Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas X (Compatible with PC)

WARNING: I stand by the previously entered review below, but having used the T-Flight for a week now I discovered a small problem. I lost my throttle control when using the Abacus Flight Deck 6 add-on to FSX, then found myself without throttle control on jets in FSX, and some problems with the hat switch. Two evenings of fussing around for an hour or so - looking for the source of the problem (calibration worked properly on most features - I did all sorts of sequences of resets to "factory"). OOOPS, there is a switch on the back of the T-Flight for PC/PS3. It is reasonably well protected from accidental contact by the main USB wire - but I put my T-F HOTAS on a shelf under my computer blindly when I'm finished. I'd banged the switch into PS3 mode, and then been trying to remap on my PC. No wonder the joystick and my FSX were confused. All is well now, and I didn't write an angry letter to Thrustmaster about their quality control <g>. I append this to my review to remind you all that one should always ensure that the switch is set for the machine you are using before getting upset. A plus for the joystick - the onboard memory brought me back immediately once I set the switch (and reset FSX to "factory"). I only had to re-establish my personal mappings.Here starts the original review:I have been "playing" flight simulators since the original Apple II FS (which was skeletal). A frustrated pilot, Naval Air changed the basic obligation for flight training to five years from three and half in 1957, so I went "surface". (No, the training wasn't five years - that included two tours with the fleet instead of one). Five hours on my PPL logbook of years ago (J-3 Cub) as whenever I had time I didn't have money, and whenever I had money I didn't have time.I went through all the reviews of recent joysticks, price was a consideration. I settled on the TM T-Flight Hotas X and the Saitek (X65?) Pro. I noted that at least two real pilots (one active, one retired medically) loved the TM (and also that a youngster of 70 with considerable experience - I'm 75 - was an advocate). My interest in the Saitek, from its reviews, had to do with the auxiliary screen - I sometimes have difficulty jumping around for the radio or in reading the instruments.I settled on the TM T-Flight, I didn't want to spend the extra $100. My previous was a Logitech 3D Pro, and I've had an M$ Force Feedback (as well as early models from the archaic days). It arrived tonight. I have not fully tested it, so this might be premature - but all I can say is "WOW". I started with the preliminary training missions of M$ FS X, just to feel it out. I quickly moved on. The resistance spring on the joystick is a god-send - I can make a full loop by touch rather than having to watch the attitude indicator (my Logitech allowed me to drift my hand too easily, putting a bank into the straight loop). The full sized throttle allows me to adjust speed accurately (it has a sticky point, but I think that will smooth out with use). The centering point on the throttle allows a reference point for cruising speed (not an exact point, just a point to work from). The buttons on both the joystick and throttle are well placed for "blind" operation - and I particularly like the pre-mapped placement of the elevator trim, never used to use it as I'd forget where I put it. Makes cruising and approaches easier.I am using the throttle and joystick in their "attached" form, due to the "cramped nature of my cockpit". The stability is wonderful. As one who likes his beer and cigarettes I had a problem with pausing, looking down at the keyboard to find the "P" with my left hand had me going off course. I'd rather thought I'd like to map "pause" on the TM, but with the stability of the unit I'll save that button for something else.As to design, and as an old computer consultant and designer I'm a lover of design, I had some problems. First, I found that they had left out the Allen wrench promised for attaching the two units - until I turned it over an looked at the bottom and found it in its designed slot. Then I had a problem with the leading of the 18" wire connecting the two, it came out of a groove that prevented the joining of the units. But when I connected them I realized that the grooves matched up and the wire could run directly between them, and that there was a space to wind the excess under the throttle unit. That may sound trivial, but anyone who is that careful about the details of the design is likely to have been just as careful on the main features. (BTW, for the gentleman who said the units pull apart when in combat, you just didn't screw them in right. The Allen head screws are threaded only into the throttle unit, but it may feel as if they are threaded into the the joystick unit as there is residual plastic grabbing the threads. Give them a good knock with a light hammer, or screw them out while pulling on them. Once they are "free to slide" in the joystick unit they will screw in positively into the metal threading on the throttle unit.I am sure the TM Warhog is better, I'd love to have the twin throttles - but I ain't going for $400 for a joystick when I could take a couple of lessons in a real plane for that price. The CH has been well reviewed, but the ones in my price range didn't have the separate and realistic throttle. That Saitek Pro with the screen sounds great, but it is $100 more than this TM.I am extremely pleased with my choice - and I think that some of my concerns will be solved by the stability of the unit. Instead of using an auxiliary screen for radio and VOR and etc., I can easily pause with my TM and move around the cockpit to set them up. I could do that with my Logitec also, but I would come back to a flight off line as my controls weren't centered. Lastly, I've never been able to play the first mission in the Abacus Flight Deck 6 - the flight with the Blue Angels (and as a retired Naval Officer you know I wanted to do that). I couldn't taxi my flight 7 to join the four plane flight on the runway - over compensation, over and under braking. First try with the TM and I was on their tails (admittedly I lost them soon - forgot the "semi-stop" on the TM throttle at approximate cruise so didn't put the "pedal to the metal" - next try I'll remember that).Best, JonEnglishtown, NJ

This purchase has left me with no complaints. I do not notice a dead spot big enough for me to complain about and I find everything is the right size and just fits in my hands well. I have a Redragon Sindri keyboard with a numpad (so a full-sized keyboard) and both pieces fit on either side of it with barely any room to spare. I am finding I have enough buttons to play Everspace 2 while barely ever resorting to the keyboard, but I do need the keyboard at times; just not enough buttons to avoid that. It also has solid build quality and the right amount of resistance in my opinion. I can see where some would want more resistance in the throttle component, but I do not.

