please recommend a low cost "flightstick"
 

I am a rookie "pilot" , never have "flown" before.

QUESTION:
1. Can you recommend "flightstick" to be used to
control the computer airplanes of < IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 >

2. $ Cost can be important to me!
Is your recommendation limited ?

3. Can the "flightstick' be used for other planes
AND as a control in other games ?

Thanks for the advice !

falconeye

Any joystick will work with any kind of game that supports one. That mostly means flight simulators in general, but it could work with other titles too.

As for a suggestion, i don't really know as i have an aging but still very good microsoft sidewinder precision pro 2 (it's out of production though). What you need for IL2 is a joystick with the following functions:

1) A twist-grip stick, this gives you the ability to control the aircraft's rudder with an analog function, which is much better than using the keyboard and having your rudder work like an "on/off" switch that only works at full deflection. A twist-grip will give you the ability to be more precise with your inputs, while a keyboard command simply gradually moves the rudder to full deflection. It's slower than slamming full rudder with an analog control and you can't keep it at an in-between value without having to press and release the button multiple times. This means that your accuracy in inputs will suffer as a result and rudders are important for prop-driven airplanes, much more than they are for jets. So, make sure it has some kind of analog control for rudder.

2) A throttle for managing your engine.

3) At least 6-8 buttons and a point-of-view hat switch to change your views without using the keyboard. If it has rotary switches or an extra throttle lever even better, as that will help you map another engine function to it, like propeller pitch (to manage engine RPM) or fuel mixture.

These features are pretty much standard nowadays, so you should be able to find something like that with as low as $30-$50. If you want some more information on individual models, look up some company websites or run a google search for Logitech, Saitek and Thrustmaster. All of these have low price range products along with their more expensive gear, so you should be able to find something to suit your taste.

Urgg, I hate those things. They just mess up the pitch and roll controls.

This is very good to have, not absolutely necessary, but very highly desireable.

I need four (fire, fire rockets, drop bombs, fire without cannon(s)), more than that would be a luxury that I wouldn't necessarily use.

As I've learned the advanced with a twisty joystick, I'm not against them.

If you learn to control it, it won't interfer with the rest of the plane controls. It's just a matter of coordination. They are good for starters because they have all you need and are cheap.

Of course, if you can, and want, to afford a better, it's obvious that a CH, Thrustmaster, Saitek and etc. HOTAS + rudder pedals are way better, but for a starter, a twisty might work.

In "entry level" joystick category, for around U$ 40/45,00 get Saitek AV8R Aviator or Thrustmaster T.16000-M (this have HALL sensor in X and Y axis instead potentiometers).

These models have the basic: four axis (X,Y, throttle, twist rudder) HAT and ~12 buttons).

Avoid generic Chinese brands, like Trust (mechanical deadzone, bad pots...).

Sokol1

Saitek Aviator is a good starter stick

Would get my vote for a beginner on a budget as well.

I've a Saitek Cyborg 3d Gold that I use. At the time I purchased it it was very reasonably priced.

I would look at the Saitek joysticks as whilst they do a very nice setup with a joystick & throttle control as a seperate items, they so some nice joysticks that would be more than adequate

Saitek Aviator. Very good and cheap. I've paid about 25$ (100 PLN)

+1. Got mine a few months back on ebay new for about $25. Much better all around than the logitech stick it replaced.

Flyingbullseye

If you find that you enjoy "our humble little game" you might save your pennys and get one of these (when they are released in the fall).

Logitech's "Flight System G940" looks like it might be just the ticket for someone looking to get all the bits and pieces needed to fly HOTAS. Early reviews look good and the price is "ok" if the quality is really their...stick, throttle, buttons, peddles and force feedback.

p.s. FOR NOW, most of the advice you have received is good, any of the saitek sticks will do...

I was in the same position as yourself some months ago and I bought a cheap stick which I have found very reliable and sturdy for IL2. I have just invested in an X52 (£109 sterling) so yay for me 8)

My old stick is made by "Genius" but I don't know what model it is and I don't even have a box for it. You can have it for free, all I ask is that you'd pay the shipping - I can get a quote for you. I live in England so if you are far away from here it might cost a bit but I'm sure it would be less than buying a new stick + shipping...

The offer is there, you can contact me by email rickyoswald@gmail.com

What I want to know is, why the hell Thrustmaster doesn't rip out the crap innards in their cougar (I had to mod the crap out of mine to make it accurate) and use the hall effect system from the T16000 with a more reliable gimbal (something like CH uses).

Seriously, their cougar needs its guts overhauled.

Wonder if we'll see some mods using the T16000 in the meantime?

1+

hmm
 

starter joystick . . .

avoid the lower end logitechs, I got a 3d pro gaming extreme. I had it for a 3 months, and the twist stuck, forcing the rudder to go and the stick kept pulling up and left halfway (by the squares in IL-2's joystick sensitivity settings) even when in neutral and on the logitech calibration software. I RMA'd and the new one works legit, but its my back up since I got a CH setup.

It was $25.

I'd say go with the advice and get the saitek. You can use it for other games, and then you can figure out if you like IL-2, you can something uber like a CH fighter stick.

Oh and expect some of frustration, while playing this game, when on realisitic settings. It can get hard as its close to real.


Also if you google IL-2 nuggets, you'll find a link to uber start up IL-2 how to play kinda thread, courtesy of bearcat.


I found out I liked IL-2 so much I got a complete CH set up.

I would consider the Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2.

Yes, Force Feedback. Simulation always deprives you of a lot of sensory information. You don't have a real 3D view, instead you have a cam placed in a virtual cockpit. G forces are almost impossible to translate. FF gives you more info, altough it's never enough, but more than sticks that don't give any info. Force Feedback is nicely modeled in the IL2 series, the only important one is when you feel you're reaching the limits of the aircraft. Be it nearing "never exceed speed" or approaching stall, FF is your friend. I bought mine in 2002, it's still working fine. They're very well built. And usually quite cheap second hand. Over here they cost usually between 15 to 45 euro's.

I second Azimech's words. I own a FF2 for almost seven years now and it never gave me any worries and works wonderfully ever since the original IL-2.

Ok, I'll assume low cost to be $/€50 tops... so:

I just chaged today from a Saitek ST290 pro (around $25) that I got as a xmas gift 2 years ago... it did the job and it's not a bad LOW COST joystick at all, but it had a few things I wasn't happy about, such as:

* jumpy and not very smooth movement of the stick (wasn't very bad, but annoying enough) you can feel the plastic scratching the internal surfaces of the stick joint (where the springs are).

* the main trigger button got "broken" somehow quite easily... I'm very gentle with my stuff, i want them to last for as long as possible, so i don't unleash my rage or wrath against my possesions lol... the saitek ST290 pro i have after 1.2 years, started to shoot alone, cause the internal contact of the trigger button was somehow loose or stuck, so i had to press to make it pop out again.

* the joystick is design for both hands (lefties and righties) so it's symmetricaly laid out, which means no matter which hand you use, you'll have the same button distribution but in the opposite way. This is very good, however, due to this same feature, if you're not of very flexible thumbs lol... it was very uncofortable to reach for the very last button to my right side, making me lose grip of the stick (just a very tiny bit but enough to make you aim out target)

MY NEW JOYSTICK (logitech Extreme 3D pro)

I love it... very ergonomic, confortable, buttons very well laid out and distributed (12 of them) and it's a heavy fella... you can FEEL it's very well done an solid, the stick moves with ZERO friction and smoothly, also with very good tension, making the response of the plane very accurate to the hand movement... so if you're up to spend $40... I highly recommend this one :cool: