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Product Description
From the Manufacturer
The HOTAS WARTHOG USB dual-throttle joystick is the result of an intense collaboration between Thrustmaster's development teams and members of the "simmer" community. Exchanges and studies were carried out constantly throughout the product's development phase, in order to create a joystick which meets the most specific and precise requirements of the experts. The result is the HOTAS WARTHOG: a replica set of the joystick, dual throttle system and dual throttle control panel of the U.S. Air Force A-10C attack aircraft.
Weighing in at more than 14 lbs and using metal for the joystick, throttle handles, and bases, the HOTAS WARTHOG joystick is physically imposing. When you take into account the 55 fully programmable action buttons and 2 four-direction hat switches, each with a built-in push button (the first joystick in the world to incorporate such a feature), it becomes clear that the HOTAS WARTHOG is in a class of its own.
The Most Precise and Feature-Filled Joystick You Can Get
The joystick features 19 action buttons, along with a "Point Of View" hat. It provides extreme precision, thanks to the H.E.A.R.T HallEffect AccuRate Technology magnetic sensor system it employs: 16-bit precision (65536 x 65536 values), with no gimbals (cardan joints). What's more, pressing on the joystick's buttons and triggers requires pressure identical to that required in an actual airplane – a true first in the world of joysticks. Particular attention has been paid to freedom of use for simmers, with the joystick's handle being detachable (so that it can also be used on the base of the HOTAS Cougar joystick, if the user wishes), and its base being detachable as well (allowing you to install the joystick in a cockpit).
Pull and Push Throttle System with Disengageable Afterburner
The throttle component has also been very carefully designed, with a dual throttle system allowing for independent control of 2 motors: a locking system lets the user either attach the 2 throttles together, or else keep them independent of one another. The magnetic sensor technology used for the throttles (14-bit resolution, with 16384 values on each throttle) provides unrivaled precision. Switching to the Idle and Afterburner detents is carried out via a Pull and Push system, for even greater realism. The Afterburner detent is disengageable, allowing users to perfectly adapt the throttle control to the type of airplane they are piloting. The throttles feature a total of 17 action buttons, a "Point Of View" hat and a "mouse hat / slew control".
Control Panel with 5 Programmable LEDs
The product's final mechanical component, the control panel, provides an extensive number and variety of controls. It includes a friction wheel, allowing users to manually adjust the resistance of the throttles according to their own taste. It also features backlighting for functions, which users will certainly appreciate for night flights; the 5 programmable LEDs are also a plus for use in dark or low-light conditions. The base includes a "trim wheel" and 15 action buttons, including numerous push buttons with resistance identical to that on a real airplane and industrial metal switches (2 or 3 positions) with highly realistic pressure.
Innovative, High-Performance T.A.R.G.E.T. Software
The HOTAS WARTHOG joystick's deadly weapon is known as T.A.R.G.E.T (Thrustmaster Advanced pRogramming Graphical EdiTor). T.A.R.G.E.T is a software suite allowing users to test, configure and program Thrustmaster controllers, chief among them being the all-new HOTAS WARTHOG, but also the MFD Cougar, the HOTAS Cougar and the T.16000M.
T.A.R.G.E.T lets users create programming configurations which are either more or less complex, depending on the user's taste, simply by using their mouse and the Drag and Drop principle. Three different programming levels are available: "Basic", to get started; "Advanced", to employ more advanced functions; and finally "Script", to harness the full power of the software. It should also be noted that in this software suite, the standard Script language has been totally rewritten to provide more flexibility, new functions and virtually unlimited possibilities.
T.A.R.G.E.T is more than an interface: it's also a powerful software application capable of simulating virtual devices such as a keyboard, joystick, mouse, and so on, in order to simulate all of the actions required for these devices' use. These actions are measured on the axes and buttons of the physical controllers, but sent to software applications via a virtual controller.
In this way, T.A.R.G.E.T allows for total interaction between different Thrustmaster USB controllers, with simplified configurations in simulators, and the use of a single preset for all controllers, rather than having to use as many different presets as controllers. Finally, T.A.R.G.E.T includes built-in presets for well-known games (both recent and older titles), and lets users create new presets too.
