Just got the AV8R......

[Porcho]

I actually just got mine today, and tried out the demo.. the stick is amazing, I was having second thoughts about getting it when people said it wasn't that great.. but it actually is, I have no idea what they're talking about. The only thing I can see is the small deadzone I barely noticed, and the small 'Hat' style analog which feels kinda awkward using. I landed seccessfully multiple times with little effort, and the plane never flipped. And dogfighting is much easier now.

Since my 360 is next to my PC, and I play on the same TV Monitor at my computer desk, I play with the joystick on the keyboard section of it, and it feels really comfortable and works out great. Down the road when I get more money to spend freely, I will one day get myself a Hori Flight Stick for the 360, but for now.. I really like my Aviator.

[reverend66]

Porcho- As far as the deadzone I have found that the ziptie mod works great for eliminating the sudden jerk from center. It's a very cheap (damn near free) mod that helps considererably.

Just compress the middle of the spring (I'm using 3 now). You can get zipties at any hardware store.

[Porcho]

Ha, yeah I was planning on doing that, just got to pick me up some. Seems like a neat idea.

[Edit]: Just curious, anyone think of a way the way down the base of the stick more; make it heavier so its more sturdy and less prone to move when you make sudden movements?

[reverend66]

Porcho- You can buy suction cups at the hardware store for the base.

just drill holes in the base (make sure there are no electronics there) and push them through. Then you can stick the controller to a smooth surface.

[mrbungle]

^^^that's a good idea...I was thinking of some way to vice mine down but don't wanna break it.

[loopdreams]

I find it's ok on my lap but with a very big book, like an atlas or something, to rest it on. This is still a console game so as a point of principle I refuse to play it any other way than slumped back on the couch.

[Revvin]

Try looking at speaker stands with a decent base. A lot do have small bases but if you look around you might find something like the one in the picture below which I use (the stick is a CH Products Fighterstick that I use for PC sims) The base is wide enough so that the stick can be used without the stand moving around and I just use some sticky back heavy duty velco that you can pick up from most hardware stores for a few pounds. The stuff I use is really good, according to the blurb on the back of the box a small square around 50mmx50mm will hold 1kg of weight. The speaker stands were around £10 for a pair so with the cost of the velcro on top altogether a nice joystick stand cost me £14