Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | PC Support | New joystick

DVA8149
Captain, B767-300
OLP

Joined on September 15 2009
50 State Club
Everett 250 Club
Triple Century Club
Piranha Club
US Capital Club
DVA Fifteen-Year Anniversary

"Whatever you do, do with excellence"
Miamisburg, OH USA

333 legs, 1,045.3 hours
5 legs, 9.5 hours online
333 legs, 1,045.3 hours ACARS
2 legs, 4.9 hours event

Posted onPost created on March 08 2014 23:29 ET by Joe Smith

I am in the market for a new joystick. I currently have the Logitech Freedom 2.4 Cordless Joystick and have been very happy with it. But recently it has been pulling to the right during taxiing and is occasionally difficult to control on approach. I have to calibrate it before every flight and then sometimes in the middle of a flight. I really don't prefer to go to a yoke or anything like that. I actually prefer the joystick. My question is what would be a good joystick to go with. I don't mind spending a little more money on a good one as long as it performs well. I've looked at Logitech's Extreme 3D Pro and also really like the Thrustmaster - T-16000M Flight Stick, which mentions something called the H.E.A.R.T. (Hall Effect AccuRate Technology) which offers incredible accuracy due to magnetic sensors, which allow for friction-free action.
With so many choices, it can be overwhelming. Just wondering what other pilots out there are using and what they recommend.

Joe Smith

Captain, B767-300

DVA11781
Captain, MD-11

Joined on October 03 2013
Everett 250 Club
Million Mile Club
DVA Two-Year Anniversary
Quatercentenary Club

Northeastern United States

Posted onPost created on March 08 2014 23:32 ET by Joe Cappelo

Saitek makes really good joysticks...I just bought one very pleased with it!

Joe Cappelo (DVA11781)

Posted onPost created on March 09 2014 18:41 ET by Joe Smith

Is there any specific model that stands out among all the others?

Joe Smith

Captain, B767-300

DVA11781
Captain, MD-11

Joined on October 03 2013
Everett 250 Club
Million Mile Club
DVA Two-Year Anniversary
Quatercentenary Club

Northeastern United States

Posted onPost created on March 09 2014 18:47 ET by Joe Cappelo

I am not sure...I got the X52 set, which is amazing, but I am not sure.

Joe Cappelo (DVA11781)

DVA11859
Captain, B747-400
OLP

Joined on December 06 2013
Century Club
DVA Two-Year Anniversary
Online Century Club

Evansville, IN

135 legs, 274.7 hours
102 legs, 211.6 hours online
135 legs, 274.7 hours ACARS
29 legs, 55.2 hours event

Posted onPost created on March 09 2014 20:26 ET by Jeremy Trusty

Joe I have a Logitech Extreme 3D Pro, and I have been starting the notice of pulling to the right, and difficult handling on approach as well. I'm thinking about going to Pro Flight Cessna controls, since I have the throttle controls and never really fly any AirBus to use the joystick

Jeremy Trusty

Captain, B747-400

DVA10698
Chief Pilot, B717-200
OLP, 737-ATP
DISPATCHER

Joined on April 25 2012
50 State Club
Globetrotter
US Mountaineer Club
US Coastal Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary
Everett Millennium Club
Events Century Club
Flying Colonel
Online Fifteen Century

"Life is simple, eat, sleep, fly, sim....."
Miami, FL

1,682 legs, 2,309.2 hours
1,621 legs, 2,204.2 hours online
1,682 legs, 2,309.2 hours ACARS
104 legs, 165.6 hours event
75 legs dispatched, 191.3 hours

Posted onPost created on March 09 2014 21:46 ET by Jay Marin

With X52 for years now and don't have any complaints. smile

DVA11180
Captain, A320

Joined on December 12 2012
Century Club

Minneapolis, MN

143 legs, 266.3 hours
133 legs, 249.7 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on March 09 2014 22:22 ET by Caleb Williams

I've been using fairly basic Saitek Cyborg Evo for about 11-12 years off and on and have never had a problem with it.

