get a new PC (yes, I know). Downloaded DCS, broke out my almost 20 year old Logitech Extreme Pro 3d and jumped in. Well, soon discovered that some of the buttons no longer work. No huge deal. I also found that the analog whatevers are totally unstable. The plane jumps around all over the place. It's impossible to even fly straight and level. So, I figured it's time to upgrade. After a lot of research, I decided that my budget would allow for a nice T16000m & throttle. So I go looking around the internet. There are none to be found...anywhere. The few that are available people have jacked the prices up to a ridiculous level.

 

I was wondering if anyone here either 1) knows where I can get one at a reasonable price or 2), has one that they upgraded from and is willing to sell it.

 

Thanks.

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/thrustmaster-t16000m-fcs-hotas-joystick-twcs-throttle-smart-rails-16-action-buttons-trigger-ergonomi?gclid=Cj0KCQjwv7L6BRDxARIsAGj-34oLArWgQBVw5dev4VxoFIIa4tHJfPPm4eS7egmn7fLkcAEr2Ylo3vEaAn4gEALw_wcB

 

 

This <> the price I paid for mine but frankly, in the future I will swap the Joystick for a Thrusmaster HOTAS Magnetic Base and a F/A-18C Hornet™ HOTAS Add-On Grip.

 

I'm very happy with the throttle but playing the stick, I find its spring too stiff and I topple it over very easily, more to it, it lacks functionality.

 

I already contacted Thrustmaster Support who were positive about the compatibility of the two...

 

 

Here is a topic where people can compare their experience with this HOTAS.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=4473114#post4473114

 

 

......

[erniedaoage]

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/thrustmaster-t16000m-fcs-hotas-joystick-twcs-throttle-smart-rails-16-action-buttons-trigger-ergonomi?gclid=Cj0KCQjwv7L6BRDxARIsAGj-34oLArWgQBVw5dev4VxoFIIa4tHJfPPm4eS7egmn7fLkcAEr2Ylo3vEaAn4gEALw_wcB

 

 

This <> the price I paid for mine but frankly, in the future I will swap the Joystick for a Thrusmaster HOTAS Magnetic Base and a F/A-18C Hornet™ HOTAS Add-On Grip.

 

I'm very happy with the throttle but playing the stick, I find its spring too stiff and I topple it over very easily, more to it, it lacks functionality.

 

I already contacted Thrustmaster Support who were positive about the compatibility of the two...

 

 

Here is a topic where people can compare their experience with this HOTAS.

 

https://forums.eagle.ru/showthread.php?p=4473114#post4473114

 

 

......

 

You could tweak the spring on the t-16000 with 2 zipties from a mod i found on youtube. First vid shows the difference, second vid shows how to do it. Did it on mine before i got my old ffb2 going again, even choppers were much better to handle with the softer spring.

 

[Thinder]

You could tweak the spring on the t-16000 with 2 zipties from a mod i found on youtube. First vid shows the difference, second vid shows how to do it. Did it on mine before i got my old ffb2 going again, even choppers were much better to handle with the softer spring.

 

 

 

:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

[Rick50]

Also, along with the spring mod, you could seriously consider mounting the stick and throttle to a wooden base, to increase stability. While not unique among quality flightsticks, the T16000m does include screw holes to mount it solidly... check this vid where the guy walks you through it:

 

 

Sheldor, basically you just started looking at the most chaotic time in flight sim history, where demand for sticks and HOTAS has climbed a lot in the last year, thanks to new DCS modules like the Hornet, Viper, and upcomming projects... boosted by varus lockdown... and then kicked into afterburner with simheads rushing to a certain civilian flight simulation that got released two weeks ago...

 

... and then launched on the catapult by the "gamer community" suddenly rushing to that same civie flight sim because they added game-oriented features to it too!

 

So yea... I'm not surprised that retail has few sticks in stocks! That will change, over time, demand will grow I think, but it'll even out, production will either increase, competition will increase, and maybe we'll also see lower and mid-range products improve in quality and durability.

