joystick with damper

[Shadok]

I mostly fly helicopters and I'm thinking of getting the kit with the dampers if I buy a winwing joystick. However, I also fly airplanes from time to time, and I can't imagine dismantling the dampers every time I change aircraft. I'm wondering whether, in terms of feel, flying a plane with dampers and without springs is going to be awkward.

At the moment I'm using a microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2 joystick. Despite the lack of buttons, I'm afraid I'll regret buying a joystick without force feedback.

If you have any info, I'd like to hear from you. Thanks

[MustangSally]

If budget allows, get 2 bases with grips. I have the base bolted to the simrig and just undo the 4 top cap bolts and swap out the stick. I use an Orion2 with dampers only for helicopters and an Orion2 with springs and dampers for F/A-18 and F-15.

 

[Shadok]

Thanks, but I take it from your answer that flying planes with a joystick without a spring is to be avoided.

[MustangSally]

1 hour ago, Shadok said:

Thanks, but I take it from your answer that flying planes with a joystick without a spring is to be avoided.

hmmmm, yes

[firefox121]

En 5/10/2023 a las 20:26, Shadok dijo:

I mostly fly helicopters and I'm thinking of getting the kit with the dampers if I buy a winwing joystick. However, I also fly airplanes from time to time, and I can't imagine dismantling the dampers every time I change aircraft. I'm wondering whether, in terms of feel, flying a plane with dampers and without springs is going to be awkward.

At the moment I'm using a microsoft sidewinder force feedback 2 joystick. Despite the lack of buttons, I'm afraid I'll regret buying a joystick without force feedback.

If you have any info, I'd like to hear from you. Thanks

I use also a winwing orion base for planes and a sidewinder ffb2 for choppers, but I found the sidewinder ffb2 has a grat gooble center zone that makes the precision chopper handle very difficult. I am thinking also to buy a orion 2 only base with the dampers.....as far as I know the stick stays when you left it...

[II.JG1_Vonrd]

I have the Orion 2 base with F16EX grip. I use the dampers (greased with nyogel 767a... makes a huge difference. The dampers can't be adjusted precisely when dry). I don't remove the dampers when switching back to fixed wing, I just loosen the clamping screw so that the dampers aren't applying force and install the heavy spring cams. I use the light springs and just enough force on the dampers to allow the stick to stay in place when heli flying. I also have the 10cm extension. I had to remove the rubber boot since it applies centering force by itself. I just replaced it with stretchy spandex material for dust protection. With this only minimal force on the dampers is needed. I found the light spring cams were necessary, without them too much force was needed on the dampers to stop the stick from flopping off to the sides and pitch.

Using a cordless screwdriver I can do a complete switch on an average of 3 minutes. Only 4 screws hold the stick to the base and 4 screws holding the cams in. 

It makes heli flying a joy especially since I don't have to use the funky "Force Trim" in DCS.

Here's a picture of the spandex.

Edited October 7, 2023 by II.JG1_Vonrd

[eFirehawk]

hi everyone,

I'm coming from a Virpil WarBRD+ Warthog Grip but want to order an Orion 2 kit. The Virpil is really awesome but the extra buttons on the F-16EX are very attractive to me. But can someone please tell me what those dampers are for exactly? And why are they not suitable for fixed wing? Virpil has only springs.

[Shadok]

@eFirehawk

You can look at this video to understand the effect of the dampers with an héli (dampers make the joystick stay in the last position you left it):

 

[MustangSally]

22 hours ago, eFirehawk said:

hi everyone,

I'm coming from a Virpil WarBRD+ Warthog Grip but want to order an Orion 2 kit. The Virpil is really awesome but the extra buttons on the F-16EX are very attractive to me. But can someone please tell me what those dampers are for exactly? And why are they not suitable for fixed wing? Virpil has only springs.

If you fly helo's, the dampers enable you to move the stick to any position and let it stay there (springs aren't fitted). When you fly fixed wing you need springs to recenter but if you fit dampers as well, the spring effect is softened....depending on how tight the dampers are

Edited October 8, 2023 by MustangSally

[PawlaczGMD]

Would you recommend getting the damper kit mostly for jets?  Does it improve the feel of the stick?

I also fly helos, but I'm not sure I can be bothered to disassemble the cams every time, and I don't want to buy another stick just for that.

[MustangSally]

I use dampers for both Helos and jets....read my post above

[PawlaczGMD]

21 minutes ago, MustangSally said:

I use dampers for both Helos and jets....read my post above

I saw that. My question is, is it in your opinion worth paying $70 to get them if you're probably not going to run a dead stick for helos?

[MustangSally]

I run the dampers with springs for jets......helps with  smoothness

I also use Nyogel to lubricate the dampers