This is a great entry-level HOTUS style joystick. I'm also using it for Elite Dangerous and it works great. There are only four things I really don't like about it, one of which most people may not experience.1. It's all plastic. A simple, very thin and cheap rubber on the joystick where you grip it and on the throttle as well would be great. (And I think on the POV hat it would be good too.) Also, just a hint on the buttons even perhaps (particularly the trigger, which hurts a little if you hit it wrong -- wel, maybe some sort of softer plastic or something would do for the buttons.) I've used Sugru to effectively do this myself, but Sugru starts to come loose after a while if it's a thin enough layer to be effective. This wouldn't have to add to the real cost of the product since no real research or seriously high quality materials are needed for this, so as far as I can tell it's simply an oversight. The rubber isn't just necessary for a better and more comfortable grip, but if your hand sweats at all it starts to slip on the plastic. (And, unfortunately, as efficient as my computer is -- and it's much more efficient than your average gaming system -- my room still gets notably warmer when I play this game for a long time.)2. The tightness level on the absolute maximum is insufficient to my tastes at least. I like the balance of precision I can get if it is really tight with still being able to move the ship quickly as needed. I actually modified mine for a higher level of tightness.3. It creaks. Now, I think this is really just something where I simply need to break it in over time, but I guess it will take a very long time if this is so because I'm using it quite a lot right now and the creaking shows absolutely no signs of decreasing whatsoever. My old non-HOTUS Thrustmaster T-Flightstick X had the exact same internal design for the joystick itself and it does not creak now. However, I have no memory if it did back when I got it so very many years ago now. I think I would remember, but it has been a very very long time.4. The button to the right side on the joystick near the trigger (number 3) is ridiculously easy to bump. It's not quite as soft of a touch as the old T-Flightstick X one was, but it's very very close. On the old one I actually modified it, removing the large button and rigging up something very tiny that was much harder to bump and I may have to do that for this one too.Now, those things aside, this is a great way to get started and after modifications I do really like it. Obviously a more expensive model can be a lot nicer, but this is a really good way to get started without breaking the bank. Especially if you only want it for one or two games. You have enough buttons to map to practically any major function and, unlike the lesser models, the buttons are laid out in a very easy to operate manner. I do find the huge analog "button" on the throttle to be a bit useless for most tasks, but it has its minor uses I guess. It's very stiff and goes back to center a little too fast, so I just can't use it for much (though it might be good for something that needs fine precision. Perhaps lateral thrusters where left and right are all that matter -- or up and down if you don't mind it being less intuitive.) Unfortunately, in PC mode if you bump the "home" button, rather than it acting as another button, it switches to PS3 mode. In PS3 mode you lose one throttle control (that large analog is the same as the twist if I remember right) and it seems to be a bit less accurate and smooth moving. But all you have to do is press it again to switch back (and the light indicates which mode it's in as well. Green for PC mode, red for PS3 mode.) I don't bump it much, but this is something to bear in mind I suppose.Now, on the plusses.1. Lots of buttons and a hat switch. (Ok, just one hat switch, but those with two or more seem more inconvenient than not to me.)2. The buttons are all (except the last two) arranged where you can press any of them without moving your hands around.3. Overall a pretty sturdy design. While I haven't had this one long, I've had its baby brother without the separate throttle section and that thing has taken punishment and lasted a very very long time. I've taken both apart and materials and build design are virtually identical, so I fully expect this one to hold up just as well.4. The throttle has a good catch in the middle that is easy enough to get out of but you don't slip right past. Especially handy in Elite if you map to the full throttle as the middle is usually right in the sweet spot for maximum maneuverability (except in supercruise where it's just above it and easy to find by feel.) For forward + reverse mapping it's easy to get it to zero and bump it up slightly as needed, though of course you lose some of the control from a full mapping.5. Both have a very comfortable rest. The joystick supports the bottom of your hand well and the throttle is easy to hold without effort. In long trips I can just rest my arm on the throttle even. (Hey, it works.)6. This thing is not tiring to use at all and I can go more hours than I rightly should in Elite Dangerous with this thing even when I should have gone to sleep hours ago. That's even with the extra tension I've added to the spring. The movement is good overall other than the creaking I mentioned when I make smaller movements.I would definitely recommend it for anyone who doesn't want to plunk down a lot of money for a high end HOTUS style joystick. And I definitely recommend it far more than the joysticks without the separate throttle even in higher price ranges. (As I said, I've used the little brother without a proper throttle and you just completely lose the level of precision and responsiveness that you really do need without a proper full throttle as this provides.) Not just for dogfights, but normal usage even. Given how much more you have to spend to get something that's truly nicer with the same features, this is probably the absolute best you can get for its price range by far. (Excluding buying used perhaps.)PS. It should go without saying, but the parts are shaped for a right handed person. Left handed people look elsewhere. It will not adapt to left handed use at all.

After buying this I felt like a true pilot. This is really portable and really easy to install and it has really good build quality. If you have a kid that loves flying planes I highly recommend this for beginners.

Love this setup especially for a budget setup all the extra buttons and the response from all the control are amazing I recommend this if your on a budget I used it for DCS and MSFS24 also war thunder

Love it