Huh, never knew you could do this, thanks!
Thanks guys. I’m going to get the VKB Gladiator NXT.
Just stuck between premium and standard.
I think the standard is OK, but maybe somone can confirm.
At the moment, I use the hat on my Logitec Extreme 3D as a look around. So, I use it to look left right, up down. I see there are 3 hats on the STD. Can I use any of them for looking around? (Is that known as a POV hat?).
Then, again on my current stick, I have an up and button on the left of the hat, which I use for flaps up and down. And then to the right of the hat, a similar up down button, which I use for my elevator trim, up and down. I’d prefer to keep trim on my stick like that as it resembles a real world plan I flow with trim on my thumb, so that I can release pressure on the stick as I trim.
Would I be able to use one of those hats for at least trim? Not sure how I’d do flaps. Maybe the 3rd hat? And then use left and right for rudder trim?
Can I assign the index finger button for maybe toggle Vatsim radio button? PTT?
Anf finally, I’d like to assign the rotary knobs to each side of the throttle leaver as HDG change, so I can quickly move the heading indicator … and the altitude. Is that possible?
If that’s all possible, I cannot see a reason to go PRO. Unless someone can say, “No ways, chap! The PRO allows you to … [Insert really cool feature here]”. 
Ahh.. couldn’t wait.. Standard ordered.
Yes.
Yes, I do this myself.
If you want, sure. Though you may want to keep it free for something else and use two of the buttons on the base of the stick, up to you.
Can be assigned on the same HAT switch as pitch trim.
Yes…
Yes.
Had it before buying the TM airbus edition. The 16000m is pretty basic but has everything you need for about 69.99 which is what I got it for. Pretty durable buttons can be remapped had no issues with them overall
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wow, that’s great, I didn’t expect the NXT to be better than the expensive Warthog. I’ll go for the NXT 100%
That’s another complicated decision. IRL I’m an A320 FO, so I’m used to flying with the sidestick in my right hand. Besides, until now when playing MSFS I’ve always used my right hand as well with the Logitech 3D Pro, so I think a right hand grip will feel more natural. However, I don’t intend to fly the A320 on MSFS very often, since its handling feels completely off as compared to the real thing (at least with the 3D PRO), and if I fly it, it will be for full IFR flights using AP most of the time.
For GA of course a left handed stick would be more realistic, notwithstanding the fact that many GA aircraft use a yoke instead of a stick. Besides, that would leave my right hand free in order to use the mouse to fiddle with the instruments, G1000, etc. which is quite useful for GA IFR flights.
Not sure which is best for me! Is it possible to get both grips and swap them as necessary? Do they sell the grip as a spare part?
To know what you can do, you just have to think a hat switch is nothing else than four buttons (+ one when you press) combined in one device .
And as said above, if you use one button as a shifter, you double the functions.
An exemple:
Lets say you use button1 as shifter.
In MSFS controls settings you bind the left/right of one hat switch for ailerons trim, and button1 (shifter) + same hat switch left/right for rudder trim.
At use left/right = ailerons trim, Shift+left/right = rudder trim.
And this works for all buttons, even with encoders (the wheels on the base).
If you want a precise elevator trim you can use one of the wheels for it, plus another elevator trim binding on up/down of a hat switch.
So you’ll have a very precise trim when flying at normal/high speeds and one for larger moves when flying at low speed.
And hat switches and other buttons for views, flaps, heading or whatever you want.
Congratulations for you buying, no doubt you’ll be fully satisfied.
The only issue you’ll have is you’ll never want to go back to cheap devices.
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That’s a great feature. Didn’t know you could do this.
Yes you can have both, but it’s not cheap.
You can swap them, but it’s not just a snap-on, you need to use a key and the contact system between the grip and the stick is not made to be often changed.
A possibility is to buy both, test them and sell the one you dont want. 
If you also fly GA planes IRL, my opinion (but it’s just mine) is it will be better with a left hand stick, moving mouse coming in addition with quadrant, coms settings, etc… with right hand.
But the (diificult) choice is yours. You pay, you choose.
It’s not specific to the Gladiator, it’s a MSFS feature.
I will make a pic and post it later.
Before you use the joystick be sure to calibrate it (If I remember right it will not work unless you do so)…
Mode shift…
Haven’t flown GA planes IRL for years, but I guess the left-handed version is the most logical choice. Considering the 3D Pro has lasted more than 15 years, I expect the Gladiator to endure several years too and hopefully at some point in the future I will start flying the A320 IRL from the left seat, so when this comes a right hand grip will be totally pointless.
I figured that much, but what’s actually a Gladiator’s feature is to have both a wheel and a hat switch to be used as pitch trim controls simultaneously which is great for the reasons you stated
Right, I forgot this. It wont work if not calibrated.
IMPORTANT: not the Windows calibration, but the calibration in the VKB software.
You can also use this one, but the simplest is to use the shift function offered in MSFS, as I described above.
Using the shift function in VKB software will avoid the use of the choosen button for anything else.
I think it should be reserved for complex assignments in VKB programmation.
