please recommend a low cost "flightstick"

[hiro]

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.

[Azimech]

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.

[NeroMoura]

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.

[lep1981]

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