Best Flight Simulator Joystick
Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick
Longitech G Saitek PRO Flight Joystick
YF2009 USB Flight Gaming Joystick
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Most aviator look forward to utilizing the virtual flight simulator as it is a popular activity and hobby, a perfect way to spend your spare time. It is very common to see the advanced flight simulator controls and joysticks that mirror the real-life experiences of flying while you are in an airplane cockpit.
The virtual aviation industry is filled with high-quality flight yokes as well as joysticks that mirror the real-life virtual experience.
These devices are used to play some of the most popular games like Microsoft flight simulator X and the X plane which are some of the most played virtual aviation games in the industry today.
When you are partaking in one of your favorite hobbies, you most probably want to get the best out of the experience and these devices the likes of gaming joysticks make the experience more enjoyable.
As the gaming industry keeps increasing in popularity, the number of companies that manufacture gaming devices has also increased. The fact that there are so many brands making these devices makes the task of getting the best a hard one.
In this article, we provide you with some of the best brands of flight simulator joysticks in the market.
Best Flight Simulator Joystick List
Logitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick
This is one of the most popular joystick designs in the market today. It is extremely affordable and it features all the basic features that most customers are attracted to.
It features several buttons that are integrated to the device as well as a miniature throttle switch that can be rotated just like a dial.
Perhaps one of the main reasons as to why it is very popular in the flight sim industry is that it is a high-quality product and the quality has not made the product as expensive as most in the market.
It comes from a reliable brand that has been in the industry for a long time and is credited for all the incredible inventions under the brand. Owing to the many positive remarks and reviews, it has an endorsement from Amazon.
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Longitech G Saitek PRO Flight Joystick
This product has been designed specially for virtual flight simulation. It is one of the most popular designs in the industry as it has received several positive reviews from users on sites such as amazon for its impeccable design and effectiveness.
The several positive reviews have earned the product a special endorsement and recommendation from Amazon.
It is a high-quality yoke that is integrated with an LCD display and several other mechanical switches that can be specifically button mapped to certain control elements.
It also features a separate throttle lever system that adds an additional level of immersion and control that could not have been achieved otherwise. The two main parts of the device can either be clamped or mounted with integrated position clamps that are found underneath the device.
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YF2009 USB Flight Gaming Joystick
This is a solid gaming joystick that can come in handy for virtual aviation as it is a great addition to any flight simulator gaming setup that is in need of a state of art joystick.
This is one of the high-quality joysticks in the market as it features a vibration force feedback that increases immersion and reaction when flying making it very popular among gaming enthusiasts.
The design of the joystick is also very efficient and comfortable allowing for effortless use and ease of use.
The joystick features four quad suction cups that lock the device in place during the gaming sessions so that it is kept from sliding on the surface. Unlike the other devices in this article, it comes with a one-year warranty from the manufacturers.
The device also features several positive reviews from users which makes it worth the try.
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Longitech G Saitek X52 Flight Control System
This joystick brand is extremely focused on enhancing your virtual flight sim experience to allow you to have more fun. It features a precision that is only achieved owing to the outstanding quality and level of performance with which this device has been constructed.
It features a throttle handle as well as several rotary buttons and switches that make using this device very easy.
This joystick features premium and extensive control features that make it very unique when compared to other devices of its kind in the market. It is also not as costly as other devices in the market; though still costly. It is very easy to use and also easy to set up, while very compatible with PC.
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Thrustmaster T. Flight Hotas 4 Flight Stick
This is one of the best flight simulator joysticks in the market as it features several unique features that make it stand out from the rest in the market. It features a high-quality flight stick with throttle controls and an additional five axis options.
It also comes with a high-quality rapid-fire trigger that makes the experience even better and five additional axis options.
In addition to these features, this item is compatible with both the PS4 and the PC platforms. It is a well-balanced flight sim that is designed and configured by one of the most reliable and renown brands in the industry known as a Thrustmaster.
This item has been in the industry for a long time within which it has marked its place as one the best brands owing to the several incredible reviews from clients.
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The Cost of a Gaming Joystick
An average gaming joystick rages from about thirty dollars to a whooping two hundred dollars. As it is with any other product, the higher the quality of the product, the higher the price. The highest qualities of joysticks are those that have been professionally designed for professional gamers and gaming enthusiasts.
