want a more real joystick combo? buy your own F16c !

Holy cow! The maniacs at Thrustmaster, Guillemot recently bought them out. Created this monster combo HOTAS. That is Hands On Throttle And Stick for you non Air Force types out there. This controller is a replica of the General Dynamics F16c Block 52 controller. This controller is so authentic, the AF flyboys use these to train with. Wow, good enough for me.

Metal,metal everywhere. The stick,base,buttons,hat switches and pots are all METAL. This goes against all the plastic this techno world shoves out everyday. The controllers weigh about 16 pounds combined. So says my scale anyway. Sit down with a snack and drink. The feature list is that long. 28 buttons, and multiple hat switches. Full metal casing including base, handle and buttons. Foxy programming software to program all this flexibility for the novice to hard core virtual pilot. HOTAS Cougar software with drivers too. You should always update to the latest drivers for best operation. USB 1.1 compliant, ready for standard rudder pedals too with gaming port on Stick base. You get enough software along with Direct X 9 to kill a horse. Even research like joystick analysis programs and much much more. The reference manual is 183 pages full. Online support from Thrustmaster.com when you need it, also the Cougar Hotas has its own web page and fan following. If these were real flyboys we would win any war. Upgrade the firmware and watch out for more recent updated Foxy Software versions.

Precisely what this combo is for?? Various F16 and F18 fighting sims are this combo's reason for being. No other controller has the beef, the movement, button actuation realism that comes close. Just learning how to use and program this combo is a near college course experience. I am still learning this thing. Be patient with it. If you are in a hurry with this combo, you will waste your money. You must program macros, and joystick parameters to your games and your skill,comfort level or taste. This is NOT plug and play. Too many other Saitek, and others from Logitech that can do that.

This one is meant for the hard core fighter pilot in all of us who can smell the jet fuel and the cordite from the ammo being fired at the bad guy. The cold steel in your hands makes all plastic controllers a poor way of fighting a war.

Something really American about heavy Metal.

Vietnam, WW2, Korea, and current fighting campaign game sims will do expertly with this controller. I want to get more war campaign sims. So far Combat FS 2 and Combat FS1 really are lame to show off this combo tour de force. Though an F6 Hellcat with this controller would have been a honey to sap the Zeros out of the sky for real. It feels that good. I have more confidence and quicker kills with this controller.


Who really wants to spend $300.00 on a combo like this?? The above mentioned die hards. Everybody else please buy the Logitechs and the Saiteks and be happy. Hard core online fighters will do well this controller. Just doesn't look like it will ever break. Wear out sure, but depends how many campaigns you do. I know I haven't gone too much on specs here. You should go to the Thrustmaster Hotas Cougar site dedicated to this to get the low down, and learn how to really take advantage of it. Do a google search and you will find the site fast.

This combo even lets you change out the Stick handle should an upgrade come along. Try that with your lesser Joysticks. Unconditionally, the best HOTAS system I have ever used. My Saitek X36 combo is a toy compared to this in operation and definately build quality.
Reminds me of my newly purchased Nikon D200 camera. Stoutly built and great performing, but still reachable for those who want and can afford the improved performanc and build.
Interfacing with my Windows XP computer was uneventful and I was tinkering within minutes.

Smart thing to do is to download the user manual and reference manual to get to know this HOTAS system. There is that much to learn. I regret not doing that before buying mine.

Final comments would be again, be patient, this is NOT an easy controller to use out of the box. You should extensively program it to get the most out of it. Foxy Software included explains well to the novice to season vet how to do so. You may save various combos for each different sim you may have. By the way, my first controller without suction cups. Yes that heavy metal keeps things still. So fuel up that F16c and do your pre-flight and take off and get the bad guys. See you in the air.

Recommended...provisionally yes to advanced fighter simmers, and advancing up the rank novices or intermediates. A controller NOT for everyone.

Maybe some updates later because this controller does so much. V.C.