joystick

I've been using MSFS 2002 to keep my instrument scan up (and sometimes
let my wife fly it; she's my "pinch hitter"). I have an el-cheapo
joystick which is now insisting that the nose shall always be pointed
down. It's a mouse systems bogeyman, and is pretty terrible (though the
price was right).

So, I'm in the market for a new flight controller.

1: Any reccomendations for a good, inexpensive stick?

2: Is force feedback worth the extra money?

3: Is there any reason to consider a yoke?

4: Yes, I know pedals would increase the realism, but that's not really
my aim. That said, are pedals worth it just to keep my scan up to snuff?

5: This is posted in r.a.p only. Is it worth a visit to r.a.sim?

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

Hi Jose;
I guess I've spent about 10 grand so far on computers and peripherals to
work with Microsoft and the people making add on's for Microsoft Flight
Simulator. :-)
Without getting into it deeply peripheral wise (controllers), for your
purpose of instrument practice, you should do just fine using any medium
quality joystick with a throttle and twist rudder axis. Saitek makes a
fairly decent one you can get at most any computer center.
Stay away from the force feedback controllers. They can and have caused
issues in the program and are not at all realistic.
Dudley Henriques
[MVP]- Microsoft Flight Simulator

"Jose" wrote in message
. ..
I've been using MSFS 2002 to keep my instrument scan up (and sometimes let
my wife fly it; she's my "pinch hitter"). I have an el-cheapo joystick
which is now insisting that the nose shall always be pointed down. It's a
mouse systems bogeyman, and is pretty terrible (though the price was
right).

So, I'm in the market for a new flight controller.

1: Any reccomendations for a good, inexpensive stick?

2: Is force feedback worth the extra money?

3: Is there any reason to consider a yoke?

4: Yes, I know pedals would increase the realism, but that's not really
my aim. That said, are pedals worth it just to keep my scan up to snuff?

5: This is posted in r.a.p only. Is it worth a visit to r.a.sim?

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where it
keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.

2: Is force feedback worth the extra money?

Yes! Although for instrument scan proficiency, I don't see why it
would matter.

3: Is there any reason to consider a yoke?

I'm sure you know my answer. The addition of a yoke with throttle
quadrant changes EVERYTHING about flying the sim. It's just...more
real.

4: Yes, I know pedals would increase the realism, but that's not really
my aim. That said, are pedals worth it just to keep my scan up to snuff?

For scan purposes, nope. For realism (brakes, steering, slips), yes.

5: This is posted in r.a.p only. Is it worth a visit to r.a.sim?

Nope. I posted about The Kiwi in that group a week ago, and I'm still
in the top hand-full of posts. That group is totally dead, obviously
superceded by such web-based sim groups as AvSim. Try there.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

Jose wrote:
5: This is posted in r.a.p only. Is it worth a visit to r.a.sim?

Try asking on alt.games.microsoft.flight-sim; it gets on the order of 100
posts a day.

Jay Honeck wrote:
2: Is force feedback worth the extra money?
Yes! Although for instrument scan proficiency, I don't see why it
would matter.

I use MSFS and a Saitek 3D Rumble force (just happen to have it out for
proficiency at the moment). I turn off the Rumble. When flying by
instruments, if you even get close to a stall, you're scan has serious
problems (from my limited IFR experience).

3: Is there any reason to consider a yoke?

no.

I'm sure you know my answer. The addition of a yoke with throttle
quadrant changes EVERYTHING about flying the sim. It's just...more
real.

agreed. I wouldn't care what the throttle quadrant looks like but as
long as it has one.

DEFINITELY make sure it usable by your left hand though unless you fly a
stick or flying from the righthand seat. Most joysticks for flying
are setup for flying like a fighter pilot with your right hand on the
yoke.

Some extra buttons are useful too as mouse clicking to hit flaps, trim,
freq. changes, etc. can be difficult at times. I have some of the
million and a half buttons to do such things.

4: Yes, I know pedals would increase the realism, but that's not really
my aim. That said, are pedals worth it just to keep my scan up to snuff?
For scan purposes, nope. For realism (brakes, steering, slips), yes.

agreed. For me, I do the approach and that's about it. I don't worry
about making the hotel guests happy. Oh, wait that's what the big jar
of peanuts are for. ;-)

for the most part any jo

Gerald

Jim Logajan wrote:
Jose wrote:
5: This is posted in r.a.p only. Is it worth a visit to r.a.sim?

Try asking on alt.games.microsoft.flight-sim; it gets on the order of 100
posts a day.


Yep, that's where I go for sim questions. It's very active.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

Try asking on alt.games.microsoft.flight-sim; it gets on the order of 100
posts a day.

Yep, that's where I go for sim questions. It's very active.

Another good tip from this group. Thanks!
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"

"Mortimer Schnerd, RN" mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com wrote in message
...
Jim Logajan wrote:
Jose wrote:
5: This is posted in r.a.p only. Is it worth a visit to r.a.sim?

Try asking on alt.games.microsoft.flight-sim; it gets on the order of 100
posts a day.


Yep, that's where I go for sim questions. It's very active.


And Manic is about as popular there as he is here. Says a lot for the group.

Gig 601XL Builder wrote:
Try asking on alt.games.microsoft.flight-sim; it gets on the order of 100
posts a day.

Yep, that's where I go for sim questions. It's very active.

And Manic is about as popular there as he is here. Says a lot for the group.



He doesn't get away with the crap there that they allow him to do here. As a
result, he has a minimal presence there. They've been wise to his trolling ways
for quite a while.



--
Mortimer Schnerd, RN
mschnerdatcarolina.rr.com

Not many gamers on this group. Best to try one of the game groups.

-Robert


Jose wrote:
I've been using MSFS 2002 to keep my instrument scan up (and sometimes
let my wife fly it; she's my "pinch hitter"). I have an el-cheapo
joystick which is now insisting that the nose shall always be pointed
down. It's a mouse systems bogeyman, and is pretty terrible (though the
price was right).

So, I'm in the market for a new flight controller.

1: Any reccomendations for a good, inexpensive stick?

2: Is force feedback worth the extra money?

3: Is there any reason to consider a yoke?

4: Yes, I know pedals would increase the realism, but that's not really
my aim. That said, are pedals worth it just to keep my scan up to snuff?

5: This is posted in r.a.p only. Is it worth a visit to r.a.sim?

Jose
--
"Never trust anything that can think for itself, if you can't see where
it keeps its brain." (chapter 10 of book 3 - Harry Potter).
for Email, make the obvious change in the address.