Some sad news

[Bearcat]

Wow.. I don't hear about that too often... To those who do not use FFB... it is more than just the gunshake and stall warning.. that stuff is good.. but for me it is the tactile feel.... the solenoids in a MSFFB2 do things that no spring can do... No matter how good the stick... a spring cant transfer a hole in the wing to your hand.... a FFB stick can... I have one that has been going strong since 2001... and another in the closet.. The best joystick ever made IMO. To daate anyway.

[dflion]

These sticks are just the best - mine is still ok and I have brought a 'back-up' stick from Ebay (that might be the best way to go Friedric?)

Poor old Microsoft did not really know what they had got when they decided to discontinue the range.

When I recently upgraded my computer, I had to buy and old soundcard with a MIDI connection to keep my old stick going. Mine was so old, I did not have a USB connection.(desperate flight- simmer!)

Apart from its 'great feel' when flying, one of the best features I like about these sticks is that I can use the throttle and fly, using the same hand. I brought a Saitek stick and found it very awkward to do this. There are probably other sticks that can do this?

Keep trying, all the MSFFB stick flyers no exactly how you feel.
DFLion

[Blackdog_kt]

Is it possible to buy and use a X45 throttle separately? I have a MS sidewinder precision pro (no FFB on that one though) and while it's very rugged, a couple of the buttons on the base are a bit unresponsive after all these years.

So, i was looking on buying a separate throttle for the extra buttons and having an extra slider (one for throttle and one for pitch). However, i think i read somewhere that the X45 can't be used on its own and you need to keep the x45 stick plugged in as well.Any ideas?

[-Sulan-]

I also have an FFB2, lovely stick me thinks! The force feedback is so great with the IL-2 series especially. You can really feel it when you're on the edge of stalling on those tight turns, it's also nice how it stiffens as more air passes over the control surfaces. It would be even nicer if the sticks force moved to reflect your trim position (it does in Lockon ). I have gunshake disabled though, my aim is better without it...

Has anyone tryed the Saitek Evo ffb stick or the Logitech one? Are they any good?
The one thing I don't like about the msffb2 is that you can feel the stepper motors as you move the stick... Otherwise it's great, I've had mine for 5 yrs and the only fault is that the trigger sticks every now and then

[proton45]

I had an EVO with force feedback that broke a few months back, and I replaced it with the Saitek "Avi8tor". Its a good stick, but I really, really, really miss the information the "FF" gave me...its too easy to "stall out" when doing a "split s" or a "hard break" with out the shudder info...I never know how hard to pull the stick....I have to learn to fly all over again.

[madsarmy]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

. it is more than just the gunshake and stall warning.. that stuff is good.. but for me it is the tactile feel.... the solenoids in a MSFFB2 do things that no spring can do...

I like the feel when the rudder & ailerons get heavy & sluggish when doing high speed dives.Gives you a good insight to how all the AC handle so differently.

When I got my first FF2 I'd bought a spare by the end of the same week.

[workky]

Ive got 4 MSFFB2's.I bought 2 of them brand new.One of them i paid 39.00 for on closeout.In my opinion,they are the best FFB joystick on the planet.I will not fly with anything else.I have tried every FFB joystick on the market and they all suck.I Agree with Bearcat.I know Ch has the best in many eyes,and im sure they do.But they dont make a FFB.And this is something i cannot fly without.It took me about a week to get use to it.I also have the first version ,just to see if it was just as good.Its close ,but not quite there.

[mazex]

Well, I sign the long list of MSFFB2 fans too... No other FFB joystick I have tried is good enough. I only have one that is getting really old now and I can imagine your agony when it failed...

Good luck finding a replacement!