Best joystick for BMS?
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I have the Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X but read it’s not ideal for BMS. I am thinking about buying the Warthog as most reviews consider it the best. Obviously it’s not cheap so I am wondering if there are any downsides to it before I splash the cash. I know there is no Z-rotation. Does it have to be screwed to your desk? Are there other sticks I should consider? Thanks in advance.
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@dandove highly depends on your budget. As if you want the most realistic you would have to go for something like FSSB but a few hundred bucks for the stick only.
Apart of the Warthog might have a look in the Winning products.
I personally prefer a non moving force sensing stick and therefore will use my X65F as long as it works. Should it ever fail my route would be then to spend the money for an FSSB -
@dandove
Best joystick? As you’ve not placed any budget limits, then for a non-replica setup, you will want an FSSB setup with one of their grips. For a replica setup, you will want an FCC or VFS-WE. These are just the bases so you will still need a stick grip.There are other potential options like this new company from China but they have yet to be thoroughly tested so can’t speak for that.
If you are under a budget, then look at Virpil or WinWing. The base WH gimbal isn’t very good and a lot of things has happened since the WH release. Regardless, these won’t be “best” options.
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I have a Thrustmaster F-16 stick with a Virpil base. Both are really good quality and the best of both worlds as the Thrustmaster base isn’t as good.
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@dandove I have a Warthog and i like it. it is pricey but well worth the money. there are a few upgrades you can get ie slew button, which is far superior to the one fitted.
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Thanks for your comments. Like a lot of people, I don’t have unlimited resources but I’m ok with the cost of a Warthog or a bit on top of that if it is going to buy me something substantially better than the Warthog. I have been looking at a Thrustmaster F-16 stick with a Virpil base but the base I can see in the EU store (I’m in the UK) doesn’t seem to be compatible. I might be able to stretch to a FSSB (R3?) but what else is needed? What about throttles? I apologize for my ignorance but I am new to this and feeling my way.
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@dandove
If you’re buying an FFSB-R3, I’d also recommend buying a F16 stick from Realsimulator (F16 Slide Grip). You can mount a Thrustmaster F16 stick on an FFSB and keep compatibility with this brand’s TARGET software (because Realsimulator’s programming software is far less powerful than TARGET), but the Thrustmaster stick isn’t designed to take as many pulls as you need for the FFSB, and after a few months it starts to play up: you end up with inaccuracy, which is a shame with an FFSB.
Thrusmaster’s Viper TQS is then also a good choice for the throttle … but it all adds up to a lot of money in one go. -
The TM F-16C stick (same as the TM Warthog stick) is compatible with the VPC WarBRD-D base.
GC
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@dandove
Might be best to post your budget so people can give more targeted recommendations. The Virpil bases should be compatible with the TM sticks; I think TM has set the standard from back in the Cougar days. I have a Virpil WarBRD base which I used with my TM WH grip.@Rouge1512 said in Best joystick for BMS?:
If you’re buying an FFSB-R3, I’d also recommend buying a F16 stick from Realsimulator (F16 Slide Grip). You can mount a Thrustmaster F16 stick on an FFSB and keep compatibility with this brand’s TARGET software (because Realsimulator’s programming software is far less powerful than TARGET), but the Thrustmaster stick isn’t designed to take as many pulls as you need for the FFSB, and after a few months it starts to play up: you end up with inaccuracy, which is a shame with an FFSB.
- the RS grips are almost always out of stock
- they are expensive with 390EUR being the cheapest option
- unless you’re pulling with significant force, the TM WH grip should be fine. I’ve been using mine with my FSSB and now my FCC with no issues.
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@dandove I have upgraded from T.Flight Hotas X to T.16000M FCS Hotas (also for budget reason). I’m fully satisfied, for example AAR is almost easy, I think it’s the entry level HOTAS choice.
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5 years with an X56. No regrets. No issues.
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@dandove -
If you can find one, I strongly encourage the Saitek X65F. I’ve been using mine since 2011 and I’m gonna cry like a baby whenever that day comes that something breaks and I can’t fix it.
As you can imagine, I handle it with kid gloves at all times.
Aside from being a well-made piece of machinery, the main thing I like about it is that it has a 4-mode switch, and each mode is completely independently programmed HOTAS.
So I program the HOTAS where each mode handles a different basic function: Mode 1 is for standard flight, Mode 2 is for Takeoff/Approach, Mode 3 is for AAR, and Mode 4 is for emergency procedures.
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@greatcouloir Thanks. I could see F-18 compatibility on the site but not F-16.
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@Atlas My max budget would be in the region of $800. I guess it would be good if I bought a setup which could be upgraded if I really get into this and have some money available.
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I just upgraded from the Saitek X65F, which I used for the last 6-7 years…solid kit. However, I had problems with the drivers, which are unsupported now. Given this, I just moved to the VKB STECS Mini+ throttle while my flight control stick is the Thrustmaster Warthog. Both are solid performers. The VKB STECS is very configurable, given the right-hand throttle has swappable switch modules, AND you can purchase additional switch modules. Great engineering, too, and the configuration software is top-notch.
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Thrustmaster Warthog, hands down. No, you don’t have to screw it to your desk. It’s stiffer than a lot of gaming sticks, and IMO that’s a GOOD thing. I’d like mine to be even stiffer, which can be done with a spring change.
Forget the twisters, and get a set of pedals instead - if you can find a set of used Saitek Combat Pro pedals at a reasonable price (very hard these days - glad I bought mine when I did) grab them.
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Mileage will vary here. I started using and old joystick I had from 20 plus years ago, upgraded to the Logitech X56 (formerly known as Saitek), then went to the Cougar for a stint, then it was the FSSB R3 with the Cougar stick and Warthog throttle. Now I fly BMS with the F16 grip from TM (Warthog grip) on the FSSB R3 and the Winwing Orion 2 with the F16 TQS grip. It has been pricey but well worth the money spent. Ultimately the best is what you can afford and be proficient with.
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@dandove said in Best joystick for BMS?:
@Atlas My max budget would be in the region of $800. I guess it would be good if I bought a setup which could be upgraded if I really get into this and have some money available.
I was using the WH grip with the WH base for… maybe 4 years? Then the base started acting up so went with the Virpil WarBRD for oh-my-god-ages!! Maybe 7-8 years? Then had the FSSB R3 for 2 years, and now just the FCC3. During all that time, I was using the WH throttle with no issues. As I’ve made a replica cockpit, I’m now using a Cougar TQS.
The point here is — upgrading can be more of a “want” rather than a “need.” I definitely didn’t need a new throttle and if I didn’t build a replica cockpit, then I would still be using my WH throttle for sure! Same thing for the WarBRD base — I didn’t really “need” a force-sensing stick, but I wanted one…
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Many thanks for your comments. I feel better informed now. I think I will go for the WH largely for reasons of cost and simplicity and see how I get on.
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@dandove Out of the several sticks I’ve had, I like my WH system the most, so far. I’d like to get the chance to get the F-16 geared TQS, which looks better than the WH’s.