Switching from HOTAS to Quadrant?

I’ve been using a TM16000m for a while now and I just got two quadrants. I’m only using 1 at the moment but I’m having a really hard time adjusting to swapping the hands around. I’d say a HOTAS setup is vastly superior but that’s not how most airplanes are setup, lol.

Anyone make this transition? I also fly VR which makes it a little harder.

I’m thinking of keeping the throttle and just using the prop and mixture.

i put my quadrant back on the left side.

which in a A320 the pilot on the right is set up that way

It depends what you fly I guess. For everything other than warbirds the idea is that the stick is either on the left in some aircraft or mostly central to the seat. With this arrangement you fly with your left hand and operate the engine(s) with your right. The problem comes from the relative lack of options in the market for left handed sticks. I currently have a TM warthog but plan to get a Virpil for this purpose to supplement my yoke. If you fly warbirds then a hotas is the ideal solution.

You have to force yourself to learn it. This works best if you have a plane that closely matches your setup.

Throttle quadrants are easy enough to fly by touch.

Frankly, if you are flying GA planes with a HOTAS you’re probably doing something wrong so you will quickly see the benefits of using a quadrant for those types of plane. It is well worth learning to do this while blinded by VR.

That’s kind of funny actuality, I get what you are saying.

I probably flew too many combat sims back 30+ years ago, often using the rudder more as an elevator control surface.

I was telling myself, just set the power were it should be rather then “feel it out”.

VR made it hard as the hotas is so touch/feel based.

The Quadrant setup is like a boat.

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My TM stick has a left/right config option. But I have it setup as neutral now. I just rotated the base plate forward.

Well, I’m ambidextrous, so I can fly with either hands with the throttle in either hands and I can switch them instantly without problems… :laughing:

I also have Logitech X56 HOTAS and also Thrustmaster TCA Quadrant Addon, and I use them interchangibly depending on the aircraft I fly.

So far landing left handed is challenging for me.

Well, I’ve made several nice landing, so I guess it’s possible.

But the logitech quadrant panels sure feel quite chintzy. I can also see my throttle lever vibrating in the sim.

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That is the main flaw. They do feel a little toy-like.

Definitely some better options out there for real feel. I use a Bravo but that isn’t the only one, and you can add friction to the levers to make them feel more… real and sturdy.

But… boat like? You are starting to get it! Old GA (and other non-HOTAS) planes control and feel a LOT like boats.

I’m trying a dual quadrant setup now but the Logitech Throttle Quadrant is seriously off in calibration. Half the levers shake and they are all about 5% +/- odd from each other. Some don’t make it to 100%.

These things are garbage.

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Can’t you recalibrate them in some way to get them synced again?

No, as a theoretical example if both are say at 75%, “Left” might be 75% and Right 80%.

Then at 25% Left might be 30% and Right might be 15%.

The response and how far it’s off varied wildly and not consistently. To me it looks like the hardware sensors in these are just junkie.

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Stop flying by numbers. Do what pilots do. Fly by feel.

Also, Saitek sucks and a Bravo Throttle Quadrant would make your day, but from a Saitek veteran, fly by feel, not by numbers, and you will start to get it.

Airplanes fly by generalities. More than you think. And they ARE boats.

The Bravo will go the same way as the Saitek in time because they both use pots. People are already starting to get issues. For reliability in this regard you want a throttle with contactless sensors. Hall effect being the most common.

Actually, I think it’s kind of the opposite of that, lol. I was flying too much by feel. It forces me to set proper power and then use pitch. Which makes landing way easier!

I’ve redone my VR setup with the stick moved to the left. I can now free up my right hand to interact with the cockpit more and use less bindings.

But, I’m now desperate for a trim solution. I think that bravo has a trim wheel right were I need one to be.

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Yeah, the Bravo has a trim wheel, and the Alpha yoke has a couple trim triggers on the yoke itself. Between the two you can trim a complex plane whilst blinded by VR.

The wheel is very easy to find by touch alone. And it works surprisingly well considering it has to make use of a button instead of an axis.

I had the wheel on my throttle bound to trim. Now my quickest way is to pop the AP in pitch or ALT hold mode. It works and at least helps with the lack of force feedback.

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