Отзывы о Джойстик Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog

Господа, описание джостика поражает... но со всех сторон все твердят только об одном, понравился!!! ууу сколько кнопок... вау тумблеры!!! да они 2х 3х 4х позиционные... кнопки руды и прочая чудо... Ребята это НЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛЬ для джоя!

У меня только пара важных вопросов которые стоит задать владельцам:
1)На чем построен сам джой Резисторы или датчики Холла?
2)снаружи железо, а внутри что? опять китайский пластик? или в нем ДОСТОЙНАЯ МЕХАНИКА исключающая возникновение люфтов в процессе эксплуатации...

Лучшее что я приметил для покупки и в последствии купил. Сам по себе аппарат внушает респект и увашение. Но вот драйвера и программное обеспечение...

ВНИМАНИЕ ВСЕМ!!! - НИ В КОЕМ СЛУЧАЕ НЕ ВКЛЮЧАЙТЕ ЧТО ЛИБО ИЗ ЭТОГО КОМПЛЕКТА В ПОРТЫ USB ДО ТОГО КАК НЕ УСТАНОВИТЕ ДРАЙВЕРЫ И ПРОГРАММА УСТАНОВКИ ВАС ОБ ЭТОМ НЕ ПОПРОСИТ.

Это не шутка. В противном случае будут некорректно отобрашаться информация по состоянию осей. И вернуть как было поможет только переустановка windows (по другому выпилить дрова не получилось никак вообще).

Данный косяк был проверен мной лично на WinXP 32bit и Win7 64bit. Все так и было. Об этом писал какой-то человек в одном из отзывов. ОГРОМНОЕ ему спасибо,...

Насчёт копийности понятия не имею — в реальном A-10 не сидел, но «дешевизной» внешнего вида не раздражает, даже пластик на РУД под ладонью заметил только на ощупь.
Люфт РУД, по крайней мере у меня — незначительный.

Господа, описание джостика поражает... но со всех сторон все твердят только об одном, понравился!!! ууу сколько кнопок... вау тумблеры!!! да они 2х 3х 4х позиционные... кнопки руды и прочая хрень...

В любом случае думаю что сложно найти сейчас джойстик лучше, разве что собрать самому или заказать самодельный, но такой обойдется возможно ещё дороже.
Пускай он и силуминовый, но главное что не в механике — рассыпаться быстро точно не будет, в остальном силумин весьма долговечный.

The Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog consists of 2 separate pieces. A Throttle Quadrant and a Joystick. Each piece is adorned with an amazing number of levers, buttons and switches.Everything I read about this control surface gushed about the Warthog's build quality, heaviness, and overall feel. This is an incredibly SOLID and substantial product. It has far exceeded my expectations, and using FSUIPC (registered version) I was able to completely calibrate the flight axes on both the throttle quadrant and the joystick.Even though this device is specifically designed as a control surface for the U.S. Airforce's A-10 Warthog, I use it exclusively to fly the very fine PMDG 737NGX (with Service Pack 1b) within Microsoft Flight Simulator X Gold Edition (w/ Acceleration Pack). Adding this product to my cockpit made my overall flying experience go up at least 4 notches on the immersion scale!Throttle Quadrant: Configured mine so than after the throttle is pulled back to the detent (Idle Thrust) position (where it stops moving towards you), one is able to then lift the throttle handle straight up while simultaneously pulling it even further back towards you which will engage the reverse-thrusters.JOY! Then I programmed the grey slide lever on the right side of the TQ to control 9 positions of flaps (0=FLAPS OFF then settings ranging from 1 degree to 40 degrees flaps). When I push the slide lever all the way forward I am able to completely remove flaps (after landing) which is simple and very fast. It's also nice to instantly switch off the landing lights and turn on the taxi/runway turnoff lights all with just 2 toggle switch throws on the throttle quadrant portion of the Warthog instead of motoring around inside the Virtual Cockpit looking for the toggle switches on your PC screen. Note: This functionality requires free add-on software see next paragraph.I was using FSUIPC to assign the Warthog switches and buttons within FSX, but then discovered a software utility called "LINDA" which is available free of charge on Avsim's website- and I've been quite busy doing that. "LINDA" is a Graphical User Interface that allows you to custom-program complex aircraft within Microsoft Flight Sim X and assign buttons as you wish. In my case, I have the Throttle portion of the HOTAS WARTHOG configured to do cool things like turn on the Landing Lights, turn on the Taxi Lights and the Runway Turnoff Lights, set flaps from 0 to 40 degrees, set and release the parking brake, turn up all the lights on all the aircraft control panels, set the speedbrake, engage the reverse thrusters, lower and raise the landing gear, engage the localizer (APP), release Auto Pilot, and so much more. I even have separate toggle switches to shut down the engine 1 and 2. Because LINDA allows 1 set of commands for 'normal' Throttle piece and 'normal' joystick, it also allows you to configure a "SHIFT" button so in effect all your pushbuttons and toggle switches are 'doubled'. Amazing! You still will need to set the AXES (the plural form of "AXIS") within FSUIPC. Linda will handle everything else. With Linda assigning custom actions for each of the buttons and toggles on the Warthog is MUCH easier, because when you touch a button on the controller, LINDA jumps to that control on screen and you choose what action you want to assign when the button is PUSHED (one action) RELEASED (a seperate event for the same button) or HELD. So you have 3 functions possible. Same thing with a Toggle Switch. One action you can assign when the toggle is lifted and another when it is flipped back the other way. One of my toggle switches "Toggles" the HUD (Heads-Up Display) on the PMDG 737 NGX. Again, that is incredibly HANDY to have things happen on your PC simultaneously with your actions on the Warthog's control surfaces.The joystick is so smooth and solid (it's heavy!) you'll feel as if you're flying a real jet, something I never felt when I used my old all-plastic T.Flight Hotas joystick/throttle (also by Thrustmaster). The difference between this beast and all other joysticks? About like comparing a Ferrari to a Yugo. Sheer curb weight - the 'metal content' - the lighted graphics on the TQ panel - the programmable LED's - Wow.You will spend hours deciding how to set this up for aircraft OTHER than the A10 (it's designed to self-configure for the A10 plane), but once you experience how the plane flies with this control surface, your smile will light up the room, and your (existing) joystick will be relegated to the dust bin.Generally I don't go crazy recommending a product, and for what this costs, you may hesitate (as I did). Once you get the feel of the Hall Effect sensors and the magnetic insides of this beast, you will feel completely justified in your purchase decision. Everyone I spoke with online said the same thing: Buy it, you'll never regret it. I second that emotion!

As a replica of the real A-10C joystick, right down to the materials, feel, and even sounds of the switches and buttons, what else would you expect but quality?The Stick is firm, and extremely precise thanks to the high resolution hall effect sensors which never wear out. The force needed to press buttons and hats is noticeably higher than in other sticks, ensuring that a missed press never occurs. The two stage trigger allows for extremely precise shots when using PAC in DCS A-10C. To round is all out, the included metal baseplate is extremely heavy, and there is no worry about your stick moving around on your table like some sort of roomba. A really big thing though, is that the same connectors as the cougar are in use for the stick mount, so if you want to use the stick from your old Cougar, they are completely interchangeable, which is nice, because the Warthog stick mount which contains all of the sensors is leaps and bounds ahead of the base model Cougar's.The throttle is another matter entirely. But that's only because it isn't just a throttle setup. It contains the entire throttle panel from the real A-10C, and also includes the LASTE panel which controls the autopilot functions of the aircraft. The buttons and switched on this weighty panel include a throttle friction adjustment, so if you are ever feeling like it is too easy or too hard to move the throttles, than this will come in handy. The actual throttle has an assortment of hats, buttons, and switches which are all laid out extremely ergonomically. Some of the buttons on the throttle are functional switches, but do not have functions in the A-10C as the throttle has some carry over from the F-15E throttle the real A-10C uses (they are non-functional in the real jet as well, or have functions pertaining to the use of secure voice comms which are not implemented in-game). You can map these buttons as they do work, but they will have no effect on the A-10C in DCS unless you map them separately. The really cool thing about this stick is that there is an easily modifiable afterburner detent that can be flipped to allow the use of either a detent, or not.Overall, the build quality is second to none. The stick is an EXACT replica of the stick and throttle in the real A-10C. This is bar none the easiest to use, and most precise HOTAS ever made.

