I’ve had a Microsoft Sidewinder Precision 2 since about 1999 that I’ve always used for flight sims, but it was getting loose, and I broke the hat switch in my last move. Joysticks were hard to find at the time, and I luckily found a Thrustmaster Top Gun Fox 2 Pro at a local 2nd hand computer shop when dropping off some parts to hold me over.
Seeing how good joysticks were hard to find, I figure my $10 find would do just fine till we could buy stuff at retail again on Amazon.
Fast forward 6 months and there’s still a HOTAS drought. I had my eye on the Logitech G X56, I don’t need anything much more than than that for me. Problem is, they’re not in stock anywhere, and ebay lists them for $450+ when the Logitech site says it’s a $250 SKU.
I found a brand new in box X56 locally for $325, and I’m considering it. The Thrustmaster has so much noise, the rudder control is totally useless, and I have to put in enough dead zone to cover over half the scale on the Y axis. I’m able to tune out most of it, but landing with crosswinds is nearly impossible with my current hardware.
If I’m going to drop $325 on a HOTAS, is there anything else around that’s comparable for that price?
Not real interested in a setup with rudder pedals. I’m not that serious.
I perfer the T16000M over the Airbus edition. It’s basically the identical, very precise, joystick, but the Airbus stick has one button less on top and the location of the remaining two buttons makes this stick noticeable less configurable/usable than the T16000M.
You’ll get at least the most axis/buttons per dollar from this. Heard a lot bad things about the X56 like jumpy axis (can happen with every potentiometer tech) fiddely buttons and springcentering. But also know some people who are quite happy with it. My X52Pro had a lifespan of 8years, thats a great deal with this build quality, recently got the Warthog Hotas which is way better with much smoother axis.
But I’d say the X56 is a great deal when you can get it for $250-$280 (when you compare it to a stick - rudder combo on the warthog for at least $800) and its button/axis range is more then sufficient for casual flying - If you can find a X52 it could be great as well - mine was great for 6 years and died just after 8 years. Or you can get the T16000M as it uses much better sensor technology on the axis (just don’t get the real cheap thrustmaster ones)
IMHO, and FWIW, I’ve used a few sticks that utilise the same style of centering mechanism (with the spring on top) as the logitech x56 uses, and they have been horrendous in comparison to the TM.
Most joysticks are stupidly overpriced and out of stock everywhere now,
I was lucky enough to buy the thrustmaster tca officer pack for £148 from a local retailer including delivery
As I would then have a yoke going I put my Logitech yoke system on eBay for £0.01 and to my surprise it’s already sitting at £122 with 2 days to run, so people are clearly paying over the odds as stock is hard to come by
P.s not sure about posting links here, but if anybody wants the link to the tca officer bundle feel free to pm me
