Should I upgrade my HOTAS?

[SFDonovan]

Getting back into flight sims after a lengthy absence.  I had the old  IL-2 Sturmovik GOLD Forgotten Battles pack.   My 15-year-old Saitek X45 HOTAS has seen better days, but still works....(kinda).  I can't get the throttle mapped right.  It mapped but it's backwards so pushing forward actually brings engine RPM to 0%.  The spring on the joystick seems mushy.  Anyhow.  How much time have you spent tuning your key mappings?  At want point do you say it's not the mappings but the hardware?   If I was to upgrade to something better with a $200 budget, what would ya'll reccomend?

 

I'm thinking of the Thrustmaster T16000M FCS Flight Pack.   Are rudder pedals a worthwhile addition?

[Sokol1]

You can invert throttle axis (or any axis) in game controls  - click in that curved arrow ahead axis name until became highlight.

 

Anyway in your budget the options is this T.16000M FCS Flight Pack (very good price in Amazon.com - 180$)

 

Or without rudder pedals:

 

VKB Gladiator* Mk.II $99  + Thrustmaster TWCS throttle ~ $80  -  (rudder on stick twist or throttle paddles).

 

CH Combatstick  (better than Fighterstick for WWII due more two press buttons instead HAT corners) ~ $94 + Thrustmaster TWCS throttle~ $80 - TWCS has rudder control on paddles ahead throttle grip.

 

Saitek X-52 - rudder on twist.

 

Actual Saitek's has many QC issues, better avoid this brand for now.

 

* This is subjective, but probable the Gladiator will be the best tool for WWII games main purpose: put the gunsight piper over the bandit. 

Edited July 5, 2017 by Sokol1

[Thad]

 

Getting back into flight sims after a lengthy absence.  I had the old  IL-2 Sturmovik GOLD Forgotten Battles pack.   My 15-year-old Saitek X45 HOTAS has seen better days, but still works....(kinda).  I can't get the throttle mapped right.  It mapped but it's backwards so pushing forward actually brings engine RPM to 0%.  The spring on the joystick seems mushy.  Anyhow.  How much time have you spent tuning your key mappings?  At want point do you say it's not the mappings but the hardware?   If I was to upgrade to something better with a $200 budget, what would ya'll reccomend?

 

I'm thinking of the Thrustmaster T16000M FCS Flight Pack.   Are rudder pedals a worthwhile addition?

 

Salutations,

 

The Thrustmaster FCS is a good choice in that price range.

 

Rudder pedals worthwhile? Many swear by them. It is a personal preference. But you could get the FCS joystick and throttle and 'add' their rudder pedals later.

[BeastyBaiter]

Flip the throttle axis as said. It has been a long time since my X-45 broke (only lasted 2 years I think) but I remember it being a pretty good setup while it worked. I replaced it with an X-52 Pro ($200 now, was $140 when I bought it), which survived 8-9 years before I decided I needed more buttons and got my current X-55 ($200, no longer made). The X-56 replaced the X-55 in Saitek/Logitech's lineup a couple years ago, it's basically the same but with a blue color scheme and some 4 way hats replaced by mini-sticks. Price is $220 on amazon. Other than the relatively short lived X-45, I've never had a Saitek product fail on me. That said, Logitech now owns them. I've had nothing but terrible experience with their controllers (longest lived lasted less than 2 months). They make decent mice and keyboards though.

[J5_HellCat_]

A) T.16000M FCS Flight Pack (very good price in Amazon.com - 180$) Pretty sure they have the same Hall sensors as the warthog ...Sokol1 ?

 

Review here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5c4c5cIik4

 

B)VKB Gladiator* Mk.II $99 ...use your x45 throttle or use the one on the stick save another $100 & get the VKB pedals later 

Edited July 9, 2017 by AKA_Sully

[Ribbon]

-T16000m FCS i own it and it is amazing, just grease it once in a while.(have twist)

-ch fighterstick (no twist)

-vkb gladiator mk.2 (have twist)

 

Or for little more money;

-vkb gunfighter(own it)/ vkb gladiator mk2 pro (both no twist)+ twcs throttle + pedals

Edited July 10, 2017 by redribbon