The casual gaming joysticks that are focused on the value are usually the ones that are closer to the lower portions of the pricing spectrum. It is however very possible to get a good gaming joystick that is affordable.
Brands like the Longitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick are high quality products that have been professionally designed and at the same time can be used by professional gamers.
How to Use a Joystick on a Pc
Many of the most popular designs of joysticks in the market are designed in a simple manner that only require to be plugged in and played. On occasion, a joystick device may require specific drivers in order to function properly on a specific game or on a specific platform.
These specific drivers are however not very hard to find as they can be found online on the websites owned by the manufacturers or they can be found through a disc that is normally included in the packaging when buying the device.
Most joystick controllers are equipped with a USB wired cable that can be plugged into one of the USB ports on the computer making it very easy to setup and start using. Many of the industry’s most sought after flight games that will automatically detect the joystick when it is plugged in.
How to Choose the Best Flight Simulator Joystick for PC Games
As you may probably be aware, there are several other purposes for joysticks other than playing flight simulation games. They can work for a variety of games such as FPSs where you are expected to jump into a jet.
When you are choosing the best joystick in the market, you need to consider one that can be used to play more than one game.
A programmable and a reliable joystick would be a good investment for a gamer as it can be programmed to play a variety of games.
It is therefore important that as a gamer, you get the necessary knowledge on the basics of the controls, the configurations and other features of joysticks and flight sticks before you even consider making a purchase.
Some of the features that you need to consider include;
Throttle Control
One of the advantages of any joystick is the throttle. The throttle control is a lever that can be pressed forward or pulled backward to make the vehicle that you are piloting speed up or slow down depending on the need at the moment.
Throttle controls can either be integrated on the bottom base of the joystick itself or come as a detachable control.
Regardless of how they come, they are always part of the device and do not need to be bought separately. Having a separate or a detachable throttle control can be more beneficial than the later in a number of ways.
It means that you do not have to have your hands close together to use the control. Therefore, you can play more naturally and experience and agronomical feel.
When you have the best kind of joystick, it means that you may not necessarily need to use the keyboard or the mouse for certain games.
With a separate throttle, you will also be able to get more buttons as compared to when you are using a separate mouse or using a throttle that is located at the base of the joystick. However, the downside of using the detachable throttle is that it comes at a higher cost as compared to the
Gameplay Setups
There are several different setups that you can have when you are playing some of your favorite games or simulators. The most popular of the variety are;
HOTAS- this is a hands-on throttle and stick. They require you to use one hand on the throttle and the other on the joystick at all times when you have to use all the buttons on the joystick. They can also include a separate throttle.
HOSAK- this is also a hands-on stick and keyboard setup. It is more beneficial if you are working completely without a throttle or when the number of buttons that are needed to play the game are more than those on the joystick.
HOSAM- this is a hands-on stick and mouse model. It is an ideal configuration that can be ideal for those who want more flight precision. If you already have the most perfect gaming mouse, then it may be more advised that you use an ambidextrous joystick.
HOSAS- this is a hands-on stick and stick model. In more than one way, this model is similar to the HOSAM model. The set up hives the added advantage that will also give you plenty of buttons to work with as compared to the regular HOSAM setup.
The choice that you make between the setups is majorly dependent on the user as there is no one way to tell which of the four is the best.
The Configuration of the Buttons
The layout of the buttons as well as the configuration of the buttons is also an important aspect to consider regardless of the games that you want to play on the joystick. Many gamers enjoy having a detachable throttle control because its overs more versatility in terms of the control features.
While so many still consider gaming on keyboards, a good joystick and throttle for flight and space simulation can mean all the difference in the gaming.
Conclusion
Other factors that you need to consider include the Z- AXIS and the HAT switch control aspects. These are the controls that help you to switch to the left and right and those that control the yaw in the flight and the space simulators.
While these functions can be achieved using a pedal, it is always more efficient when you have a joystick that can give you all these options.
The price, the quality and the durability of the device are also some very important aspects to consider. Of the five flight simulator joysticks in the market, we recommend the Longitech Extreme 3D Pro Joystick.
This is one of the most affordable high-quality products in the market, it is made by one of the most reliable and trusted brands in the industry, it features throttle control and several buttons that can be integrated according to your need.
It has outstanding reviews from customers and an endorsement from Amazon as it is very efficient.
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