Recommend a flight stick

[BattleMoose87 10]

Hi there,

I reinstalled ArmA 2 last night and have been enjoying learning to pilot helicopters :) However, I'm finding it difficult to control with a mouse and keyboard so I was wondering if people could recommend a good flight stick, and whether there is a noticeable improvement in control by using one.

I'm aware that I need to keep practicing, but with my mouse being 160Dpi it makes handling too sensitive, with the software to lower my mouse dpi not functioning.

I'm from the UK by the way so please take this into account when linking websites.

Thanks in advance

[Tankbuster 1746]

Whats your budget, fella?

I've got a cyborg evo that I think is great value. Use an application along with it called joy2key to map its button to the joystick and enjoy.

[BattleMoose87 10]

I was thinking under £50. Just found a Saitek X52 with a copy of FSX Deluxe for £65. Is that good value or not?

[GTO 10]

I've had my Logitech Attack 3 for years and I'm very happy with it.

I guess it all depends on how seriously you take your gaming.

[BattleMoose87 10]

Is this any good? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LOGITECH-EXTREME-3D-PRO-GAMING-USB-COMPUTER-PC-JOYSTICK_W0QQitemZ290385948217QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_ComputerComponents_JoysticksJoypadsGamepads?hash=item439c59ee39#ht_3820wt_939

I don't need anything topline, just decent enough to get a feel for the controls and improve my skills.

[Bomber_c 0]

I have one similar to that (different brand), 12 button, hat switch, twist-able stick, and a slider for throttle/thrust.

[Leon86 13]

I have a 10+ year old (I think) microsoft sidewinder precision pro joystick that came with a gameport to usb plug (still works on windows7x64). It works fine for arma 2, after all it's not really a flightsim. If you buy a joystick go for one that has rudder control (sidewinder has twistable stick), its almost a must-have for aiming the gatling gun on the a10.

[instagoat 133]

THe X52 is excellent value for money.

Stay away from Logitech sticks, though. None of my friends who had one ever got them to work properly for any length of time.

I´ve had my X52 for two and a half years now, and it´s still in very good shape despite almost daily use. Saitek in general offers very decent quality for the price right now.

[Perfect Dark 0]

Is this any good? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LOGITECH-EXTREME-3D-PRO-GAMING-USB-COMPUTER-PC-JOYSTICK_W0QQitemZ290385948217QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Computing_ComputerComponents_JoysticksJoypadsGamepads?hash=item439c59ee39#ht_3820wt_939

I don't need anything topline, just decent enough to get a feel for the controls and improve my skills.

stay away from this stick!!!

There are hundreds of complaints about a calibration error which cannot be fixed (due to a simple construction error but no one at Logitech gives a shit about it)

I personally just bought the "Thrustmaster T-Flight Stick X" and feel pretty comfortable with it ;)

[Thirdup 0]

Likely the best "bang-for the buck" in the way of a HOTAS system:

Saitek X52

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A few more bells and whistles:

Saitek X52-Pro

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Now if you've got the big $$$$ and want to get a seriously precise HOTAS w/FFB and pedals:

Logitech g940

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I do alot of simming. I've owned sticks by Suncom, TM, CH, Saitek, MS, and Logitech. Throttles by Suncom, CH, Saitek. Peddals from CH and TM. I've had force feedback on MS and CH controllers. I flew with Saitek X45 for many years. It was a good stick so I'm confidant that the X52 would suit most gamer needs (though I've not owned that particular model).

My current rig is the g940 and just as a HOTAS it's the most precise I've ever flown with (ArmA2 does have the most basic force feedback flight effects). But the g940 is a bit high up the foodchain for the average user (although it's really no more expensive than a CH or TM HOTAS once you factor in the cost of adding pedals to them).

I can't really make a recommendation on a basic "stick" (but once you go "HOTAS" you never go back).

Some further suggestions in THIS thread.

Edited January 13, 2010 by Thirdup

[BattleMoose87 10]

What difference, if any, would I see between the X52 and this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001DMUCAC/ref=s9_sima_gw_s0_p63_t4?pf_rd_m=A3P5ROKL5A1OLE&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1JK4MP294Y2EV5P5V44J&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=467198433&pf_rd_i=468294

Do both work with Win 7 as well?

Thanks for the help guys :)

[Thirdup 0]

I've never flown with the TM T-Flight Hotas but I fiddled with one at a store once. Felt a bit flimsy (in a cheap, plastic sort of way). It's also an odd layout when it's in one peice (which can be seperated into two). A HOTAS really feels more natural with stick in front of one hand and throttle in front of the other. TM makes some fine sticks but overall T-Flight HOTAS is pretty low quality, IMO. It's not in the same legue as the X52 by any means.

Most any current stick out there still sold in stores is going to me W7 compatible.

[BattleMoose87 10]

Too many choices! :( The X52 stick is second hand, so I presume it's an old version (2004-ish). Hopefully it will work on Win 7.

At the risk of out staying my welcome on this forum, could you link me a few joystick's or HOTAs under £60? I want something that feels solid, but isn't overly expensive.

