Best throttle options
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+1.
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Mower, have you tried to connect that card to PayPal?
Hahahaha…that worked, go figure…Good Guys win one over the prone-to-violence-cop-wife.
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…never date anyone that can bench press you.
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…never date anyone that can bench press you.
Actually I outweigh her but she has more aggression and access to the tools of her trade.
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Actually I outweigh her but she has more aggression and access to the tools of her trade.
…heh. A Harrier pilot I know once caught me chatting with his daughter at work, and shot me a concerned glance. After she left I walked into his office and assured him I didn’t make a habit of dating women who’s fathers have access to tactical weaponry.
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Mower, have you thought about the Thrustmaster TWC Throttle:
I have seen these on ebay for less than $150 USD, brand new. A friend from work uses one with his CH Fighterstick in DCS. Says its a great unit for single engine/single throttle lever/dual engine control.
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That one actually is far more “Hornet-like” ergonomically, though it still has problems on that front.
BTW - I also finally got a chance to get my mitt around a TM Hornet grip a few weeks ago, and I was far less than impressed with it. I’ve spent a LOT of time (years…) with my hands on RL grips (and Bugeye bench HOTAS units - https://www.bugeyetech.com/f-18-throttle-and-grip) and I give the TM grip low marks for soft buttons and also being too wide across the top - the buttons/switches are too far apart and I felt like I was “reaching” for them. It also felt a bit too “slim” to me.
I’d really like to see what the WINWING stick feels like now - I did also get a chance to grab onto the WINWING Hornet throttles and they feel pretty good, other than for soft buttons - but I can change out switches and buttons. I forgot about WINWING - if you want a Hornet throttle, it’s the best presently out there, even with the issues I’d personally fix.
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Stevie, thank you very much for pointing out those eBay auctions!
I think you’re right, the fact that they’re all shipping from San Antonio, TX suggests that they were used/stored at Lackland AFB. That sounds very logical.
I couldn’t resist. The thought of having a spare Cougar throttle was just too tempting. I clicked “Buy it Now” on the Cougar set (throttle + stick) that looked the least-used of all of them. The ad gave the appearance, at least, that the box had been opened but it hadn’t been used. Goodness only knows if that is true or not. Maybe yes, maybe no. It’s a gamble. I could easily wind up feeling dumb about this.
Maybe this was a really dumb purchase, perhaps one of the dumbest purchases I’ve made in a long time. But given how rare Cougar throttles are, the thought of having a spare may have just short-circuited my brain and I couldn’t resist that “Buy It Now” button.
IF this gamble pays off, it’ll just sit unused for a long time, away from heat and moisture and whatnot, as a spare. In other words, I’ll have bought some peace of mind.
If some way of DIY-ing an F-16 throttle ever gets promulgated and becomes well-established (3D printing, DIY electronics, etc…), then I’ll sell this Cougar here on the BMS forum for the same amount I paid. Which was kind of a stupid lot, but again, I couldn’t resist the thought of having a spare.
I might sell the stick anyway, because I don’t need it. I use a Warthog stick. I probably won’t have time to do that until this summer, though. It’ll be a good way to recoup some of the cost of this ridiculous impulse-buy.
I’m going to go feel all good about having a spare Cougar throttle on the way… :woohoo: … until the “Oh gawd, what have I done?” feeling kicks in… :shocked: :der:
(Well, at least it’s in the hands of a BMS forum member. If it doesn’t stay with me forever, it would wind up in the hands of another BMS forum member. I’m going to keep telling myself that, see if it makes me feel any less foolish…)
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I got and really like the VIRPIL Mongoose CM Throttle. not “F16 replica” but it does lots. The new CM 3 looks like it fixes all the little things mine is missing (gates for idle detent and burner).
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Stevie, thank you very much for pointing out those eBay auctions!
I think you’re right, the fact that they’re all shipping from San Antonio, TX suggests that they were used/stored at Lackland AFB. That sounds very logical.
I couldn’t resist. The thought of having a spare Cougar throttle was just too tempting. I clicked “Buy it Now” on the Cougar set (throttle + stick) that looked the least-used of all of them. The ad gave the appearance, at least, that the box had been opened but it hadn’t been used. Goodness only knows if that is true or not. Maybe yes, maybe no. It’s a gamble. I could easily wind up feeling dumb about this.
