Originally posted by Yeoman
What do you guys think is the best Joystick and flaps to get for AH?
That depends what you can afford to spend....
A decent budget setup, for under $60 US is Thrustmaster's Afterburner. You get a real throttle lever with its own base, which can be seperated from the joystick base (or left attached). Rudder control is via rotating joystick. Once rudder operation is mastered, it becomes second nature. Indeed, in future jet fighters, rudder pedals will be a fond memory anyway.
I'd stay away from Microsoft sticks - entirely too little resistance.
CH makes the industry's best hardware, but it's pricy. Suncom is also a good manufacturer. They have sent me replacement parts (triggers, springs and switches) at no charge for years.
One more point. If you are using Windows XP, the driver software included with most joysticks will have compatibility problems. Be sure to check if the manufacturer has updated drivers available for downloading before purchasing. BTW, Thrustmaster does.
My regards,
Widewing