[Darkhorse 1-6 16]

You should try this. http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/cyx.htm

I've had it for a while now and haven't had a single problem. Like a few others here I would recommend staying away from Logitech joysticks. I had an Extreme 3d Pro that had issues after 2 months. I managed to milk it for a year but half the time it would work, half the time it would give me "USB Device Not Found" errors. I had no cash to replace it for a while which is the only reason i "milked" it.

Saitek Cyborg X was about $50 here. Shouldn't be more than £60 for you.

[BattleMoose87 10]

You should try this. http://www.saitek.com/uk/prod/cyx.htm

I've had it for a while now and haven't had a single problem. Like a few others here I would recommend staying away from Logitech joysticks. I had an Extreme 3d Pro that had issues after 2 months. I managed to milk it for a year but half the time it would work, half the time it would give me "USB Device Not Found" errors. I had no cash to replace it for a while which is the only reason i "milked" it.

Saitek Cyborg X was about $50 here. Shouldn't be more than £60 for you.

What are the throttle controls like on the Cyborg?

[Esch0 10]

A BIG NO for "Logitech Force 3D Pro". :icon10: I have one with big calibration problems.

[Amuro 10]

I wouldn't recommend the G940 (at least not at this point), as it has lots of issues,... center slop play, stick overheating, trim wheels and rotaries lack center detents, software problems, don't work with games that only support one controller, etc.

If you want a simple joystick, get the Thrustmaster T.16000M, it's cheap, under $50, but comfortable, and extreemly precise because of the hall effect sensor technology it uses.

If you're looking for a serious HOTAS setup, pay attention to the Saitek X65F Pro, force sensing HOTAS, which is scheduled to ship next month, and the Thrustmaster Warthog A-10 HOTAS (that thing weighs 6KG BTW) coming out some time this year.

The X-52 Pro is OK, very good throttle, better than the CH one, but so so stick, that is why I use the throttle along with my old MSFF2 for FFB.

Edited January 14, 2010 by Amuro

[Pouk 10]

I was lying to myself for a two months that the joystick is good for flying a chopper in ArmA2, but then when I've installed the first ArmA (because of multiplayer on LAN, the second PC would never be able to run ArmA2), I hadn't a time to joystick settings and so I was playing with mouse and keyboard again. And I was surprised, I didn't put my hands on a mouse when flying helicopters for a long time and suddenly the controls were much easier. Joystick is good for planes, but it you want control for choppers, use just mouse+keyboard.

I know that many people will start argue with me now, but that's my oppinion.

If you want to know, what's the most important external piece of hardware for ArmA2, the answer is TrackIR.

I promise you that you'll find it three times more usefull than any joystick, expensive mouse or anything.

[BattleMoose87 10]

I was lying to myself for a two months that the joystick is good for flying a chopper in ArmA2, but then when I've installed the first ArmA (because of multiplayer on LAN, the second PC would never be able to run ArmA2), I hadn't a time to joystick settings and so I was playing with mouse and keyboard again. And I was surprised, I didn't put my hands on a mouse when flying helicopters for a long time and suddenly the controls were much easier. Joystick is good for planes, but it you want control for choppers, use just mouse+keyboard.

I know that many people will start argue with me now, but that's my oppinion.

If you want to know, what's the most important external piece of hardware for ArmA2, the answer is TrackIR.

I promise you that you'll find it three times more usefull than any joystick, expensive mouse or anything.

Thanks for your opinion. I'm currently looking at a TrackIR 4 on eBay with the seller wanting about £60 for it ($75 USD?). Is it worth it for that much?

The reason behind getting a joystick was for both Arma 2 choppers and planes, as well as FSX. I'vr been practicing hard flying choppers on ArmA 2 the last few nights with K&M, well just keyboard, and noticed a massive improvement already.

To anyone reading this I recommend not bothering with the mouse. As someone said earlier or in another thread, pretend you don't have a mouse for choppers. I think I need to just change a few keybinds though for rotar.

[zad fnark 10]

My $.02

I use the Saitek and am happy with it. My primary use for it was flying IL-2 and LOMAC.

When ArmA1 came out, I started using it there. OFP never seemed very joystick friendly and it felt like there was a "disconnect" between the stick and the action. I got pretty good flying with the mouse there. ArmA1 and ArmA2 are both much better with this setup. It did take a while to get used to this, combined with the way "rudder" works at high speed, but I'm pretty comfortable now. It's nice being able to cycle through the menu with the wheel on the throttle. Mapping the zoom to the slider helps also.

ZF-

[Amuro 10]

Thanks for your opinion. I'm currently looking at a TrackIR 4 on eBay with the seller wanting about £60 for it ($75 USD?). Is it worth it for that much?

If it's brand new, it's definitely worth $75. Naturalpoint currently has it at US$99.95.

[BattleMoose87 10]

If it's brand new, it's definitely worth $75. Naturalpoint currently has it at US$99.95.

It's used but in good working order and boxed. It's the TrackIR 4 Pro as well. Not sure what difference this has over the normal TrackIR 4?

[zdavid99 10]

dont buy a Saitek Cyborg Evo, that model is known to have problems.

Bought one last year and it was broken even before i plugged it in.

Currently using a Logt. Extreme which is working fine

[BattleMoose87 10]

What started as getting a £30 joystick has turned into getting (possibly) a HOTAS control and TrackIR 4. Total cost £130 ;)

[Joseph Archer 10]

xbox 360 controller for PC = perfect