Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Dual Throttles for Flight Simulation, Official Replica of the U.S Air Force A-10C Aircraft (Compatible with PC)

This isn't your average flight stick. Oh no. This is a flight simmer's dream. After doing my due diligence on it, I already expected it to be high quality before I purchased it, but after receiving it, it was evident that that bar was raised even higher.First off, these things are heavy. If you're like me and like your tech to have a bit of heft, then these are for you. Even the UPS guy was like, "What did you order, gym weights?" When I saw they had bolt holes drilled into them I sort of figured they need a permanent mount. Nope! Rest assured, once you put these puppies in place, they're not moving anywhere. You're not just gonna toss these aside when you're done with your aeronautic adventures. And although the wide plate underneath the flight stick takes up a decent amount of space, it prevents any tipping, even in the most chaotic of dogfights.Software ControllerIt comes with control software that allows you to set up different configurations for use in different applications. So you no longer need to reprogram buttons from one sim to another. You'll have your DCS, MSFS2020, or Star Citizen controls already programmed so you can just load them up and go. The software also gives you the ability to brighten or dim the LEDs on the throttle control.Flight StickModeled after the U.S. Air Force's A-10, this stick gives you the sensation of being in control of the actual aircraft. In DCS World, you have 1-to-1 control, so you no longer have to send commands to keys on your keyboard for those extra buttons. You can also purchase a separate stick modeled on the F/A-18.Throttle ControlLights, switches, and LED goodness reside within the box that houses the dual throttle controllers. The controllers have the option of working separately or as a single unit. It also comes with a removeable throttle stopper installed so you don't accidentally shut off your engines mid-flight or bump them into afterburner. It also has a friction controller that allows you to control how much resistance you feel on the throttle. Make it stiff when flying those huge air busses in MSFS2020 or loosen them up for fast response in fighter jets in DCS.Price - $$$The price stood me off for a long time on these controllers, but once they were within my budget I jumped at the chance. While they won't appreciate in value, I do consider them an investment in my flight sim endeavors because I know I won't need another controller for a long, long time.PROSWell built, precision manufacturingProgrammable configurationsHeavy and durableCONSPriceTakes up a decent amount of space

I've had the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog stick and throttle for over a year now, and I purposely deferred my review for two reasons: First, I wanted to make sure I didn't have a 'bum steer' as is sometimes the case with products of this nature. Second, I didn't want to do a 'honeymoon phase' review where I'm singing its praises without really knowing its strengths and weaknesses. So, with a year's worth of experience under the belt, here we go:TLDR: A must buy. Just buy it. It's worth every penny. For more detail, read on.This was by no means an impulse buy on my part: I deliberated long and hard between this and the Saitek X55, which had only been out a few months. The X55 was less than half the price, but it was getting lukewarm reviews and appeared to suffer from serious QA problems. (Unfortunately its successor, the X56, seems to be suffering the same fate). It came down to this: Do I want to spend $200 on a $50 piece o' junk that might last a couple of years *if I'm lucky* or do I want to plunk down twice that much on a product that--provided I don't get a 'bum steer'--will probably last a lifetime?I took the plunge on the Warthog and I am pleased to report I am not disappointed. Unless your pockets are deep enough to get into GoFlight or Yoko The Yoke territory, and until Saitek gets their act together and stops building mediocre junk, the Thrustmaster HOTAS is, in my opinion, the only viable choice for a premium joystick and throttle.I have never had controllers that are so smooth and precise. I concur with other reviewers that the stick has a more 'heavy duty' feel than the throttles, but by no means did Thrustmaster cut corners on the throttles. They have no 'play' and do not feel 'mushy,' plus they have a longer throw than any other throttles I've ever owned, which makes precise adjustments (absolutely critical when flying the Majestic Q400 on final) easier than ever. In fact, it was only after I purchased the Warthog that I was able to fully tame the Q400. The switches on the throttle handles are not quite as stiff as those on the base of the throttle, but I'd be willing to bet this was done to minimize torsion on the throttles and make them easy for single digit control. They do have a much better feel than the 'plasticky' switches on my old controller (Saitek X52).I also concur with other reviewers that the firm spring on the stick takes some getting used to, but after a few months of break-in it's not quite so stiff, and your arm will have built up sufficient strength to operate it without fatigue. Now that I am used to it I doubt I could ever go back to a flimsy stick that fails to provide the same level of precision and control. I do wish the stick was rubberized--instead it is hard and rather slick, which does make it somewhat difficult for me to grip firmly. Note also that the stick is X/Y only, there is no 'twist' to control the Z axis. This is one of the reasons Saitek held my interest, but now I'm convinced that a 'twist' stick is not a good thing. Now I use the rightmost slider on the throttle for rudder control, which took a little getting used to but is now second nature (due to mobility issues I am not able to use foot controllers).Two last remarks: First, if you are using this with FSX, get FSUIPC and LINDA as they take 90% of the headache out of configuring this beast. Second, I also purchased a Logitech G13 gaming controller and moved all of my EZCA views off the stick and onto the G13. This makes it possible to program the hats and switches to do true hands-on-the-stick (and almost completely off the mouse) flying.To sum up, the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog has exceeded my expectations in every way. Even a year later I'm have absolutely no regret for making this purchase. Rarely do I consider expenditures on entertainment products an 'investment' but in this case I'll gladly make an exception. Its quality is worth the price, it has taken my enjoyment flight simulation to new heights, and shows no sign of 'going bad' or wearing out. In fact, it will most likely outlive its owner.