New HOTAS advice

[nearmiss]

As a professional pilot you will appreciate the CH products probably more than most. CH makes commercial joysticks,etc. The quality is the best you'll find in any consumer product in the controller category.

There is a learning threshold of course, and it's pretty steep for the most part. The control manager is a very comprehensive software.

Recommend - fighterstick, propedals, prothrottle... can vary, but the three aren't a cheap package. If you cross over to several other sims you might want to get an MFP, and it is $200.

Cougar is good, but you need to spend almost as much on gimbels and other fixes. They'll cost about the same as the cougar... expensive way to go. I definitely don't see it as a best way to go unless you are into Falcon 4 in a big way.

I used MSFT FF2 stick with twist rudder for a long time, and to be real honest that twist rudder isn't that bad on a better stick. Still, it's nothing like a good pedals. I use the rudder pedals to swish side to side without screwing up my stick registration on ground targets and head on passes. I can spray all over the sky laterally... LOL

Good stuff, you won't regret it. That's a fact.. quality wise that is.

[Sokol1]

Thrustmaster plan a new HOTAS:



Probable with HALL sensor like in T.16000M.
A-10 means dual throttle...

Sokol1

[frenchfly]

I've been flying with the g940 for the last few weeks, and I can assure you that it's been rock solid with no problems on my end. If you want force feedback it's the only way to go right now and you won't be disappointed.

Frenchfly

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Well, maybe I should go CH... But the problem would be the rudder. The pedals may be good, but cost the same as the joystick. Throttle isn't THAT necessary, as I can do it with the one built-in FighterStick

Maybe the FFB isn't THAT necessary (and now I've just realized that I don't recall feeling any force feedback effect in the Su-30 simulator). As the buttons x hats, well, I'm more into the hats, as I've been going over the dark side (read "modern jets") very oftenly, and played such games even more than IL-2, recently.

It's a hell of a hard choice, still

The games I've been playing recently are only Lock On and IL-2.

Nearmiss, what do you mean by extra expenses with the Cougar? Is there anything that has to be changed on it?

[nearmiss]

The Cougar is competent, but there are problems with gimbels and the inner workings of it. You should check around on Falcon 4.0 boards (Simhq) and ask questions there, if you are thinking about a Cougar. In fact, I recalll there was a company selling replacement gimbels,throttle pots and stuff for around $250 US.

The CHproducts pedals can be bought for around $100US, if you shop.

Chproducts are quality construction. When you are putting your big heavy feet and legs on them you need quality construction.

You'll never regret a CHproduct purchase. I doubt you'll read a bad report on their products either.

[Lucas_From_Hell]

Thanks for the answers, guys.

$250 for pots and stuff?! Holy f***! It's almost a brand new G940 (at least I saw it being selled by $273 on Amazon).

I guess Cougar's out then...

But, if I actually get a FighterStick or something, what do you guys think I should use for rudder? I don't think I can get the pedals and stick at the same time, so it might be an issue.

[Chivas]

You will need rudder pedals with the CH Fighterstick because its not a twist stick. I guess I'm the only one who doesn't like the poor transistion thru the X and Y axis of the CH gimbals.

If I were you I would spend the extra monies and buy a full setup. You won't regret it in the long run. I don't have the Logitech G940 but its one I'm very interested it.

For those that do have the G940 does it use electrical centering forces or spring centering, and how smooth are the gimbals going thru the X and Y axis.