Phantom E HOTAS similarities to Tomcat

[markturner1960]

Hi, I just ordered a Virpil VFX https://virpil-controls.eu/vpc-v-f-x-grip.html  as I am flying the Tomcat a lot now.....Eagerly awaiting the Phantom and I wondered how similar the joystick are to each other......

[RevampedGrunt]

Well they are definitely different. The century series stick has I think 3 buttons, the trigger, and the trim switch. It's very basic, at least compared to the F-14 stick. 

[markturner1960]

Well I would rather have spare buttons for the F4 than not enough, so that sounds promising......is there a graphic anywhere of the HOTAS functions for the F4? Thank you! 

[KlarSnow]

B-8 grip is what the F-4E has.

Trigger for air to air, pickle button for bombs, AAR button for uncaging missiles and disconnecting from AAR, Trim hat, nose wheel steering button, and an autopilot disconnect lever.

Thats it for the stick grip.

[markturner1960]

Thanks, I reckon the Virpil grip will be almost perfect then, similar enough size and layout to use for both. Its actually also very similar to the F5 which I fly a lot as well....

Edited January 10, 2023 by markturner1960

[_BringTheReign_]

If you'd like to build a B-8 grip, there are free plans here: 

 

[G.J.S]

HOTAS and Phantom in the same sentence???? 

[RaceFuel85]

FWIW, the Virpil WarBRD base grip is the same stick from the F-4, F-86, F-5, etc. 

[LanceCriminal86]

2 hours ago, RaceFuel85 said:

FWIW, the Virpil WarBRD base grip is the same stick from the F-4, F-86, F-5, etc. 

If you check the thread above it actually isn't, it's a stick from an MI-8? apparently, which itself looks like someone saw a B-8 and then went home to make their own.

I've got a Virpil F-14 and love their base/extension, and was originally planning the Warbrd stick myself, but after seeing the thread about a printed one I'm strongly considering that instead.

[RaceFuel85]

1 minute ago, LanceCriminal86 said:

If you check the thread above it actually isn't, it's a stick from an MI-8? apparently, which itself looks like someone saw a B-8 and then went home to make their own.

I've got a Virpil F-14 and love their base/extension, and was originally planning the Warbrd stick myself, but after seeing the thread about a printed one I'm strongly considering that instead.

 
The sticks are largely the same, the only major difference being a rocker in one position instead of a push button. 

 

[_BringTheReign_]

8 minutes ago, RaceFuel85 said:

The sticks are largely the same, the only major difference being a rocker in one position instead of a push button. 

I recommend the Virpil/VKB/Thrustmaster grips to anyone looking for a great long term investment with actual support and and a low/no hassle setup! I personally love my Virpil gear, and I am not sponsored by them in any way, just a happy customer. 

That being said, the Virpil grip is simply not based on a B-8 or MC-2 - it's based on an Mi-24 helicopter cyclic. 

For most people, that won't matter at all, which is totally fine! It's got the right looking buttons on roughly the right shape in roughly the right place.. for 90% of people that's good enough. 

For that last 10%, there are DIY options available for creating an actually accurate replica.

 

I go over this debate in detail in this video, for those who are interested: 

 

[Dragon1-1]

The nice thing about the B-8 is that you can use it for everything from the US side, from the end of WWII to the end of Vietnam. Literally, this was the standard stick grip for all US aircraft before the Tomcat came in and shook things up. Even our F-5, with a 3-way hat on the thumbrest, is a post-'Nam version, the A model only had a button.

I think the throttle is similar to the F-14, a comms hat, a speedbrake switch, a pinky switch (likely for the lights, like in every other US aircraft), two buttons I'm not sure what they do, and a 3rd switch on the thumb side that is probably the "dogfight mode" switch used to simplify the air to air switchology on the later Phantoms.

[RaceFuel85]

5 minutes ago, Dragon1-1 said:

The nice thing about the B-8 is that you can use it for everything from the US side, from the end of WWII to the end of Vietnam. Literally, this was the standard stick grip for all US aircraft before the Tomcat came in and shook things up. Even our F-5, with a 3-way hat on the thumbrest, is a post-'Nam version, the A model only had a button.

I think the throttle is similar to the F-14, a comms hat, a speedbrake switch, a pinky switch (likely for the lights, like in every other US aircraft), two buttons I'm not sure what they do, and a 3rd switch on the thumb side that is probably the "dogfight mode" switch used to simplify the air to air switchology on the later Phantoms.

 Beyond Vietnam even, the F-15A/C used it until the very very late 80's and into the early 90's

 

[RevampedGrunt]

14 minutes ago, RaceFuel85 said:

 Beyond Vietnam even, the F-15A/C used it until the very very late 80's and into the early 90's

 

Didn't the A-10 also use it initially? 

[RaceFuel85]

3 minutes ago, RevampedGrunt said:

Didn't the A-10 also use it initially? 

 It did 

[Dragon1-1]

I think some helos use it to this day, it's just not the only game in town anymore, like it used to be for a mighty big chunk of US aviation history. Given how nice the Hornet stick (a very close B8 derivative) feels in my hand, I'm not surprised it lasted that long. It's a very ergonomic design, there's no use changing something that works perfectly well.

[Stackup]

Another place I've noticed the B-8 is the back seat of the F-15E

[RaceFuel85]

19 minutes ago, Stackup said:

Another place I've noticed the B-8 is the back seat of the F-15E

Yes, and it stayed in the back seat of the F-15D as well even after the front seat got the Hornet style stick

[markturner1960]

Interesting discussion - however, at the extremely low price of approx £150, I would far rather buy the Virpil grip I linked and not have the hassle of making one, which when finished, wont have anything like the quality or feel of the Virpil item and probably cost about the same by the time I have brought all the parts etc.......just saying.