Maybe this was a really dumb purchase, perhaps one of the dumbest purchases I’ve made in a long time. But given how rare Cougar throttles are, the thought of having a spare may have just short-circuited my brain and I couldn’t resist that “Buy It Now” button.
IF this gamble pays off, it’ll just sit unused for a long time, away from heat and moisture and whatnot, as a spare. In other words, I’ll have bought some peace of mind.
If some way of DIY-ing an F-16 throttle ever gets promulgated and becomes well-established (3D printing, DIY electronics, etc…), then I’ll sell this Cougar here on the BMS forum for the same amount I paid. Which was kind of a stupid lot, but again, I couldn’t resist the thought of having a spare.
I might sell the stick anyway, because I don’t need it. I use a Warthog stick. I probably won’t have time to do that until this summer, though. It’ll be a good way to recoup some of the cost of this ridiculous impulse-buy.
I’m going to go feel all good about having a spare Cougar throttle on the way… :woohoo: … until the “Oh gawd, what have I done?” feeling kicks in… :shocked: :der:
(Well, at least it’s in the hands of a BMS forum member. If it doesn’t stay with me forever, it would wind up in the hands of another BMS forum member. I’m going to keep telling myself that, see if it makes me feel any less foolish…)
I think you probably made a good selection! Some of that gear looks mint - I have a Cougar TQS that I got at as a standalone that I also think is USAF surplus. I put a TUSBA R2 on it and have been using it with a WH stick. No issues whatsoever. I bought one used Cougar that was in far worse shape that any of these looked, and two widowed TQSs - so I have three Cougar throttles, myself! You have to figure that this surplus stuff probably hasn’t been jerked around much, and I’d expect to see more of it as I’ve been noting that a lot of Training facilities are dumping their Cougars for Warthogs - particularly on the Navy side where they need twin throttles for Hornet ops sims. Good grab, IMO!
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Well my TQS is unreliable now and I wanted twin throttles as a Hornet flier.
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Well my TQS is unreliable now and I wanted twin throttles as a Hornet flier.
I went from a CH Pro to the Warthog and like it a lot, but for me it needs a few mods to make it “right”. The Slew control (my fingers just don’t work with it) the AB detent (I want a detent I can push through) , and the cover plate labels (I want them to match my switch assignments).
Slew Control - Deltasims
“Push-Through” AB Detent - Have the .STL, will have it 3D printed locally
Custom Cover plate - working on it with the guy that did an engraved panel for me previously, but there are pre-printed ones out there for F-18, etc. if they meet your needs… -
I’ve thought about buying the WINWING Hornet throttle grips and trying to adapt them to the Warthog throttle I have. OTOH, the WINWING throttle is a REALLY nice replica of a Hornet throttle set…including proper throws.
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Throttle on the warthog is plastic, is this a problem for any owners in the long run?
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Well I am waiting to hear back from them about that but am not optimistic, and the RealSim TSUBA R2 will run me almost $200.
Hi, Mower,
I’ve had good luck with the Saitek x-55 as a standalone. I don’t remember if the x-56 is, too. I believe the x-65 was standalone as well.
With a bit of luck you can find them used on eBay , though if that $200 is you limit that may be tough. -
Throttle on the warthog is plastic, is this a problem for any owners in the long run?
Does anyone own one?
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Does anyone own one?
A Warthog? Yes, I do but only for about a week now… I can’t see any issues with it other than what I posted above. The base is steel and quite sturdy, the throttle arms seem very well made.
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I went from a CH Pro to the Warthog and like it a lot, but for me it needs a few mods to make it “right”. The Slew control (my fingers just don’t work with it) the AB detent (I want a detent I can push through) , and the cover plate labels (I want them to match my switch assignments).
Slew Control - Deltasims
“Push-Through” AB Detent - Have the .STL, will have it 3D printed locally
Custom Cover plate - working on it with the guy that did an engraved panel for me previously, but there are pre-printed ones out there for F-18, etc. if they meet your needs…The AB detent can you please send me the STL brother?
Where to find the f18 panel plates please.
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Hello Mower, anyone who has a 3d printer will do it for you
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3163168
Regards
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