 

Also, the T.16000m series has been around for some time, at least the stick has. And as a result there are many youtubes that feature maintenance teardowns, mods and modest upgrades. The HOTAS throttle for it is a little "sticky", in that while it's light to move, it's stickyness is such that it's tough to make tiny precise throttle adjustments... so you can take off the bottom plate, adjust the tension lighter or tighter, and then put a different grease/lubricant on the sliding rails. The lubricant considered "best" is Nyogel 767 for a variety of good reasons, but the downside is it's not easy to find in any quantities and really quite expensive for what it is. But whatever grease you use, make sure it's plastic-compatible, as many such greases are not, and may damage your hardware.

[Thinder]

Also, along with the spring mod, you could seriously consider mounting the stick and throttle to a wooden base, to increase stability. While not unique among quality flightsticks, the T16000m does include screw holes to mount it solidly... check this vid where the guy walks you through it:

 

 

Sheldor, basically you just started looking at the most chaotic time in flight sim history, where demand for sticks and HOTAS has climbed a lot in the last year, thanks to new DCS modules like the Hornet, Viper, and upcomming projects... boosted by varus lockdown... and then kicked into afterburner with simheads rushing to a certain civilian flight simulation that got released two weeks ago...

 

... and then launched on the catapult by the "gamer community" suddenly rushing to that same civie flight sim because they added game-oriented features to it too!

 

So yea... I'm not surprised that retail has few sticks in stocks! That will change, over time, demand will grow I think, but it'll even out, production will either increase, competition will increase, and maybe we'll also see lower and mid-range products improve in quality and durability.

 

Also, the T.16000m series has been around for some time, at least the stick has. And as a result there are many youtubes that feature maintenance teardowns, mods and modest upgrades. The HOTAS throttle for it is a little "sticky", in that while it's light to move, it's stickyness is such that it's tough to make tiny precise throttle adjustments... so you can take off the bottom plate, adjust the tension lighter or tighter, and then put a different grease/lubricant on the sliding rails. The lubricant considered "best" is Nyogel 767 for a variety of good reasons, but the downside is it's not easy to find in any quantities and really quite expensive for what it is. But whatever grease you use, make sure it's plastic-compatible, as many such greases are not, and may damage your hardware.

 

 

Just done the spring mod, I haven't flight-tested it yet but it feels a lot more manageable.

 

 

 

Thanks!

[Rick50]

Casmo made an extension for his stick and made a vidjeo of it!

 

Looks like it would be great for helicopters, old birds like the WW1 kites, and probably also good for air to air refueling too, maybe formation flying??? I dunno, but looks to be worth a try!

 

joystick extension (Thrustmaster T16000M)

[S. Low]

VKBcontrollers are like $400 for just the stick. Lol. Guess I gotta go be poor somewhere else! Equipment upgrades not happening anytime soon with the mid-range market obliterated.

[Bob_Bushman]

Yeah just have some patience, stocks well recover.

 

T16000 series that you have set your eyes on is indeed the one I'd recommend.

 

It's the best out there, for the price. And the only next step device or there is the warthog at 3-4x the price.

 

Then you have your Virpil and vkb's at twice that again.

And with their availability you would likely have to wait three months or more. Under normal market circumstances.

[S. Low]

Yeah just have some patience, stocks well recover.

 

T16000 series that you have set your eyes on is indeed the one I'd recommend.

 

It's the best out there, for the price. And the only next step device or there is the warthog at 3-4x the price.

 

Then you have your Virpil and vkb's at twice that again.

And with their availability you would likely have to wait three months or more. Under normal market circumstances.

 

Wouldn't the Saitek X56 Rhino be the "next step" from the T16000M? It's $200 (under normal conditions) for the HOTAS. Warthog is $450-500 for the HOTAS. $250 for the stick.

[WRCRob]

@Sheldor, I have a T16000M stick that I am not using since i upgraded to a Warthog. Its only the stick so you would have to get a hotas throttle to complete the set. PM me if you are interested, its really just taking up space so I can let it go for a very reasonable price.