Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: SIK1 on April 24, 2025, 11:04:14 AM

Title: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: SIK1 on April 24, 2025, 11:04:14 AM
Looks like Virpil has come out with a budget Flightstick.

https://virpil-controls.us.com/cdt-aeromax-r-flightstick.html

 :cheers:
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: AKIron on April 24, 2025, 01:19:18 PM
If the quality is there with their high end stuff looks like a good deal.
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: Leisure on April 24, 2025, 10:32:16 PM
Looks fantastic. Only drawback to me is the lack of an 8-way as not everyone is trackIR or using VR. None of their throttles have one either.
Other than that, a nice desktop rig with that optional throttle lever for $20
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: Eagler on April 25, 2025, 06:00:43 AM
When a gaming device for a computer game that sells for $220 is considered a "budget" purchase...

Eagler
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: AKIron on April 25, 2025, 09:47:34 AM
Apart from inflation demand has driven the tech to much higher standards over the decades.

You can still buy a $30 Logitech joystick.
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: AKIron on April 25, 2025, 09:56:57 AM
Make your own stuff cheaper. Print your own button box, Arduinos are cheap. You can get programmable key pads for less than 20 bucks.

(https://i.postimg.cc/rDSqJcvg/controls.png) (https://postimg.cc/rDSqJcvg)
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: SIK1 on April 25, 2025, 10:44:18 AM
Looks fantastic. Only drawback to me is the lack of an 8-way as not everyone is trackIR or using VR. None of their throttles have one either.
Other than that, a nice desktop rig with that optional throttle lever for $20

You might want to check with Virpil on that. I know that there is an option in their software to change a 4 way to 8 way.

 :cheers:
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: AKIron on April 25, 2025, 11:13:26 AM
Not sure if you can configure the Virpil analog hat as 8 pos hat. Maybe in Joystick Gremlin.
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: AKIron on April 25, 2025, 12:10:57 PM
You could map buttons to the axis such that a little left on the analog hat looks left and forward, a little more looks left, a little more left and back, all the way, straight back. Same for the right, up and down. Not talking about moving the view and leaving it there. I mean absolute positions on the hat correspond to absolute view angles. Such that when I release the hat it returns to front and center. If I didn't use trackir that's how I would do it.

That might already be built into Aces High. I dunno. Seems it would be better than an 8 way hat.

I just tried it. Works, but I wouldn't use it.
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: AKIron on April 25, 2025, 05:29:23 PM
There's free and cheap face tracking software available and all you need is a web cam. Many saw it works well.
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: SIK1 on April 25, 2025, 07:38:39 PM
Like I said, you can do it in the Virpil software. At least for the higher end stuff.

Leisure would need to check with Virpil if it's applicable with all their gear.

(https://i.postimg.cc/VsDzDxwJ/Virpil.png) (https://postimages.org/)

 :cheers:
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: Leisure on April 25, 2025, 08:42:21 PM
Like I said, you can do it in the Virpil software. At least for the higher end stuff.

Leisure would need to check with Virpil if it's applicable with all their gear.

(https://i.postimg.cc/VsDzDxwJ/Virpil.png) (https://postimages.org/)

 :cheers:

I've watched 3 reviews on YouTube without a mention of an 8-way but I'll bet you are correct with the ALPS switch in the software. I think it'd be very limiting without an 8-way option.
I'm good to go as I have VKB stuff but I like keeping up on this aspect of the hobby.

I have tracking as well. I use the Grass Monkey wireless puck with opentrack. I hot glued it to a wireless headset and it's been great.
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: Mayhem on April 26, 2025, 01:50:46 AM
Looks fantastic. Only drawback to me is the lack of an 8-way as not everyone is trackIR or using VR. None of their throttles have one either.
Other than that, a nice desktop rig with that optional throttle lever for $20

You can turn the mini stick into an 8 way by programming it with 8 virtual buttons and still use it as a mini stick.

Never mind I should have read the entire thread before posting LOL!

 :salute
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: AKIron on April 26, 2025, 07:24:06 AM
Using a hat for views is so 00's.
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: Eagler on April 26, 2025, 07:50:37 AM
Using a hat for views is so 00's.

Using ONLY a hat for views is so 00's..

Both trackir and vr benefit from the ability HT has programmed into his game..shame the other two sims don't have it too..

Eagler
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: AKIron on April 26, 2025, 09:38:17 AM
Using ONLY a hat for views is so 00's..

Both trackir and vr benefit from the ability HT has programmed into his game..shame the other two sims don't have it too..

Eagler

I assume you're referring to DCS and IL2. What benefit do they lack that AH has?
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: AKIron on April 26, 2025, 09:52:15 AM
Way back in the 90's I had a Trustmaster FLCS rig. I used the keyboard for views then. When the TM Cougar came out I used a hat for views but not in the typical sense. I set them such that, iirc, forward and hold on the hat would look straight up, release to center would look up and forward, forward and release to center would look straight ahead again. Or something like that, it's been a long time. The other directions on the hat would perform similarly. It was intuitive and worked well for me. I never liked using the in between positions for anything on an 8 way hat.

VR is nice. I've had two headsets. I don't like giving up my keyboard or other devices I can't see with a headset on. TrackIR is perfect for me.
Title: Re: New Virpil Budget Flightstick
Post by: hazmatt on April 26, 2025, 11:00:06 AM
When a gaming device for a computer game that sells for $220 is considered a "budget" purchase...

Eagler

Pretty sure you have to pay shipping on top of that.

I got the WINWING URSA MINOR for $132 including shipping and like it.