Flight Stick

KLM

KLM

KLM

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Joined
26 Jan 2014
Posts
98
Hi

I am currently playing war thunder, and a I also have Ed but have not played that for a few weeks
I have a ancient Microsoft sidewinder pro flight stick. which still works perfectly fine but it clearly lacks buttons and support.

I have been reading some posts on hear about the Saitek x52/x52pro and the x55

I have already eliminated the warthog based on price and the fact it doesn't have twist for yaw.

unless there is something imminent to be released in the flight stick market my choices are between the three saiteks

x52 @£100
x52 pro @ £140 ( worth the extra £40 ?)
x55 @ £170 (worth another £30 or do the reliability issues make this stick a no - go ? )


Thanks
 
I can't comment on anything other than the one I have. The X52.

Its pretty good to be honest. I have never had any issues with it and it works great for any flight sim I have ever tried. Plenty of buttons and features etc.
 
I have the X52Pro, still going strong after years of use, worth £140? depends on how much you use it really.
 
I had an X52 Pro. It went back. The LEDs, unless turned full dazzling brightness flickered far too much. The stick is based on hardware and drivers that are now a few years old and it seems there may be issues with USB3 compatibility.

The X55 by comparison is much better being a more modern design. I don't need the dual throttle function so the throttle pair is linked together and that does mean there is a lot of resistance. But the absence of a detent in the throttle is preferable to the detents in the X52. It's a shame the palm rest to the throttle isn't adjustable in height.

The point is that there isn't a perfect solution.
 
thanks for the replies

and yes, perfect time for an offer, which I have gladly taken up on

so I will be picking up the x52pro tomorrow

thanks again
 
In case you haven't already paid for one...

x52 @£100
Pretty good, loads of features and top of what I would consider entry level for a serious gamer, even if there's only one joysticky game you're serious about (in my case, Elite).
Not a big fan of the colour, though.

x52 pro @ £140 ( worth the extra £40 ?)
Yes, definitely worth the extra £40. The construction has more metal parts, the throttle features are better designed IMO and the product looks more like a decent stick than a cartoon/child's toy.

HOWEVER - If you can, be sure to get an older model actually made before MadCatz took over Saitek. Build quality of many Saitek products seems to have dropped since then...

x55 @ £170 (worth another £30 or do the reliability issues make this stick a no - go ? )
No way. Not if you paid me.
Seen too many threads about and known too many owners of failed X55s to even consider one. Having also used one as well, it just screams FAIL on many counts.

More than that - If you're spending that kind of money then for under £200 brand new you could get a full CH Products set of Fighterstick and Pro Throttle, which are very well designed and so well built that people are still using their original models from the 80s!
 
Looking to get a x52 pro (was it on here for £109?). If so I will have to wait for that to come round again :(. It now says its reduced from £139.99 to £139.99? :)

Thanks

Richard
 
Cheap:

Thrustmaster T.16000M
+ Incredibly accurate due to hall effect sensor and comfortable to use
+ Ambidextrous, suitable for paired dual-stick use
- Limited base buttons, which aren't visibly numbered.
- Base throttle is as basic as it gets.

Thrustmaster T-Flight HOTAS-X
+ Has a functional throttle unlike most in this price range.
+ Value for money
- Some complain the cable connecting throttle/stick is too short.

Mid range

X52 or X52 Pro (Get the pro if you can - it's not just a cosmetic upgrade)
+ Proper stick and throttle combination with tons of functionality.
+ Proven build quality.
+ Can be bought very cheaply second hand as people upgrade to the X55/Warthog.
- Stick is far from the best, however if it's your first HOTAS you probably won't realise how poor it is. (I owned one for 7 years before realising..)

Upper

X55 (note early models had quality control issues)

+ Ludicrous amounts of functionality.
+ Stick is improved on the X52/X52 Pro
- Worth the cash over an X52 Pro? (I'd say yes)

Warthog

+ Everything
- Now you can't eat for a month
- You forgot you need pedals as the stick doesn't have a twist axis



For reference I use a combination of the peripherals I found best personally. T.16000M stick, CH Pro throttle and Saitek Cessna Pro pedals. I did previously own an X52 and have several flight sim friends and family members. The only stick I haven't personally used on this list is the T-flight. If I was pushed and asked to pick a set from the above list it'd be the X55, I did really like it but I'd still pair it with pedals. I'd mention CH products but frankly getting them in the UK is a pain, I had to import my throttle from the US (only cost £75 at the time).

OP out of the ones you've listed I'd say save up and get the X55, bottom line is that the X52s are old tech and have a very iffy stick, sadly you wouldn't realise how bad it is until you tried a better quality one.
 
Halfmad said:
I'd mention CH products but frankly getting them in the UK is a pain, I had to import my throttle from the US (only cost £75 at the time).
Click to expand...
I got mine from a competitor (although I don't think OCUK actually stock CH anyway), who has them in stock right now according to their website.
I did, however, go through either their rainforest or well-known-auction shop (can't recall which), as it was cheaper and offered better buyer protection.

Keechy said:
Thrustmaster Warthog A10C is by far the best flight stick you can buy bit pricey at £250 but worth
Click to expand...
The stick is very good. I found the throttle quite sharp and uncomfortable around the split area after about 20 minutes, though.
 
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