Relatively new to MSFS and haven’t purchased a yoke & throttle control yet. Looking to get flyable third party supersonic jet (military preferred but SST OK) that is compatible with the standard MSFS keyboard controls. I found a potentially good one, but it is exclusively for a yoke and throttle and they have no intention of making it compatible with keyboard controls (not sure why… don’t think it’s that hard, but what do I know).
My honest advice would be to pick up a cheaper joystick and throttle like the cheaper HOTAS ones, they come with twist sticks for rudder control too. You really wouldn’t be able to enjoy flight simming to its full potential using a keyboard.
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I’ve been thinking that.
Are either of these good for MSFS?
Is the first one good enough? The second one looks a bit large. Probably could do without the pedals. Any other suggestions. Willing to spend up to mid $300s if needed, but perfectly happy spending less or much less.
This looks like the second one without the pedals:
T-Flight HOTAS One is IMO the best starter peripheral you can buy without breaking the bank.
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Thanks. I assume these at least control throttle, steering, etc. However, do these also control flaps, gear, spoiler, or still need the keyboard for those?
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With the HOTAS ONE, definitely you can set it up to control flaps, landing gear, spoilers, and anything else that will fit on the available buttons.
Thanks. I’ve been reading that the T.16000M is better than HOTAS one. I don’t mind spending a little more. Is it worth getting the accompanying throttle vs. just the stick:
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To be brutally honest neither are “good” however, of the two the T16000 is not as bad.
The T-Flight is a cynical cash grab of sloppy design and cheap materials/components.
The T16000 is flawed by the choice to use a cheap potentiometer for the twist axis where the pitch and roll axes at least use contactless sensors.
If you are starting out the T16000 might be an ok place to begin and you can get by with just the joystick (it has a throttle slider on it) - although my recommendation would be to take a look at the VKB Gkadiator NXT instead.
If you then want to progress you can aim to add a throttle quadrant and rudder pedals.
Flight sim peripherals are very much a case of “buy once, cry once” and investing a little more in quality equipment really does make a difference both in their use and their reliability.
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This is covered in another thread about which stuff to buy. I just worte a long winded suggestion for the OP therein. I wont repeat here. If I was a newbe, (like in 1998), I got the MS Joystick, and upgraded to the better MS JS later on, I still had it when we packed up stuff into storage, and toured around to find better place to live. But alas, game ports went by wayside, so it was OBE (overcome by events). Get on Youtube, type in Joysticks and throttle devices for MSFS, and watch till your eyes bug out. Find my post and read it.
Flying with a keyboard will be a disaster. As mentioned above you can get a half decent HOTAS for in around a 100 quid.
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m thinking I’ll eventually get the VKB Gladiator NXT in the near future, but wondering which of the two is better for my first starter flight stick and why:
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I haven’t used that exact Logitech* but if you are planning on picking up a better joystick down the line then it’s half the price of the Thrustmaster and both will eventually fail anyway.
- Disclaimer - I once picked up an “emergency” Logitech a bit like that when another stick failed on me and nothing else was available on short notice. It was the old cheaper ambidextrous version with no twist axis. It wasn’t very comfortable and I really missed the rudder twist axis so I probably didn’t use it much, but it’s actually still working.
I have owned a few of the Thrustmasters and have had to replace a couple of them. However I still actually have 2 which I did a lot of work on to keep them working. I’ve given one to my 10 year old nephew who is just getting into flying games and I have the other as a back up and to throw in the suitcase when I work away from home on longer projects. They aren’t really designed to be serviced but there are tear down and service video’s online and it can be done.
I eventually realised that all the money spent on replacing cheap joysticks could have been spent on something well built that would last so I went with Virpil and haven’t looked back. 
If you really plan on digging deeply into the sim, buy a HOTAS, or at the least, a stick. The investment will pay off, and your experience will be much better. HOTAS Warthog here. Worth every cent and then some.
Warthog with the default stick on. Others are available. Had to do a little editing for our European friends. Texas is a little different. Lol.
Very nice. I may indeed eventually get that Warthog set. Right now it’s down to Logitech 3D Pro Extreme or Thrustmaster 16000M, or is there is something better in that $100 or less price range.
Reviews say the TM has more precise controls, but is the Logitech really that bad if all you’ve flown the sim is just a keyboard NUMPAD? Also heard that particular TM rudder/twist axis tends to fail, although I’m not sure what conditions/use tend that to fail. At the moment I can get the Logitech for $35 and the TM for $75. I’m willing to spend up to $100 for my first if it’d make a big difference, but that also includes shipping and total cost.
I like that MSFS2020 officially supports all of these products. I realize it doesn’t officially support the VKB Gladiator, but I’m assuming that could be mapped. The full VKB set, when it is released, will probably be in the same price range as the Warthog, so would very much consider the Warthog in the future.
Right now, I want something to improve my flying experience that will likely last 2 good years of regular MSFS2020 use.
I plan to get a new gaming PC sometime in 2022, so possibly 2023 for a Warthog or VKB set.
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In short, just about any stick/HOTAS combo will be infinitely better than a keyboard.
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But it works in Arma! 
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Just bought the Logitech. It was on sale for $30, so if it doesn’t work out it won’t be missed. If I really like it, will probably jump to mid-range in the future.
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Good call. ANY joystick is infinitely better than no joystick for a flight sim. You can spend as much money as you want on sim hardware, up to and including those delightfully crazy SOB’s who buy entire aircraft cockpits and flight decks and then rebuild them for flight sims, but fortunately for mere mortals, the point of diminishing returns on the “Fun / Cost” graph hits fairly low.
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I love my Logitech Extreme3D Pro, and it won’t be breaking anytime soon. Works great.
I’m not at all a fan of twist rudder though, I do gotta say that…
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