The ThrustMaster Warthog:I struggled with myself in trying to pick a star rating of either 4 or 5 for this Joystick Flight System. As you can see I finally fell on 4 stars. I would've given it 4 1/2 stars but I haven't got that option.Right off the top I want to say that this is a fantastic flight controller system and at this point, I do believe that it is the best. I fly FSX and had a number of different joysticks and flight control systems including the Logitech G940, (my favorite before the Warthog system).I must say that ThrustMaster did a great job with quality on this system and made it so that every single button can be programmed. If you use the TARGET joystick profiling system that ThrustMaster offers, (free), the number of switches that you have can be increased by six times.Because there is a lot on the Internet about the ThrustMaster Warthog I'm not going to waste your time by repeating what everyone else has been saying regarding the smoothness of operation and adjustability the system offers.You can believe that if you buy this joystick system you will own the best joystick system on the market. So why four stars? Well incredibly, Thrust Master decided not to make the Warthog a force feedback system! Yes, that's right, a $400-$500 joystick and it doesn't have force feedback?! In addition, Thrustmaster includes something like 6 'ready made' profiles but omits the profile for a flight sim that carries a larger customer base than all other video games put together; Microsoft Flight Simulator!The last joystick I had before I bought the ThrustMaster Warthog was the Logitech G940. I'm sure that many of you have read the negative feedback about the G940 but keep in mind the G940 only cost about $250-$280. And the fact is I really liked the G940 and the force feedback system that it offered, (Logitech's CS was another issue altogether).I know not everyone likes force feedback but there's an easy solution to that. You see, ThrustMaster includes a wrench with their Warthog that permits the owner to change the way the throttle control operates. Would it have been so hard to include a wrench to remove the centering spring in the joystick?Why would I want to do that? Because if you gave the Warthog force feedback like the G940 you need a power supply that plugs into the stick and the spring would get in the way of the feedback system.I don't think it would've been a hard job to engineer, (I'm a mechanical engineer myself), but of course you always have to concern yourself with the ratio of cost and profit. It would be likely that the force feedback system I'm speaking of would raise the cost of the stick another hundred dollars or so.So between the lack of force feedback and a small problem I have with their miniature XY joystick button, (it's a 'mouse' button but a bit too small), I decided to give the stick four stars. Nothing is perfect but ThrustMaster certainly strived to reach that point.I also want to say that ThrustMaster is standing behind the product 100%. That's something that many of the companies have stopped doing. So once again, you will not regret buying this joystick system and even though it doesn't have force feedback, the smoothness of the joysticks movement makes it a pleasure to use and some real pilots have claimed that this joystick feels very much like the real thing. If you're still vacillating, buy it and try it. I think that if you give it a few hours as I did, you'll have no doubts and like me, will see that it is THE top stick in any class.

I have been a fairly serious flight simmer, (and real life fixed wing/helicopter pilot) for well over 10 years, mostly with the Microsoft Flight Simulator products but also with Longbow 2, EE-CH, X-Plane, and more recently, DCS Black Shark. (Not to date myself, but my military flight simming goes back to Falcon 3... oops I think I just dated myself.) I have a number of flight sim hardware add-ons, including CH Products, GoFlight, and Precision Flight Controls gizmos.A while back DCS's A-10 Warthog product was discounted on Steam for $20 so I bought it on a whim, but it took a couple months for me to actually run it. Not too many days later, I decided I had to have the TM Warthog HOTAS since the A-10 is so HOTAS-centric. Initially I thought I would be dedicating the TM HOTAS to that sim and leave my all-CH Products stick and throttle for FSX/etc, but after a week or so of using the Warthog setup I decommissioned the CH stuff (which has been rock-solid for many years) and reconfigured FSX for the TM setup (keeping the CH Pro Pedals of course).I've had this setup for about two months, and I can only say that my CH stick and throttle are staying in storage. The 'Hog's joystick feel and movement resistance feel real to me (not that I've ever piloted an A-10 of course), and the throttle's feel is... I was going to say "sensual" but that's a bit over the top so I'll just say "feels right".The "TARGET" keystroke/axis programming software has a fairly steep learning curve, but I've managed to learn it enough to be able to control the TM throttle quadrant's backlighting, as well as the 5 assignable LEDs to show the DCS A-10's flap and spoiler position. I have also integrated the HOTAS into FSX for aircraft such as the Wilco BA-609 TiltRotor, leveraging the FSX add-on "FSUIPC" to customize the HOTAS to "fit" the BA's special control requirements.The one downside, at least for me (other than the price!), is that the TARGET software merges the stick and throttle into a single DirectX controller, meaning that due to DirectX's 32-buttton limitation, you have to resort to keystroke assignments for some of the switchology of the HOTAS since it has far more than 32 different switch positions. I hope that TM will enhance TARGET to treat the stick and throttle as two seperate DX controllers, so that keystroke assignment is not necessary.Summary: Can I justify spending over $400 on a HOTAS setup? Not really. Am I satistfied with the purchase? Heck yeah. TM got it right this time (unlike their previous Cougar HOTAS, which I bought and then sold shortly thereafter due to various issues with that product). If you're a serious flight simmer, and especially if you're wanting to fly the DCS Warthog the way it was meant to be flown/controlled, you kinda sorta but really need the TM Warthog HOTAS 8^) .

