Advice on flight sticks
Choose a flight stick
There are different types of flight sticks, which can make choosing a flight stick a bit difficult. Consider the following things when you choose a flight stick:
- For which platform do you need a flight stick?
- What type of flight stick do you need?
- What type of planes do you want to fly?
Platform
PC/Xbox
Most flight sticks are compatible with your gaming PC or Xbox console. That's because Microsoft Flight Simulator is the most well-known flight simulator game and exclusive for PC and Xbox. You can also play other flight simulation games such as War Thunder via Steam. Keep in mind that you do need a powerful gaming PC for simulation games.
PlayStation
Flight sticks you can connect to your PC or Xbox aren't compatible with the PlayStation. You need a specific PlayStation flight stick for this. You also can't play games like Microsoft Flight Simulator on the PlayStation. Games like Ace Combat and Air Conflicts are available on this platform.
Types of flight sticks
Joystick
For beginner pilots, a joystick is usually their first flight stick. A joystick has multiple buttons and various axes. This makes the joystick ideal for all types of flights. It also has a trigger button, which is useful for fighter aircraft.
Hotas
Hotas stands for 'Hand On Throttle And Stick'. This flight stick has a joystick and a throttle. That's useful if you want to control various types of planes. You can also control planes more accurately with a throttle.
Yoke
The planes you go on vacation with are controlled with a yoke. With the yoke, you control the helm with the yoke and move the plane in all directions. A yoke also has programmable buttons and switches. You only use this flight stick for commercial flights.
Throttle
A throttle is a handle to control the gas of a plane. You often use this flight stick in combination with a joystick or yoke during commercial flights or if you want to control larger aircraft.
Types of flights
Commercial flights
For commercial flights, you often use a hotas, a joystick with throttle, or a yoke. That's because you want to control the plane precisely. You also have special flight sticks per plane, such as a Boeing or Airbus pack with a flight stick based on the real plane.
Fighter aircraft
Do you prefer some more excitement? In Ace Combat or War Thunder, you can fly through the air with military planes. You often need a hotas or joystick with a throttle and many buttons for this. It's also important that the joystick has a trigger button.
Helicopter flights and recreational flights
Do you prefer smaller flights and helicopter flights? A joystick is often enough. It allows you to control smaller aircraft with accuracy. If you want to fly in larger planes, you can expand your joystick with a throttle.
Expand setup
You can also expand your flight stick with other flight sticks and accessories. There are flight stick panels you can connect to your current flight stick for more buttons, for example. There are also pedals to keep your large plane balanced. You do have to keep in mind that not every flight stick is compatible with other ones, so be sure to check that when you expand your flight stick setup.
