F-16 throttle handles - 1st impressions

[rob10]

Haven't had a lot of time to play with it, but so far only a few minor niggles with it so far.  Note that I only have the throttle grips, not the joystick grip, since I use it with the Warthog A-10/F-16 grip on a WarBRD base.

Setup is relatively easy, but a 2nd set of hands would be helpful attaching the frame 1st time.  If you attach the frame you will need to remove the vertical frame to use the F-18 throttle grips (they are wider to the left than the F-16).  The F-18 built in detents line up pretty well with the F-16 ones in my experience (at least I don't notice them separately to the F-16 frame detents).

Buttons generally work as advertised and are good.  Positioning on most are nice (esp COMMS/SPD BRK/DOGFGT).  The slew button seems off when calibrating (hard to get the angles for straight up/down, left/right accurate), but in actual usage it's easy to adjust since you can see where your cursor is moving.  Like the F-18, it's easy to press the slew button without causing it to slew.  I do find the front of the top/bottom guards that come up 1/2 way on the speed brake button are pretty sharp.  The Man rng/uncage seems like it should be awkward, but it's actually not bad.  The ring on it is really the only disappointment -- it works well in that moving it sends a button press without a lot of movement, but you then have to keep going a fair ways after that before it clicks then goes to next push.  It is very consistent and won't send multiple presses or anything, just seems like it shouldn't need to be turned quite so far between clicks.  Haven't tried the radar elevation in DCS yet, but it's very precise/works well as when used as an axis in the other F-16 sim.   The 2 buttons on the underside work well, but are nearly flat to the face so not super easy to find (I'd prefer them to stick out slightly to make them easier to find).

The handle sticks out about 2" over the right side of the base.  But overall the handle and the frame both are smalller/better proportioned in real life than they might appear in pictures.  Front left switches on the base are a bit harder to use at MIL or A/B because the grip is more in the way.

If you want to swap back and forth with the F-18 grips you're probably 5-10 mins to swap them.  The frame needs to come off (F-18 grips will hit it) and 3 screws in each of the 2 levers and 1 bolt to hold them together for the F-16 grip.

As I said of the top, only a few minor niggles with it so far, overall I'm happy with it.

[Ala12Rv-Tundra]

I have to admit it´s tempting, despite me being completely happy with my upgraded Cougar throttle!

[Silver_]

I also have this throttle  but is costing me the same life to create a curve so that the radar cursors go fine for the maverick, it is impossible for me to hook a tank (a small dot) with enough precision to acquire it. I've heard on several forums that DCS should fix this but in the meantime, how do you guys have the radar cursor programmed?

Edited February 2, 2023 by Silver_

[Scott-S6]

On 2/2/2023 at 4:46 PM, Silver_ said:

I also have this throttle  but is costing me the same life to create a curve so that the radar cursors go fine for the maverick, it is impossible for me to hook a tank (a small dot) with enough precision to acquire it. I've heard on several forums that DCS should fix this but in the meantime, how do you guys have the radar cursor programmed?

 

The problem is that if you get the curves set up for the maverick then the tgp is unusable (too slow) Make sure your mavericks are calibrated, use the tgp to acquire the tank and handoff to the maverick. Even after they fix the maverick slewing this will still be easier because the targeting pod has better optics.