I have to admit that at first, I balked at the price. A HOTAS joystick for 400+ bucks? You can almost buy a tablet for that. But I can tell you that once you use it, you will never be able to go back to those plastic joysticks... ever!I used to have a Saitek X-52. It was okay, did it's job well enough - but I've always felt that it was a bit flimsy. The control just wasn't precise enough for certain games. But with the Warthog everything just felt so right. I don't know how to describe the feeling but it felt like I am in full control of the plane/spacecraft, and if I make any mistakes during the manouver or miss a kill I can completely attribute it to my own fault and not that of the Warthog. On that note, I ended up replaying a lot of the games I played with the Saitek and noticed that the number of kills per mission went up noticeably, by 30-40% in some cases. This is the same for both serious (DCS A10) and non-serious (HAWX series, Wings of Prey) flight sims. Even the ol Wing Commander Saga saw a big kill improvement. More kills = more enjoyable playing experience.The only initial problem I had was that the joystick was a bit stiff compared to other joysticks out there, but the side benefit is that it was a lot more accurate. Another issue is that because the Joystick and the Throttles have to be hooked up to separate USB port, some games will only recognize the joystick only. But the Target GUI fixes that as it combines it into a single device. The button mapping system also works really well and quite intuitive. It didn't take long to figure out how to do it. My only problem right now is trying to assign all the buttons and I simply couldn't do it - there are just far too many buttons available!If you love flight sims and feel hesitant about spending a lot of money on this - don't be. It's really worth every penny.

After purchasing and using other top name brand flight controllers, I find this one above and beyond comparison. Yes, it is a bit pricey, but so are Cadillacs, Mercedes, ect. You get what you pay for, as a rule. This product definitely fits the cadillac line for its styling, construction, precision and a truly realistic flying experiance. Anything that is clickable or moveable just feels like what it is: a professional piece of equipment. It truly enhances the realism and enjoyment while running the DCS A-10. All buttons and sliders, hats, trigger, ect. are already programmed for this flight simulator, except the increase/decrease gray slider which so far, apparently does nothing. Also, the trim hat button on the joystick is preconfigured for changing the view but easily reconfigured to do as supposed. The program is awesome, easy and great looking. A very powerful piece of software indeed, but I still am afraid to use any of the other preconfigured programs in it like Black Shark because I dont know if, or how it would revert back to its default state. I do not know where the .fcs program is located in order to reload for the A-10. But that is no biggie since I use the Saitek X52Pro for the other simulators.If you can afford this, BUY IT! if you run DCS A-10. It is a truly remarkeable experiance. Allspecifications are modeled after the real thing, military grade switches, material same as the real thing.. HEAVY!!! Not cheap plastic. The joystick, because of its huge base and steel base can be placed between and under your legs so you experiance the same exact sensation and realism as an actual A-10 pilot. Note; this is not a toy, but a sophisticated realistic interpretation of the real thing. Worth every penny. Minimize keyboard usage from the humungous library of commands.It looks great, feels great, works precisely well. REAL precision while flying-no potentiometers are used rather the HALL EFFECT SENSORS are the secret. Stick is ultra-responsive,precise, no wobbling at all-FIRM!!! The throttle control is also ultra responsive with no deviation from the programmed curve. The friction is adjustable as in the real plane. There is no wandering or slipping or moving without your input. PRECISION and REALISM is where its at.Amazon had the lowest price available from one of their associate dealers. I got it for around $200 under the original price. Act fast, they are scarce and go for as much as $700, depending where you look. $500 is average but if the right Amazon dealer still has it in stock, it can be had for as low as $380.Happy Flying

First why I rated it 4 and not 5. At a store I went to to look at this product, several of the buttons were broken. Since receving mine from amazon.com, I've noticed that the rocker switches and some of the buttons seem cheap (although nothing is broken yet). OK, now that I have that off my chest, this is a very expensive, but very worth it item if you want to experience the A-10 Warthog. It's just about perfect. I play DCS A-10C and am about 50% complete building a replica cockpit. One of the great things other than the realism of this product is that it includes all of the switches and buttons and lights around the throttle. This area is difficult to reproduce if you are trying to create a somewhat realistic cockpit replica as I am. You can't use any other throttle because it gets in the way of the switches, so you would have to create your own custom. The Yoke is detachable from the big base, but the electronics inside the stick become exposed so you'll have to mount it to something flat. Otherwise the base, if not detached, provides excellent stability (as does the throttle). I tried it out before mounting it all in my cockpit.

