Which HOTAS should I buy?

The Gladiator MKII is a great stick and it's backed up by a equally powerful software. Just open VKBDevCfg and program the buttons in any way. If you want your pinkie button to act as a regular button you could do so. If you want it to act like a button on a short press and as a shift key on a long press you could also do so.
You could also upgrade your joystick to a Kosmosima grip (https://vkbcontrollers.com/?product=scg-space-combat-grip-kosmosima-stand-alone) by installing an adapter kit (https://vkbcontrollers.com/?product=gladiator-upgrade-kit-lite-w-mcg-bundle-2) following this guide
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_LXh5LTJL4
. The adapter comes with stronger springs too.

If I wasn't using the Gladiator as an interim stick, and the shipping cost wasn't so prohibitive, I might consider it.
 
You will find the T-50 in several threads on here (mainly about the button count), unfortunately since they dumped the Hardware sub-forum these things are less obvious now.

Also worth noting, they just announced a new version of their throttle, slightly smaller.

The prior existing CM Throttle ("v3" as it's called, since it's the third version of the CM)

The new CM2 Throttle ("v4" as it's getting called, since it's then the 4th version of their throttle)

My read of their announcement thread (one of their comments on their facebook post, as I recall) was that the larger CM would be available for "one more batch".

I have the v3, and while it's definitely larger than I was expecting, I wouldn't trade it for the v4. It's beast, and I'm impressed by it every time I look at it.
 
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I don't think I'd trade my V2 throttle for the new CM2 one. It seems like a downgrade to me. It sounds like they're going to start selling accessory modules with extra buttons on them and move some of the functionality they had before off the throttle controller itself.
 
From what I see, the number of elements on the throttle handle stay the same, which is quite enough for ED. As far as I am concerned, the fewer elements are on the base, the better. After all HOTAS means hands ON throttle and stick and not OFF, fumbling with controls on the base. For a full fledged flight sim it sure seems to be a downgrade.
 
From what I see, the number of elements on the throttle handle stay the same, which is quite enough for ED. As far as I am concerned, the fewer elements are on the base, the better. After all HOTAS means hands ON throttle and stick and not OFF, fumbling with controls on the base. For a full fledged flight sim it sure seems to be a downgrade.

I have assigned almost all the buttons on my base and throttle handle to Elite functions. Although I do have the V2 throttle which has slightly fewer inputs on the handle. I have no functions assigned to my keyboard at all other than the escape key.
 
Just saw some reviews of a new hotas that looks pretty interesting.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sodp4K3BOQs


FA-18-HOTAS-JOYSTICK-THROTTLE-01.jpg

Winwing, the company that makes it, also makes professional flight sim gear. One nice feature is that the joystick has an available twist attachment for those of us who don't want to use pedals. From what I've read, they did pre-orders for their first batch that are now closed and plan on offering them again soon. I couldn't find any mention of the price though.
 
Winwing, the company that makes it, also makes professional flight sim gear. One nice feature is that the joystick has an available twist attachment for those of us who don't want to use pedals. From what I've read, they did pre-orders for their first batch that are now closed and plan on offering them again soon. I couldn't find any mention of the price though.

Prices are at https://shop.winwing.cn/shop_en ($899-$1029 depending on options).
 
I had a X52pro myself until I got my hands on a Warthog.
I'm not regretting the Investment and won't miss that piece of plastic mess that Logitech / Saitek calls a hotas.

The warthog has great price/quality balance that any "serious" simmer can afford.
Virpil is another story though. Even "better" than the Warthog but the investment would totally blast away my paycheck ;)

Get those 500 bucks together for Warthog and TFRP. You wont regret it.
 
Just saw some reviews of a new hotas that looks pretty interesting.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sodp4K3BOQs


View attachment 147950

Winwing, the company that makes it, also makes professional flight sim gear. One nice feature is that the joystick has an available twist attachment for those of us who don't want to use pedals. From what I've read, they did pre-orders for their first batch that are now closed and plan on offering them again soon. I couldn't find any mention of the price though.
I watched the unboxing video on this thing. Looks like a POS to me. Sticking with my Warthog.
 
I watched the unboxing video on this thing. Looks like a POS to me. Sticking with my Warthog.

The throttle doesn't look too bad, if a bit unwieldy. It's definitely not gonna work on your desktop. I think the stick isn't quite as nice as what Virpil or VKB offer.
 
I don't regret buying my TM Warthog (I own DCS A-10C) whatsoever about 3-4 years ago, but I would probably look for an option if I had to do it over now.

My flightstick has overtime grown increasingly loose in the rotate direction, and that stick has no rotate. It is a wear issue. I haven't attempted dissassembly or repair; at that price I shouldn't have to. Also, the China hat switch was always a little marginal, nad the pinky switch is a truly cheap POS.

I'm pretty sure I will DIY using arduino/Rasberry Pi my next HOTAS. Gotta be cheaper than a new TM Warthog.
 
I got my eyes on this. Looks amazing! Unfortunately won't have the budget for the early Kickstarter, but I got my eyes on it!
............
What a monster. 6 axis in one device and 32 digital inputs ? Color me impressed, that's playing ED singlehandedly.

The 6DoF seems great until you have it. I recently spent some time with a 3DConnexion SpaceMouse and wow - it was so difficult to isolate my control inputs - trying to translate in one direction without rotating on an axis (and vice versa to a smaller degree) was amazingly difficult. I can see why they have an arm-location frame in their product, this stick (if it can actually be be called that ;) ) is possibly going to be such a pain to master precise control.

N.B. Dumped the idea of using the SpaceMouse in Elite.
 
The 6DoF seems great until you have it. I recently spent some time with a 3DConnexion SpaceMouse and wow - it was so difficult to isolate my control inputs - trying to translate in one direction without rotating on an axis (and vice versa to a smaller degree) was amazingly difficult. I can see why they have an arm-location frame in their product, this stick (if it can actually be be called that ;) ) is possibly going to be such a pain to master precise control.

N.B. Dumped the idea of using the SpaceMouse in Elite.

Had a look at that too. It's probably easier to control an entire joystick where you can twist and move hand rather than it being just in finger motion. You may be right, and it certainly will take getting used to. I believe it's easier to work in multiple DoF at once precisely and intuitively with the one I linked.

It's made in China.

So? Lots of things are. Quality come from production method, not country.
 
Had a look at that too. It's probably easier to control an entire joystick where you can twist and move hand rather than it being just in finger motion. You may be right, and it certainly will take getting used to. I believe it's easier to work in multiple DoF at once precisely and intuitively with the one I linked.



So? Lots of things are. Quality come from production method, not country.
suit yourself
 
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