Is the Thrustmaster T-Flight a good "default" rudder pedal?
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Newbie, thinking about getting rudder pedals…
So far, the beginning of my ascent up the BMS learning curve is going okay. I’m practicing the training missions for ramp start, taxi, and take off, as well as messing around in dogfights a lot. Kunsan approach only yells at me occasionally for being slow, and I’m getting off the runway. Occasionally I can shoot down a DPRK Fulcrum, if I set him to the same low skill level as me, and if I get real lucky. Fun!
My SSC and TQS seem to be working reasonably well, and now I’m thinking about getting rudder pedals. I have a used Thrustmaster HOTAS Cougar that I got off of eBay recently. The throttle pot was dead, but I managed to repair it by establishing a new electrical pathway to the inner graphite ring. I did this with an X-Acto knife and some fluid from a circuit-trace-writer pen. Amazed that it worked, and that it’s still working. I’ve bought Hall-effect sensors and will try to replace the TQS throttle pot with one of 'em. I suspect I’ll either buy a TM Warthog someday (and use its stick) or try to put force-sensing resistors in my Cougar SSC.
At any rate, so far so good.
If I were to get rudder pedals, are the TM T-Flight pedals a reasonably good - perhaps even “standard” or “default” - set of pedals?
I get the impression that if one wants to buy a new HOTAS, the standard thing to do is to by a TM HOTAS Warthog. Lots of people seem really happy with the Warthog. If I hadn’t found (and resurrected) the used Cougar, I probably would have bought the Warthog, and I may still end up getting a Warthog, too, esp. if I try to sim the A-10 someday.
I also assume the T-Flight would be a reasonable “default” if I were buying a new set of pedals. But I assume a lot - and I’ve learned to check those assumptions carefully, if I can remember to!
Thanks!
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Hi.
The TM rudder pedals are too narrow and the spring is weak, so no realistic feedback. Braking is ok. You can add or mod that spring, but that doesn’t help much. The pedals are narrow that after some flying rudder intensiv aircraft my knee/legs hurt. Well, the prize is ok and for just flying Vipers these pedals are enough. Of course you can buy handcrafted premium products from all the small manufacturers in the net for several hundred $.Cheers
FM -
Having just picked up a set myself (only two or three full flights on them so far), I think they’ll do, particularly if you can catch them on sale. For the $50 I paid, I’ll happily live with the drawbacks.
They are a bit close together (wouldn’t work with a center mounted stick), have some sticktion issues, and, as mentioned, the springs are a bit weak. But they’re much cheaper than any other option, should be more reliable than the Saitek pedals, and they’re good enough for general use.
I would recommend recurving the rudder axis for BMS, though. I found them extremely sensitive around center by default. I used joystick gremlin to set a new curve to flatten out the center input, and I’m much happier with the result.
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But why so much fuss? You only use them on the ground most of the time in BMS
You will do fine with the Thrustmaster T-Flight
Marc…
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Its string is too weak, and there is stiction issue. These cause problem for smooth operation even on simple taxi. My old Saitek Combat Rudder worked better. Now I use Baur BRD MS3, but for lower end rudder, which is enough for F-16, I would go for Saitek.
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Like others say, it has some drawbacks, but for use only for BMS it will work fine. The sticktion problem is easy solvable and I can live with the weak spring which is causing the pedals to feel somewhat cheap (which in fact they are [emoji16]). For this price you can’t expect a high-end input device. After booting my PC, I have to go thru maximum deflection on all axis, before starting BMS. That takes care of the high sensitivity around the center position on my windows PC. The first one I got was faulty (broken wire), but it was replaced quickly, never had problems with the second one, so no regrets from my side.
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+1 for Saitek on the entry end…the Combat Pro pedal are the Cadillac and I’m more that glad I grabbed a set before they went OOP - you’ll only be able to find used or astronomically expensive ones nowadays, but if you should get lucky grab them. Otherwise, go for the current “Me 109” looking ones or even the Cessna Pro set.
…and I use my rudders all the time airborne, at low speeds…once you figure out what you’re doing you may too.
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If you’re into racing sims, the T500RS pedals will do nicely as “poor man’s” rudder pedals in BMS (minus the toe brake stuff), as will other offerings like the logitech wheels.
All the best, Uwe
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Many thanks to everyone who’s replied to this thread - lots of good information here.
Even though I don’t normally like to get something “basic” and then plan to get something “advanced” later, I’ve done that from time to time without too much disaster. It’s looking to me like I can probably do okay with something like Saitek Pro Flight pedals, or TM T-Flights, at least with my current basic skill level. Later, if possible, it looks like it’ll be worth trying to track down something more advanced, like Saitek Combat Pros, MFGs, or Slaw pedals. Availability of the advanced stuff will be challenging, of course, but possibly worth it if I can get good enough to justify it.
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I was out today getting oil and filters for my Jeep, and while I was out I swung by an electronics store. They had Logitech Pro Flights for the same price as I’d found online, so I snagged 'em. They’re clearly a lightweight plastic product, I’m not expecting great durability, but now I’ve got rudder pedals! Need to work some more on getting them to stay put on the carpet, but they seem to work reasonably well.
Setup was straightforward - I still don’t know how to set up controllers other than by using the Setup -> Controllers (-> Advanced) menus in the sim. (All things related to keyfiles, Foxy, TARGET, programming, etc… still feel like I’m leafing through a book on vector calculus or quantum mechanics. I’ll get over this someday, I’m determined!) But, with a little fiddling around and trying “Reverse” on a few of the axes, the pedals work! Now I can brake when I’m taxiing, without having to use the “k” key, and the nosewheel steering works…. I’m not sure why that’s such a thrill, but it is. Now it’s time to search the manuals, forum, “Stick and Rudder”, etc, and see what they do in flight!
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I was out today getting oil and filters for my Jeep, and while I was out I swung by an electronics store. They had Logitech Pro Flights for the same price as I’d found online, so I snagged 'em. They’re clearly a lightweight plastic product, I’m not expecting great durability, but now I’ve got rudder pedals! Need to work some more on getting them to stay put on the carpet, but they seem to work reasonably well.
Setup was straightforward - I still don’t know how to set up controllers other than by using the Setup -> Controllers (-> Advanced) menus in the sim. (All things related to keyfiles, Foxy, TARGET, programming, etc… still feel like I’m leafing through a book on vector calculus or quantum mechanics. I’ll get over this someday, I’m determined!) But, with a little fiddling around and trying “Reverse” on a few of the axes, the pedals work! Now I can brake when I’m taxiing, without having to use the “k” key, and the nosewheel steering works…. I’m not sure why that’s such a thrill, but it is. Now it’s time to search the manuals, forum, “Stick and Rudder”, etc, and see what they do in flight!
Was using those pedals with BMS before, now I used them for EECH, good pedals, never had a problem with them
Good choice
Marc…