I am very impressed with this set. Everything feels authentic as far as quality goes. It feels as though this is actual equipment that has been made to work on a computer via USB. I have the Warthog simular and everything works perfectly. There are a few drawbacks to this product. You will need a sturdy place for the controls. I used an old desk chair to contruct a make-shift cockpit using some scrap wood, plumming pipes and brackets. If Amazon allowed pictures I would post the flight chair I made. I would not try to play the simulator without having the two control panels mounted on a secure platform. Also, the controls include software that is supposed to allow for reprogramming to make compatible with other flight simulators. I have Falcon 4.0 and made a couple of attempts to load the program for that simulator and I cannot get it to work. Te software itself is not user friendly. I only use the controls for the A-10C Warthog simulator. For that particular simulator, the controls are incredible and almost completely eliminate all need for a keyboard.

I have been an armchair pilot since Intel 80286 days. My preferred joystick of the last 8 years has been a MS Force Feedback 2. This stick is not force feedback, but in every other way simply the finest, smoothest, solidest flight sim controller I've ever touched. I bought specifically for digitalcombatsystems A-10 simulation. I had no intention of building a "cockpit", but I am close to changing my mind. Don't let the price tag scare you if you are a serious flight simmer.

Five star feel and function, one star reliability.Great joystick and throttle, when it works.I have just returned my HOTAS Warthog Joystick for repairs for the SECOND time. - There is some sort of short causing all the joystick buttons to cycle on and off. First failure after 10 months, second less than three months later.My Warthog Throttle has been returned for repair ONCE. - EAC switch "ARM" back-light failed after two days)Tech support is painful and slow. Once you finally get an RMA, it takes several weeks to get your joystick back. They will refund your shipping, but it takes months.When it's working, the Warthog is great (a nice improvement over the HOTAS Cougar).The feel of the joystick, throttle, and switches is solid and very much like an actual aircraft. (20 years as a Navy pilot)Joystick is MUCH smoother than the old HOTAS Cougar.Right Throttle lever has a little bit of play left/right, but is otherwise OK.I have been using Thrustmaster products for over 15 years. F-16 FCLS and TQS, F-22 Pro, Rudder Control System, MFDs, and HOTAS Cougar.Previously, the only real problem I had was a broken spring on the Rudder (after 15 years of use) and the Cougar joystick gimbal was poor out of the box.I'm really not sure if I would buy a Warthog again. It is FANTASTIC when it works, the best I have ever used, but for $500 it should not break in under a year, and three failures is ridiculous.Update: Had to return the joystick a THIRD time for an internal short.The good news is that Thrustmaster replaced it with a new one AT NO CHARGE. No problems with the new one so far.I've got to give Thrustmaster (Guillemot) credit for working to make things right.

I bought these for 2 reasons. DCS A10-C Flight Sim, And the upcoming Mechwarrior. Now i have owned many many flight sticks in the past dating all the way back to the Firebird 2 Joystick from Gravis, and in the past few years have tried Saitek's brand. The HOTAS Warthog's are by far the best i have ever owned. I couldn't believe how heavy they are, and how solid they feel. My arm, and hand was a little sore after using these for the first 5 hours or so, but have gotten used to them now. They are incredibly precise and sturdy. You will not be lifting these off the table period unless you have a big gorilla arm, and are really trying to do so. The software is a bit complex if your planning on using these for anything else other than DCS, as you will not just be jumping in. and taking off right out of the box. For those of you wondering if you should buy these for battlefield 3, uuhhhhm, well... I'm not going to say don't do it. i am going to say prepare for disappointment, and headaches. The flight models in that game are poorly executed at best, and are not really meant for a complex setup such as the HOTAS Warthog. You would do well with one of the less complex setups, or sticking with your mouse, and keyboard.No striction issues so far, but will update this should i encounter it. Over all i would say buy these if you are a hard core sim user, and are tired of the light weight plasticy feel of most of the setups out there. Now if they would just make some rudder pedals i would be good to go!

DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT unless you want hours upon hours of headaches and the worse customer service on the planet. In hindsight i totally bought into the other "positive reviews". The joystick was sloppy, and loose after assembly. Yes, it's heavy construction, but not good construction. when you go and try to play your games the calibration issues are extremely difficult to solve..you will spend hours trying to fix.....HOURS. TM website is down and support is non-existent = no drivers. dont buy into the hype.. returned for a full refund. Going to stick with my old setup as it works way better than this fancy piece of junk.

This is a serious piece of hardware. I work with this jet every day and it feels like the real deal. It is a heavy metal construction that won't move around while in use, holes are drilled in the bottom plate that allows it to be fastened down if desired. It is perfect for DCS A-10 for identical setup. Definitely worth the price for sims not games.

I just bought one of these. Had a problem with a sticking switch, and contacted support for help with the issue. They would absolutely not help me unless I submitted a video of the malfunction, which, as I explained to them, wasn't outright impossible, but would be quite difficult and inconvenient for me to do.After some further exchange, I determined that Thrustmaster was so unwilling to work with me that they would rather see me return the item than help me without a video. So, I am returning it.The build quality seems okay, although I'm not sure it's really worth $500. But the company behind this product is so hostile and unfriendly and unwilling to use their brains to answer simple questions that I recommend you avoid them. I don't think they're an especially large company, but they've certainly developed the customer service skills of a typical huge corporation. That is to say, they've got a great process in place to ignore you, and to tell you to drop dead if you point out that their policy is unreasonable. You must do what Customer Service says in order to get support or warranty service, no matter how difficult or impossible those demands might be. As of this writing, you must own a video recorder to get support. Next month, who knows?I'm glad Amazon's return policies are good. In all these years, I've never needed to ask for my money back before.

I've been long lamenting the scarcity of well built flight sticks. Thrustmaster was THE name back in the day. I've owned several. Well, that was a long time ago and flight sticks ain't what they used to be. ... Or so I thought.This damn thing is solid, precise, and just sports amazing build quality.Worth every penny.

I picked this up about a week and a half ago for use with flight sims in general but mostly for DCS A-10c.Since getting this control my learning curve in the a-10 has been much better. Having a replica of the actual a-10 throttle and stick is amazing.While it is not cheap,i still believe it is worth the price and the price seems to be dropping.With it's metal construction and overall build quality, this control will keep me happy in DCS A-10c and other sims for years to come.

It really is the best HOTAS I've used. By far. I use it for the DCS A-10C Warthog and it's a plug and Play, no extra setting needed regarding control mapping. It is very accurate, although the stick is a bit stiff but when getting to used to it it became a non-issue. Hope the reliability will be better than the Cougar which also felt great at the beginning.

I have no dislikes. I can also see why shipping was so costly: This setup weighs the best part of 23 pounds. I would gladly pay more for a set of rudder pedals that weigh this much and integrate with the software. If you were to drop the stick or throttle onto somebody's head you'd probably kill them. Yes, it's that beefy.

I don't want to gush about the unbelievable experiences I've had thanks to my TM HOTAS. The thing isn't cheap- but you're getting what you pay for. I am surrounded by an online community that has invested in this device and the number of people who have issues with them is disproportionately low. I purchased this to fly DCS A-10C and 99% of the control profile transfers over almost all on its own. The quality of the product is amazing, and the construction robust.This is not your every day joystick / controller combination. This is a tool you use to maximize your investment of time into the simulations you love- and while I can't speak authoritatively about other simulations, I can say with conviction that this product changed my SIM experience in A-10.

The Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog is the best flight control system I've owned. It's also the most expensive. The joystick is sturdy with smooth, even movement across the entire range, and highly accurate. The throttle's travel is smoother than any other Thrustmaster or CH model I've owned. The button layout is good, though someone with smaller hands could find it difficult to reach a few of the throttle controls. The new TARGET software is easier to use than Foxy (Thrustmaster's previous software), and just as powerful if you decide to dive into the scripting language.Those who own the Thrustmaster Hotas Cougar will find the Warthog a nice improvement in almost all respects. Those who have replaced the Cougar's gimbals and potentiometers (such as with the Uber2nxt and HS2 mods) will see less of a difference, but personally I still think it's worth the upgrade.One important note: Unlike the Cougar, the Warthog has no game port for plugging in older style rudder pedals. The joystick does not have a twist throttle (thankfully), so you'll need to get USB rudder pedals. Or you can use the second throttle as your rudder, which is actually the default in TARGET when you create a new profile. But personally I don't see that working very well.Pros:Sturdy, heavy, solid constructionSmooth, even movement and very accurateEasier to use softwareLots of buttonsNo mods requiredCons:Small hands may have difficulty getting to all buttonsNo game port for older rudder pedalsFoxy profiles cannot be migrated automaticallyFinal note for Cougar owners: Yes, you can mix and match the Warthog and Cougar components. It's all done in software. This would allow you to use the Cougar joystick with the Warthog throttle, and even use your old rudder pedals thru the Cougar.

