Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X - 5-Axis Flight Simulator Joystick with Throttle, Adjustable Resistance, and Programmable Buttons for PC

A while ago I bought a combat flight game called Sturmovik: White Cliffs of Dover on Steam and I was looking at a flight stick to play it to its best.I had looked at Saitek controllers which looked perfect but I could hardly justify the price. The Thrustmaster T-Flight controller is much cheaper than the Saitek devices and serves a similar purpose although it's more simplified. But it has lots of buttons, throttle, rudder paddles (on the back of the throttle), hat, several triggers, stick and twist actions. It's sufficient for most main functions in flight sims though most Saitek devices can map a few more. The throttle and stick are fixed together by a screw but you can separate them if you wish. Personally I think they work well next to one another.It's a comfortable controller with a weighty base and doesn't creak in use. It feels smooth, solid and comfortable to play with and my biggest issue was simply remembering what button I had mapped to which action.The game I've most enjoyed using it is not a flight sim but Elite Dangerous. This is a space ship simulator and really benefits from a proper stick controller. The Thrustmaster T-Flight really works well in the game although you're still find yourself reaching for the keyboard thanks to the sheer number of mappings in the game.

I used to have a Saitek X52 which was a very good joystick - unfortunately, it was and is quite expensive and I couldn't quite justify spending so much when I got the flight sim bug again recently after a few years.The Hotas X is not quite as solid as the X52, and it doesn't have quite so many buttons and hats, but it is about a third of the price. I love it - the entire design ethos seems to have been "let's build it with a budget, but make it as good as we can".The stick is solid and responsive (with an adjustment wheel underneath). The throttle has a useful midway detent. And unlike some cheaper sticks it has a twist rudder as well. The base is not exactly heavy, but it's wide enough to provide good support. Again - they've stripped out some premium features, but made the basics work as well as you could want.As other reviewers have noted, one downside is the short cable between the two sections if you want the throttle on your left and the stick on your right (especially to match up with Elite Dangerous). It's just about long enough, but you end up with the cable stretched over you which is a little awkward. It seems like it was designed to be used on a desk in front of you, and it's a shame they didn't use a detachable cable like some other designs that you could swap out.I've been using it with DCS World where it works great - I was worried I'd miss the extra buttons and wheels of the X52, but it really does work as a good HOTAS since I rarely have to resort to the keyboard. Buttons-wise, there's a trigger, a second button for the trigger-finger, a hat-stick and two buttons on top of the joystick - together these are good for launching/switching weapons and slewing/locking sensors. The throttle has three big thumb buttons (useful for switching modes/sensors), a little thumb button I use for countermeasures, plus two finger buttons I use as clutch/modifier buttons which essentially triple the number of functions. On the throttle base are two more buttons I use for flap settings.If you can afford a Saitek X52, you probably won't think twice about getting one. But if you're unsure, get the Hotas X - you won't even notice what you're missing.

I am so happy with this joystick. I haven't used a joystick since the 90's and I didn't remember being very fond of them. I bought this to go with MS flight simulator after struggling to use the keyboard. I will never go back. This joystick is so nice to use, and easy to work with. It makes flying SO much easier and better. You do have to calibrate it and set up the controls in MS but it is very easy to do with the .PDF instructions provided on the Thrustmaster website. I have small hands but I'm still able to use the stick comfortably and can just reach all the buttons. I'd say go for it- for this price the stick is well worth it.

This is a great HOTAS (Hands On Throttle and Stick) controller for the price. It's made of sturdy plastic and feels good in the hand. The joystick is smooth and responsive, and the throttle is well-weighted. The buttons are easy to reach and feel good to press.I've been using this controller to play a variety of games, including Elite Dangerous, Star Citizen, and X-Plane 11. It's worked great for all of them. The joystick is precise enough for dogfighting and the throttle is perfect for controlling speed.The only complaint I have is that the throttle is a little stiff. It takes a little bit of effort to move it from one position to another. However, this is a minor complaint and doesn't affect the overall usability of the controller.Overall, I would highly recommend this controller to anyone looking for a budget-friendly HOTAS option. It's a great value for the price and works well for a variety of games.Here are some of the pros of this controller:Great value for the priceSturdy constructionSmooth and responsive joystickWell-weighted throttleEasy-to-reach buttonsHere are some of the cons of this controller:Throttle is a little stiffNot as durable as some higher-end controllersI would give this controller 4 out of 5 stars