Need a recomendation for a new HOTAS flight stick

[ll./JG77_JadeBandit]

 So after the holidays I figured I would splurge a little bit and buy a new flight stick. I currently use a 3D Extreme Pro, and although it's been a great stick so far it has sadly started to breakdown and buttons have started to work when they want to and not when I need them most.

 

 Tracking on the stick is now getting off as well, its a shame, that stick has worked so well right up until it didn't.

 

So what I would like to know from some of you more qualified simmers/pilots out there is what would be a good next steep in flight stick gear, I'll outline what I am looking for below.

 

1. Decent price, don't want to break the bank since after the holidays it's pretty much there already. My budget for a stick is about $130.00 dollars max.

 

2. I would like a HOTAS set up with twist grip for rudder control, I have no plans on buying rudder pedals anytime soon.

 

3. Durability is a big plus, I don't want to have to buy another one every 12 months. I would be nice if it wasn't made of cheap super light plastic, I like a bit of weight to these types of controllers for stability, I tend to be a bit ham fisted during aggressive flying.

 

 Well that's pretty much the primary things I am looking for, I have checked online but there never seems to be much variety when I do a online search. Maybe I'm just not going to the right sites. If anyone has any suggestions of some good sites I could check out, and maybe some recommendations on sticks they are currently using and what they think of them that would be very helpful.

 

Thanks in advance for your help.

[ACG_Kraut]

Well the x52 is OK. I'm not going to praise it, it has it's issues, but it works and has all the buttons you could need. I've had mine for a few years and it's been good to me, but it's a tired old horse now.
 
I'd recommend a TM Warthog if you have the cash, that's what I'm looking into as an x52 replacement. I didn't read your entire post before, seems this isn't what you are looking for.
 
Or you could wait and see what the new Saitek x55 has to offer when it comes out, it should be around the same price-point as the x52 I would think ($100-150): 
 

 
(I know, I know, worst trailer ever...)
 
Note: While I am getting a Warthog soon, I think I will be picking up an x55 as well for comparison purposes when it's available. Edited December 22, 2013 by [AKA]Kraut

[Crow]

X52 PRO. It's slightly above your price range (I think it's $180?), but there simply isn't another product on the market that gives you the same bang for the buck. Get the Pro version.

[=38=Tatarenko]

Very much recommend the CH Fighterstick (if they still make it). I've had mine for ever and love it. Even has hardware trim for the LaGG

 

No twist stick though ...

[Trident_109]

This may not be something you are comfortable with but Sim HQ has a "buy,sell,trade" section in their forums. There's mostly the same 30 people on the site they and have been there a very long time. The category also has a buyer/seller feedback section where you can see how a seller's previous sales went. I've seen some pretty inexpensive deals from guys who just want their used stuff to go to a good home. Might be worth a shot to at least look. It seems there's a good sale every week or so. You may end up with a good deal.

 

Given your price range and if you're buying new, I'd get the X-52.  Before I got my CH HOTAS I used to own a Saitek X-45, the predecessor to the X-52. It lasted about three years under heavy use - about three hours a day. So I'd expect a new X-52 would be similar.

 

 

EDIT: That Saitek trailer's music sounds like it's saying, "Saitek X-55, the HOTAS Batman would use."

Edited December 22, 2013 by Robert

[Tone71]

My X52 Pro has served me well, and for the price you can't go wrong. As with anything though, you get what you pay for, so don't expect an uber durable, non-plastic piece of expert craftsmanship It's okay, and should tick some of your boxes.

[15/JG52_Genie]

Warthog.

 

Nothing else. X52 is meh. had one.

[dburne]

Warthog.

 

Nothing else. X52 is meh. had one.

 

I would agree with you as well , however he has already stated his budget and the Warthog does not fit into that.

[Tone71]

Warthog.

 

Nothing else. X52 is meh. had one.

 

Show me a $130 Warthog and I'll happily ditch my "meh" x52. Need to be reading his entire post there bud.

[BeastyBaiter]

The X-52 is probably the best stick in your price range. Last I looked they cost ~$120. I've had mine around 8 years, still works like new and I use it a LOT. Even if I had the money to blow on a warthog, I'd stick with the X-52 pro. It's simply the better stick ignoring the price tag.

 

I suppose I should qualify that some, it has more useful features than the warthog does. Namely 3 sliders/rotaries on the throttle compared to 0 on the warthog. Those work miracles for things like radiator, prop pitch and zoom controls. It is also designed to be ergonomic and pack as many buttons/switchs/hats on the throttle and stick as comfortably possible instead of trying to make an exact duplicate of an A-10 throttle and stick. The warthog is of better build quality I guess, but as said, my X-52 is 8 years old and has no issues despite heavy use. So how much better can it really get?

[dburne]

The X-52 is probably the best stick in your price range. Last I looked they cost ~$120. I've had mine around 8 years, still works like new and I use it a LOT. Even if I had the money to blow on a warthog, I'd stick with the X-52 pro. It's simply the better stick ignoring the price tag.