If you've been looking at this HOTAS then you've seen all the reviews and comments by users and I can say they are spot on. This is the BEST of the BEST. Excellent!

This particular unit is top notch. Only con I find is that there is no profile for FSX out of the box. To utilize all the features of this controller in FSX will take you some time and considerable effort. However, the joystick is a dream with the DCS line of products, in particular A10 Warthog.Don't forget to buy rudder pedals as this flight stick does not have a "twist" axis for use with the rudder flight control surface.

Great joystick.Metal, precise encoders.A bit too much friction, makes precise movement a bit harder.Throttle quadrant is cheaper quality (plastic throttles, metal base), but still good.

IMHO this or the Saitek X65 set are must haves for any serious sim enthusiast. The Target software allows you to program the Warthog in any way your heart desires. The built quality is solid and switch throw feel is great. The only thing that takes some time to get used to is the tension on the side stick but once you get used to it I'm betting you will like it like I do.

This is the best flight system very!!! I Should have gotten this system earlier than I did, Worth the money spent

The Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog Joystick is top of the line of any gaming joystick for PC. The metal construction is very solid and will last for years. I won't have to buy another joystick ever again. The quality and workmanship surpassed my expectations. The price might be high, but you get what you pay for.The product was very well packaged and I received it in perfect condition.Amazon did a great job, and has become a site I know I can trust.

.The other reviewers are spot on. I just want to up the 5 star count. VERY happy with this item. Seems to be a WIDE range on price though. Not sure why.Anyway, I've got more than 1,000 hours in military jets and a dozen combat missions. This stick and throttle system is incredible and by far the best available on the market.Sturdy - not plastic. Easy set up - plug n play (except FSX - see below).By far the most impressive to me is the feel - the action. It truly feels more like a real aircraft than anything before. Many sticks are flimsy. And "Force Feedback" always had an arcade feel to me. This has a realistic feel.Obviously it's for DCS A-10C and in that application it's a dream. I set button 4 - next to nose wheel steering (pinky) - to "active pause" since it's not assigned in the game. I also had to reset the trim switch from a view setting to a trim setting. Other than that - and of course the choice is yours - it functioned perfectly right out of the box.Another "sell" for you... I have over 300 landings on aircraft carriers. But, landing the FA-18 in MS FSX was ridiculous. NOW, I'm in the groove and center the ball on the first pass. It is SOOOO nice. The only surprise with this set was the lack of a profile for FSX - so, at the time I'm writing this, you have to spend some time on set up. Really!? Yep.But, honestly, I think you'll enjoy your higher realism sims with this set. And the more you enjoy them, the more the price of this stick and throttle set makes sense. Even "fun" sims like Thirdwire's "Stike Fighter" series work well with HOTAS (and program easily).See the review at SimHQ for more info on using HOTAS Warthog on different sims...In fact, HOTAS Warthog is so real, I kept my old Microsoft Sidewinder to use with Rise of Flight. HOTAS just feels too futuristic in a Sopwith cockpit. Too tight on the action. A little "Slop in my Sop" seems appropriate for those early days of aviation. :)In short, this set and DCS A-10C (I know, I know... Steam) are the closest you'll come to being in an actual military jet - without leaving the house..

This is probably the most solid joystick I've ever seen. Pure pleasure to use. It is pretty large and heavy. Need some room for it. Expensive but well made.

The construction is top quality, heavy joystick, and real toggle switches.The joystick accuracy is good, however the design of the "gimble" spring mechanism is flawed, and agricultural.It can easily be modified, but I expected more for the price.ALso the "TARGET" script editing software takes some time to learn how to use.

