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.

For the money I honestly doubt you could get a better HOTAS. It's less than £40 for crying out loud!! I gotta be honest; I wasn't expecting much when I ordered this but I was most surprised by it's build quality and functionality.Works a treat with DCS World and Elite Dangerous and all buttons can be rebound easily. The Joystick itself offers good levels of feel and sensitivity which is very useful for DCS being a proper flight sim. My only remark is the z-axis (joystick twist) seems very all or nothing, but this is a minor gripe. The joystick is also comfortable and ergonomically designed with all the buttons within reach in sensible positions.The throttle is light and smooth through it's travel though it does have a notch in the middle. Which is great for Elite Dangerous as engines are either in forward thrust or rear but not so great for flight sims where a completely linear action would be better but to be honest you kinda get used to it after a little while and I have heard that it can be modified if one so desires.It doesn't have sucker caps on the bottom but it is actually quite heavy and I haven't lifted or moved it at all while playing even when moving the joystick around fairly vigorously.As far as longevity is concerned I can't say at this point - I've had it less than two weeks but I hear they last very well if looked after - but first impressions are extremely positive. As I said, I honestly don't think you'll find a better HOTAS for less than forty quid. Top dog!