Caleb Williams

Captain, A320

DVA10670
Captain, B737-800

Joined on April 14 2012
B737 50 Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary

Toowoomba, Queensland Australia

84 legs, 202.7 hours
77 legs, 190.6 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on March 10 2014 04:43 ET by Christian Bonenfant

Hi Joe,
I too have the saitek X52 and have been using for the past six month with no issues.
Cheers,
Christian

Christian Bonenfant

Captain, B737-800

Posted onPost created on March 11 2014 22:52 ET by Joe Smith

Thanks guys for all the ideas. Sounds like I definitely want to go with the Saitek. I'm leaning towards the X52 Pro but still looking at other options in the Saitek brand.

Joe Smith

Captain, B767-300

DVA11021
Captain, B757-200
OLP

Joined on September 13 2012
B757 100 Club
Everett 250 Club
Triple Century Club
Online Triple Century Club
DVA Five-Year Anniversary

Milford, NH

375 legs, 620.5 hours
365 legs, 604.5 hours online
374 legs, 618.9 hours ACARS
21 legs, 51.4 hours event

Posted onPost created on March 12 2014 07:37 ET by Sean Zarella

Joe i see your a b767 pilot,

i am a b752 pilot with same cockpit configuration. i made a b752 b767 throttle setup using 2 saitek throttle assemblies angled @ 45degrees which gives realistic angle and throw of the throttles.

heres how i have them mounted.

here is the handle kit i ordered from http://www.flightsimpm.com/products#!/~/category/id=8838349&offset=0&sort=normal

here is what they look like assembled

and finished with my simpit

i highly recommend the saitek throttle assemblies and you can make the same flap detent mod as i created using this reference post i made

http://www.deltava.org/thread.do?id=0x1bec5

regards,

Dva11021

Sean Zarella (DVA11021)

Posted onPost created on March 12 2014 16:55 ET by Joe Smith

That is very impressive, Sean! That looks like you put a lot of time into creating that cockpit. I have seen similar ones on the internet and have marveled at how far someone will go to reach realism. You have done a very good job there!

I, on the other hand, have my computer in our office and if I was to "take over" that room and create something of that magnitude my wife would put me on a real life flight...out of the country! I believe I have decided on keeping it simple and am going with the Saitek Cyborg F.L.Y. 5 flight stick. It is what I am comfortable with and seems to be a good quality product. Thanks again to everyone who has chimed in and helped in making my decision a little easier.

Fly on!

Joe Smith

Captain, B767-300

Posted onPost created on March 12 2014 17:42 ET by Sean Zarella

Thank you for your kind words Joe, i hear flack from my Fiance all the time about not getting into her side of the closet... then came the talk about my overhead panel i want.... well that is met by resistance too!

thank you again joe i just try to assist fellow pilots especially in the b752 b767 of what possibilities available and the channels you can search that i found in my search.

Sean Zarella (DVA11021)

DVA9186
Captain, MD-88

Joined on November 07 2010

"keep the dirty side down"
Williamstown, WV USA

69 legs, 106.0 hours
67 legs, 102.1 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on March 22 2014 21:43 ET by Ed Fisher

I have the freedom 2.4 and have had a lot of difficulty making good controlled approaches and landings. I am an instrument commercial pilot and can land a plane but have trouble with FSX and the 2.4. I have considered purchasing a yoke or new stick. For those that have them, do you find a better more realistic control? It is very frustrating to have poor landing specs just because the flight stick does not offer good control. Maybe I am just not good with the stick. Appreciate any thoughts.

Ed Fisher

Captain, MD-88

Posted onPost created on March 23 2014 00:23 ET by Joe Smith

Ed, I also had the Freedom 2.4 joystick and it worked great for me for several years. Recently, it would start pulling to the right during taxi and on approach. I found I had to recalibrate the stick before each flight and then sometimes during the fight if it started pulling on approach. Since my original post above, I have purchased the Saitek Cyborg F.L.Y. 5 Flight Stick and love it! It is very responsive and the controls are very fluid. I looked at quite a few sticks before choosing this one, including the Saitek X52 Pro. The X52 looks to be a top notch control but it just seemed to have more than what I really needed in a stick. The F.L.Y. 5 offers everything I could want in a reliable stick. I did have the Saitek yoke and throttle system but just didn't like it as well as I did a flight stick. The yoke is a very popular control system and may be just what you are looking for, but after trying it for several flights I shelved it for my new stick. Also, I found the Freedom 2.4 had a slight delay with its response, which I contributed to it being cordless. The F.L.Y. 5 has a USB and the response is immediate. I couldn't recommend it enough.

Joe Smith

Captain, B767-300

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