What can I say. If you got the money and want the best, why not blow it on the Thrusmaster Hotas Warthog for your flight sim game?These joysticks are some serious hardware. Each weighing over 15-20 lbs each my guess....wow. You will surprise anyone with these no problem.Personally, I think they main purpose really is for the DSC-A10C Game. Since they are a replica from the plane, this is the stuff you will want to fly with in your mind blowing DSC-A10C Game.Everything on the controllers are very well built, with great quality and it feels very real. Lots of buttons and the LEDs that light up are very nice and packaged very carefully. Combine the Thrustmaster MFDs and now your rocking.Comes with software which you can even customize the LED intensity as well as key mappings etc.You want the best joysticks for your fligh sim PC? This is it. Period.

if you dont know what a hotas is, leave cause you don't belong here, or, look it up and continue.this is the last joystick/throttle i will ever buy. Not because I am dissatisfied, rather the opposite. you see the price....and you say..."noooooo wayyyy"....I did too....but hearing the sterling reviews,....and knowing amazon's liberal return policy...i bit....btw, I am typing on thee Tsir tech Ipad2 keyboard, and what you see is what you get. I refuse to NOT use the right pinky for caps, which it does NOT have.....nuff about that.the hotas compared to all and I mean all, others is like comparing a vw to a Porsche....plain and simple. the(no right shift, remember) Joystick is an all metal replica of the f-16's keeping in mind that the real f-16 joy stik does not move and this one, designed specifically for the A-10 warthog, does ...wonderfully, exactly,smoothly,gloriously....and is just lovely with either fsx or with DCS's A-10 Warthog...mapping by default each switch and button exactly...it IS the Warthog A-10C's Hotas!! It is all metal, and has the exact button feel of the real thing.the throttle, is a metal base taken from the F15..is NOT metal...it feels like the real thing should feel...the grips are so sturdy, only a shaped charge would break them....a stick of dynamite would not.....In the Warthog, the real Warthog, the independent throttle quadrant isn't metal either...its a composite, more like carbon fiber, check out the real one via bing or google.other than for repairs, which considering the construction and Hall Effect sensors, looks like, and feels like it never will... this Hotas is NEVER leaving my posession, lest I have to declare bankruptcy and need the cash.I am not sending back this.....nay porshe, Lamborghini of hotasses.chas

The warthog is a good product, I would've given it 5 stars, but unfortunately for Thrustmaster, as with its past Cougar debacle, missed a QC issue. Many users, including me, have noticed that the stick has a 'stiction' issue - that is, if you hold the stick at a position, then try to make a slow and fine adjustment, inevitablely you make too much correction due to bumps.The static friction is much greater than dynamic friction so when making precision work such as gunnery and formation flying, it's rather frustrating. My first unit (which died but was replaced) was smooth at first, but after one month of use, the stiction came about. The replacement unit had stiction from start. Some users have reported that they do not have this issue, while other do. [...]The joystick sensor is very accurate, but it's rendered entirely moot if mechanical accuracy is not there.The solution is to take the joystick base apart and replace the existing grease with a better plastic safe grease. It's not hard but soldering is most likely required as breaking wire is almost certain if you don't know what you are doing. I've replaced the grease with Molykote EM-30L as suggested in the forum and now the stick is buttery smooth.Of course, the Warthog is otherwise very awesome to behold and stiction is not as apparent unless you are doing precision flying. The construction is solid, I just wished that Thrustmaster had opted for a better grease. Had I known this problem and didn't know how to fix it, I would not have paid the $500 - I'd expect better.

**WARNING**Do not attempt to upgrade joystick/throttle firmware while attached to a USB 3.0 port.I have a USB 2.0 hub, which is connected to a USB 3.0 port, because that's currently the only port available for use. The first thing I did after driver installation was upgrade the firmware. The joystick upgrade worked, but the throttle upgrade timed out. On subsequent tries, I just got an error instantly. So my brand new throttle was bricked. Can you imagine the feeling? After a quick Google, I learned it's some issue with USB 3.0 (the fix was to reflash from a USB 2.0 port, reported as not working by some people). So when you are going to upgrade the firmware, attach each unit to a USB 2.0 port.I think the good has been covered well enough in other reviews, so I will give you some things to watch out for:*If you have smaller hands, don't buy this.*The return-to-center spring on the stick is pretty strong. If you are playing combat sims, it may be more difficult to dogfight, as making small movements near the center will sometimes result in... returning to center on accident. I think with a little practice, I can get used to this.*Obviously you need to buy rudder pedals. Honestly, that's a bit of a bummer.*The stick and throttle are not only ~20lbs. together, but they also sport quite a large base. You will need quite a bit of room for this setup.That's all I have for now.