I went from my dying-from-day-one X52 non-pro (I said that because from day one it have a slight center movement even after calibration which get worse and worse during time) to a T.16000M hotas and pedals. What a difference! Far more precise, no recenter problem, really a good one. I have the whole setup and enjoy it a lot:
To better explain what I was talking above, a picture is better than thousand words
Again, this works natively in MSFS, with all sticks, yokes, buttons boxes, etc…
For the encoder, evidently, you should have one.
Edit: Something important I forgot :
when using shifter with a POV (showing POV+arrow instead of a button number)
you need to invert order.
e.g.
not shifter (9) + POV (arrow down)
but POV (arrow down) + shifter (9)
See here:
https://forums.flightsimulator.com/t/joystick-button-combinations-not-working-correctly/384651
Dont ask me why, it’s a MSFS (Microsoft Special F… Surprise).
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@PlumbGlue67 That is fantastic, thank you!
Great advise all!
I have been flying with the logitech extreme 3d for over 10 years, and got the logitech proflight set with pedals after. After that I switched to the A320 version from trustmaster (saving space in my mancave that our dog claimed). Had many issues with that (beside that, it had a very good handling), so i switched back to the extreme 3d, which iam flying now. In the meantime I was waiting for the honeycomb set to be available again. But this topic got me seriously doubting again with the Gladiator.
I looked some reviews and it actually has all that i need and like before it saves a great deal of space in the room.
Any of you have experiences with the durability of this piece?
I haven’t personally had any problems with it whatsoever. After pretty heavy use in DCS, XP, P3D and MSFS it’s still very precise, feels the same as it did the day I bought it a while back. As for it’s construction it doesn’t feel or look cheaply made and has a bit of heft to it. I was actually surprised when I first got it how well made it looks.
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I’ve seen many posts over the years across Reddit and various Forums and Discord; “I’ve had my [Stick] XX amount of years and no problem”, "I’ve had mine XX amount of [Days, Months, and Years] and it broke, total junk]. Everything can break and every company is subject to producing lemons. The NXT is a pricier stick because it is meant to be a better stick. It’s modern and innovative. Get what fits your budget but really what fits your imagination. I’ve also been seeing more and more people selling their sticks and full simpits because they got carried away and found that they really don’t have the time or passion for this hobby. Me, I always started small and built up to my level of enthusiasm. I don’t feel guilty or ashamed about buying the less expensive peripherals. It’s not a competition. It’s a journey for me. Some of my stuff, never broke.
The good thing about todays market, you can likely recoup your money by selling.
I’ll be blunt, until you actually feel the Kosmosima Grip (and I’m not saying it’s the best or best fit for you) you won’t know the difference. Aside from the Base/Gimbals being superior to the single large spring design of cheaper sticks, the grips are more comfortable. By the way, I say Kosmosima because it’s the Grip used on the VKB NXT and the Gunfighter Mark III. They’re the same except for the connection, which they may have the kit to convert out by now.
Here’s the best part of VKB and why I’m a fan. Their philosophy isn’t just about keeping people from returning items, its how they engineer and design their products. It’s a Fix-it-yourself business. They spent a lot of time and effort designing these for you to disassemble and repair with a little time and patience. No voiding warranty and peeling hot glue. Most of the products come with tools and replacement springs. Get on their Forum and HOTAS/HOSAS/Simpit Discord/Reddit. There’s plenty of help. Also, most of time, they’ll send you a replacement part for free, if you provide pictures and explain what’s going on. I guess it works better for them to send a small item than have you return the whole stick for repairs and charge you for it.
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The flightsimming world has a lot to offer, just like other hobbies. You can make it as expensive and complicated as you want. You can download mods and addons for free, but you can also choose to get some high quality payware (I wont mention the fact there is also some low quality payware out there, Oops I just did)
Same with hardware: you can choose to fly only with a keyboard and a mouse, but if you would like a bit more immersion, the first thing you will buy is probarbly a yoke or joystick. With prices vary from a couple of tenners in euro’s, to hundreds or maybe over a thousend, there is a lot off stuff to geek out about. For me a simple joystick/setup is enough right now, but since i play this for over a lot of years now, i can easily notice the difference in quality, sensitivity, prescision, and durability. Do I miss this now? not really… would I like this upgrades on my new hardware… who doesnt.
Just like a car with airconditioning for example. When i was a kid, when it got hot in the car, i turned open the window and instant fresh air. When I went to an unfamiliar place, i checked the map and asked for directions from bystanders instead of following GPS. I didnt miss it back in the days. But when this became standard in my car, I almost couldnt live without it anymore. (just like a dishwasher for my wife)… and yes i still wash the dishes by hand
Same with joysticks. When it does its job and it does it well, you will be just fine. Untill you find out about more sensitve controls adjustable features. It makes your life a lot more pleasant, landings easier or reduces sore hands or wrists after a couple of hours vfr buzzing trough some amazing vallies.
But if I return to the old stuff, i still manage to have a (near) perfect landing and a great time after all.
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