 

I suppose I should qualify that some, it has more useful features than the warthog does. Namely 3 sliders/rotaries on the throttle compared to 0 on the warthog.

 

 

Just for clarification's sake, the Warthog throttle does have 1 slider. I use it all the time.

[ACG_Kraut]

So how much better can it really get?

 

A lot. Most other sticks don't come like this out of the box. For $100+ (or the $180 I spent on my pro version at the time) I expect better than this:

 

 

You shouldn't have to mod a brand new product to get it working properly.

 

This is the huge issue I'm hoping that they fixed for the upcoming x55. If they fix the non-linearity, the x55 will be amazing.

 

IMO it's probably better to wait and see than buy an x52 now.

Edited December 22, 2013 by [AKA]Kraut

[BeastyBaiter]

Never modded mine, it's completely linear.

[-MG-Cacti4-6]

i would go with a ch product over anything that saitek puts out. i have had nothing but issues since wipping my hd and reinstalling the drivers. their CS is the reason why i bought a warthog. 

[ll./JG77_JadeBandit]

Great, thanks for the recommendations I'll check them out. That X-55 looks promising, I might wait for that to come out before I make a final decision, but it will probably come down to that or the X-52 pro.

Edited December 23, 2013 by ScottyOnTheSpot

[ll./JG77_JadeBandit]

I also checked out CH, the reviews are amazing on almost all their sticks, and I mean some of these people would probably run back into a burning house to save it. I would need to buy rudder peddles or use the mini joystick on their throttle controller to get smooth rudder control, problem is I just can't find this combination under $200.00

 

 I will probably just save up, that new X-55 is going to be above my current price range anyway, and the reviews on the CH sticks are really good so there's that as well. I can't drop $400 bucks on a Warthog, I'm jealous of those of you that can I bet it handles like a dream.

Edited December 23, 2013 by ScottyOnTheSpot

[Bearcat]

I would suggest an X-52.. but if your stick is working ok.. for now and you can hold on .. you might want to give the X-55 Rhino ago. It looks pretty good.

[Sokol1]

SoTs,

 

Wait for X-55 price - I bet they replace X-52 and or X-52PRO, perhapes on same price range.

 

And the anouced 16 bits sensor suggest that come with the same Melexis 3D HALL used in Warthog and T16000.m - just because is a cheap solution for joystick.

 

CH gear altougt but based in old tech' - 8 bits (256 points) USB 1.1 controller and pot' (quality ones) - is good and durable, is all "plastic" but heavy dutty one, is common CH sticks last more than theyr contemporaneous "metal" Tm, you have more chance to find a still good ~2001 Fighterstick than a Cougar.

 

Sokol1

[siipperi]

X55 is definately going to be over 200 $. 52 pro is pretty good quality, but at this point i think it is best thing to wait and see how x55 pans out. Hopfully im totally wrong about price range!

[Georgio]

For precision try a thrustmaster T16000, hall sensors and great value for the dosh.

[ll./JG77_JadeBandit]

So after some more research I have made a decision. I'm going with the CH Fighterstick and the pro rudder peddle combo, I know I said I wasn't planning on getting peddles anytime soon, but after looking into it more I would get better control and much more bang for my buck with these then anything else in my price range, and I can save up for the throttle controller and get that later.

 

CH sure doesn't look fancy, but I'm looking for performance and durability over style. I was able to find both the stick and peddles for a decent price with a bit of searching online. From what others in this thread have said, and from what I have seen in posts in other simulator forums is the software for their products is rock solid, this is a big deal to me because I don't want to have to do any excessive fine tuning and/or modding to get my equipment to work the way I want it to.

Edited December 25, 2013 by ScottyOnTheSpot

[ACG_Kraut]

Nice! I'm sure you will enjoy the upgrade, and having pedals is a great addition too! I was on twist rudder for a very long time and liked it a lot, but after getting pedals (and taking the time to re-adjust to them over twist), I could never go back.

Edited December 25, 2013 by 4./JG26_Kraut

[Bearcat]

I like the Saitek pedals better than the CH ones, I have had both. I have had my current set of Saitek Pro Flights for about 6 years now with no issues. They lasted longer than my first set of pedals.. a set of CH pedals.. not to say they are "better" but they are better fore me.. I like the higher resolution and the wider stance.

[ll./JG77_JadeBandit]

Thanks for everyone's input, it's been a huge help in making my decision. Yeah the pedals will take some getting used to, but it will be nice to be able to hold steady rudder control, something I always struggled with using a twist grip.  

[Schmalzfaust]

For precision try a thrustmaster T16000, hall sensors and great value for the dosh.

 

Yeha, ATM I use the Warthog thruster part combined with the T16000m because my Warthog stick is not very smooth with very tiny moves.