Flight controller alternatives

[Viper_2020]

Hello,

 

I had a TM FLCS & TQS in past followed by the old TM Hotas.

I was no friend of Target SW and sold my stuff after fading out from Falcon AF years ago.

 

Beside that current price tags seems pretty high, what are modern alternatives below 300 EUR.

I found Logitech X56, but also already some years on the market and could not find any alternative.

 

Edit: As DCS has nice helicopters also, gearing would be great (I understood X56 has this in Stick by turning right?)

 

Would be great if you have any ideas on alternatives... Thanks

[Gianky]

Hi, Viper_2020!

 

For the price range you're describing, I'd say the only viable alternative for a full hotas system is TM T.16000M flight pack:

 

https://www.thrustmaster.com/en_US/p...cs-flight-pack

 

I've been using it for three years and it's only recently showed some sign of wear (the ministick on the throttle is spiking a bit, so it is the pitch axis), considering I was lucky enough to buy it on Amazon at € 165, I'm pretty happy with it; prices are higher now, but it's still well below € 300. It has enough buttons to map every aircraft controller on it (I like to map on the HOTAS only the controls that are on the real aircraft HOTAS), at most, you'll need just a button as modifier; it uses the same Hall effect sensors that are on the Warthog and allows a precise enough control of the aircraft (at least for my clumsy flying) and you don't really need Target with DCS, you can map everything from the game. The only downside I can see: I don't fly a lot on choppers (I have only the UH-1H and bought it recently, didn't fly it much), but for those aircraft I think this stick might not be the best, since the spring will force you to push or pull on it constantly to fly and it won't allow you to be precise (eg to keep the stick in a certain position, you'll have to constantly exert a force on it and, after a while, your hand will begin to tire and the flying will become wobbly).

 

Hope this helps, see you!

 

EDIT: One last thing, keep in mind that the pack is composed by controllers that are usually sold separately or in other bundles, so you can even choose to buy just the stick and throttle and so on.

[KittyVCAW-1]

I second that I own it as well. 2 years in and no issues. That TARGET software got deleted 5 minutes after I installed it. My one gripe is no pinky trigger. If it had that Id never buy another stick again if I could avoid it. For $60 the throttle is great. Really precise and modeled nearly exactly like the hornet. I didn't like the feel of it at first out of the box. It was really grabby and kinda hard to move it without sliding it around. There is a rudimentary tension adjustment I loosened up and slapped some graphite powder up in there and she feels real nice now. I bought the whole flight pack, I think it was like $350 or so. The T160000M stick has a slider on the base you can use as a throttle control and it twists too for rudder control. Honestly you could just buy the stick and have everything you need to fly. The only alternative to this set up is the Warthog or something from VIRPIL IMO and then we're talking $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[draconus]

There is also Saitek/Logitech X series between T16000 and TMWH. I own T16000 and would like to try something better in terms of quality, precision and more jet-realistic stick but there's no way I would pay the Warthog price. I'm fine with my choice for the moment.

[Baco]

The T16000 has one amazing feature: it is a Hall base stick, so its precision is unmatched except by Virpil/Warthog/Vkb... on the budget line. there is nothing that can compeate with the 16000 series. its only drawback is lack of HATs...And the whole package - Pedals, Throttle and stick is really excellent for the price... No doubt about it.

 

Me personaly Now I use a mix and match jajaja. I started with T160000 series. Then replaced the throttle with an older X56 one (I wanted separate engine controle) , and I recently got a used Virpil T-50...

 

But to answer the OP: not much really, on a budget line you have pretty much the X56 or the T-16000 series... the first has more buttons and hats, the second unparalleled precision.

Edited November 11, 2020 by Baco

[qbcat]

One great joystick is VKB Gladiatro NXT Premium . Pro quality materials and really affordable and precise, 150 bucks for it, if you find the older model Gladiator MKII it could costs 80 $ ....