Need new flight stick.

[Muzzy]

I'm hoping to get back into the game in January and wanted to know if there are any decent flight controllers for around $100.  I was looking at the X52 for one.  Need some advice so I can put it on my wish list.

Thanks all,

-Muzzy

[zack1234]

I like CH

I use x52 throttle which is very good

[Tigger29]

Here's what you do:

Buy the X52 (non-pro).  It's at Amazon.com for $82.82 with free shipping CLICK HERE

It has a twisty rudder, a "half decent" stick, and a throttle with a lot of fun buttons to play with!

Now these things are power hungry so I highly recommend a powered USB hub as well.  Here is a cheap one for five bucks CLICK HERE

I can tell you that in several months you'll be tired of the twisty rudder and there's also a chance you'll want a stick that's more precise.  By then you'll have saved up some more money so what you can do is buy a set of pedals and your stick of choice.  A lot of people here swear by the CH stick - personally I don't like how it feels but it is very nice quality and very precise and my problems with it are due to my small hands.  Anyway when you're ready to upgrade you can still keep the throttle from the X52 as it works just fine by itself!

A lot of people also recommend you buy this stuff from provantage.com as they tend to be cheaper but once you factor in shipping a lot of their stuff actually ends up being more expensive.  All you can do is compare prices with shipping and go with the cheapest.

Check out FLIGHT CENTRAL.  It's an Amazon store and almost everything on it has free shipping (if the total is over $25).  CLICK HERE

[zack1234]

+1

Most of all have fun it can be lost if your not carefull

[Muzzy]

Thanks for the advice.  What is this CH stick you speak of?

[Chalenge]

CH isnt cheap. Its not A-10 Thrustmaster expensive but for the same $100 you spend on the X52 you will get a throttle *or* a joystick. X52 doesnt work for me because it will get sloppy in three months. The X52 Pro is $50 more and has more precision but as you will discover over time when the system gets a little old it wont have the same precision. You can probably get one or two years out of it if you arent an aficionado.

I use CH and I wont use anything else. I have had them last for up to ten years without maintenance and longer with.

I think Amazon or Newegg either one will have CH Fighter stick and Pro Throttle and Pro Pedals but all three will run about $300. There may be more affordable sites.

[Tigger29]

CH isnt cheap. Its not A-10 Thrustmaster expensive but for the same $100 you spend on the X52 you will get a throttle *or* a joystick. X52 doesnt work for me because it will get sloppy in three months. The X52 Pro is $50 more and has more precision but as you will discover over time when the system gets a little old it wont have the same precision. You can probably get one or two years out of it if you arent an aficionado.

I use CH and I wont use anything else. I have had them last for up to ten years without maintenance and longer with.

I think Amazon or Newegg either one will have CH Fighter stick and Pro Throttle and Pro Pedals but all three will run about $300. There may be more affordable sites.

I disagree.  I used my X52 (non-pro) for several years and it was just as tight after that time as when it was new!  It's still in my closet waiting to be used as a backup should it ever need to be!

Also the CH throttle really brings nothing to the table that the X52 throttle doesn't and the X52 stick AND throttle is less expensive than just the CH Throttle!  What I'm getting at is in a few months if his X52 gets sloppy he can put it in the closet as a backup, keep the X52 throttle and buy a CH Fighterstick and STILL come out of the deal spending less money!  Of course he'll need rudder pedals as well since the CH isn't a twisty but that's a different matter altogether.

Unless he's dead set on having a matching stick and throttle, there really is no reason NOT to buy the X52.

[Muzzy]

Well I don't know how often I will be playing, although I wore out one of those logitech 3D Pro's within a few months play.    I can see why you would want to buy the Saitek first, then get the the CH.  The CH runs about $100 on it's own, so when I manage to wear out the saitek I can get the CH and still have a decent throttle.  Makes sense.

[ebfd11]

I like my Logitech g940 ..

[maddafinga]

Well I don't know how often I will be playing, although I wore out one of those logitech 3D Pro's within a few months play.    I can see why you would want to buy the Saitek first, then get the the CH.  The CH runs about $100 on it's own, so when I manage to wear out the saitek I can get the CH and still have a decent throttle.  Makes sense.

The ch stick actually has a wheel on the left side of it that can very easily bee used as a throttle.

[Chalenge]

I disagree... 

Free country. To me the difference is similar to a squirt gun (Saitek) versus a 1911 Colt (CH).

[zack1234]

 

I modded the X52 after I got my CH stick and X52 is very nice.

[pervert]

Best non FFB stick = CH

Best FFB stick - Microsoft FFB 2

If you are impressed with glowing blue lights or hazard warning stickers like zack is go with Saitek 

p.s he modded his stick so the lights are pink!

[Tigger29]

Free country. To me the difference is similar to a squirt gun (Saitek) versus a 1911 Colt (CH).

I'm not disagreeing about CH being an overall better stick than Saitek.  It's more solid, more precise and better built no one is arguing that, but your claim that the X52 "will get sloppy in three months" I feel is preposterous.  If you truly did trash an X52 in three months then it was either A> Seriously misbuilt on the assembly line or B> Seriously abused.

You make it sound like Saitek is a huge piece of garbage which it is not.  It may not be "as good" as CH where quality is concerned but it's definitely much better than many other sticks out there.  For someone on a budget it's the perfect solution because they can get Stick with twisty rudder and throttle - basically a full HOTAS setup for less money than JUST a CH stick (which does not have a twisty rudder).

I'm glad you love your CH but when you come out and talk about bad the X52 is and how poorly constructed and poor quality it is.. and then IMMEDIATELY talk about how GREAT CH is and how long it lasts and how many years you've used it (regardless as to how true you think it is) then it just makes you come across as a fan boy and nobody wants to take you seriously, especially when you mention that you've been using CH for the last ten years yet the X52 has only been available for what.. 8 or 9?  It sounds like you've never owned one and you're basing your trash talking about it on "anecdotal" evidence which may not be the norm.

You remind me of an uncle I have who is an Apple fanboy and even though my droid phone does EVERYTHING I need it to do (and then some) and costs a FRACTION what his iPhone costs he still manages to trash talk my droid phone every chance he's got.  It makes no sense whatsoever.

Muzzy claims to have a budget of $100 and because of that a CH stick is simply not an option for him unless he comes up with a couple hundred more for a throttle and rudders.  Given his budget I still stand behind my claim that the X52 is the perfect solution.  In a few months if the stick truly DOES wear out then at least he'll have had time to save up for better gear.

[Chalenge]

Tigger it comes sloppy right out of the box unless you use rudder pedals. After a single month the stick is so sloppy I cant stand to use one. One month not three. I said three because no one uses a joystick more than I do. If you sledom fly or fly only bombers maybe you can get more life out of one but to me... its a squirt gun.