Product Description
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Customer Reviews
The other reviewers are spot on. I just want to up the 5 star count. VERY happy with this item. Seems to be a WIDE range on price though. Not sure why.
Anyway, I've got more than 1,000 hours in military jets and a dozen combat missions. This stick and throttle system is incredible and by far the best available on the market.
Sturdy - not plastic. Easy set up - plug n play (except FSX - see below).
By far the most impressive to me is the feel - the action. It truly feels more like a real aircraft than anything before. Many sticks are flimsy. And "Force Feedback" always had an arcade feel to me. This has a realistic feel.
Obviously it's for DCS A-10C and in that application it's a dream. I set button 4 - next to nose wheel steering (pinky) - to "active pause" since it's not assigned in the game. I also had to reset the trim switch from a view setting to a trim setting. Other than that - and of course the choice is yours - it functioned perfectly right out of the box.
Another "sell" for you... I have over 300 landings on aircraft carriers. But, landing the FA-18 in MS FSX was ridiculous. NOW, I'm in the groove and center the ball on the first pass. It is SOOOO nice. The only surprise with this set was the lack of a profile for FSX - so, at the time I'm writing this, you have to spend some time on set up. Really!? Yep.
But, honestly, I think you'll enjoy your higher realism sims with this set. And the more you enjoy them, the more the price of this stick and throttle set makes sense. Even "fun" sims like Thirdwire's "Stike Fighter" series work well with HOTAS (and program easily).
See the review at SimHQ for more info on using HOTAS Warthog on different sims...... Read more ›
The static friction is much greater than dynamic friction so when making precision work such as gunnery and formation flying, it's rather frustrating. My first unit (which died but was replaced) was smooth at first, but after one month of use, the stiction came about. The replacement unit had stiction from start. Some users have reported that they do not have this issue, while other do. [...]
The joystick sensor is very accurate, but it's rendered entirely moot if mechanical accuracy is not there.
The solution is to take the joystick base apart and replace the existing grease with a better plastic safe grease. It's not hard but soldering is most likely required as breaking wire is almost certain if you don't know what you are doing. I've replaced the grease with Molykote EM-30L as suggested in the forum and now the stick is buttery smooth.
Of course, the Warthog is otherwise very awesome to behold and stiction is not as apparent unless you are doing precision flying. The construction is solid, I just wished that Thrustmaster had opted for a better grease. Had I known this problem and didn't know how to fix it, I would not have paid the $500 - I'd expect better.
I wrote a review for my former TM Cougar HOTAS (http://www.amazon.com/review/R329NM8PE25CQJ/ref=cm_cr_rdp_perm) and while I owned that particular piece of gear I thought it was the best that I had owned at the time...this piece of equipment simply blows all others I have owned out of the water. I have owned gear from CH, Saitek, Logitech, Gravis, Suncom (now out of business) and each time I continue to come back to Thrustmaster gear.
This Warthog has a superior feel to it with the ball joint on the stick portion and the split throttles allow some great customization of the controls and how you can work a single or multiple engine aircraft in games. The one problem I have is with the programming software and trying to understand it out of the box...well you have to download it directly from Thrustmaster but you should know that going into the purchase.
For connectivity I have tried this hardware on operating systems from Windows XP up to Windows 7 64bit and it is recognized immediately and operates as advertised by the manufacturer. I feel that I must let you know that there are some people reporting loss of the throttle response randomly and as a result the manufacturer has released an updated firmware that is reportedly fixing many of the "bricked/dead" throttle units. However a few are having to be sent back to the manufacturer and replaced with new parts to take care of the problem. [...]
If you want to spend the money then you will not be disappointed. Again this is the best flight simulation gaming gear that I have had the opportunity to use in my 20+ years of playing flight simulation games. [...]
and I would nt even star rate if I didn't half to to submite this in!!
Cons: throttle stick feels good in your hand but it does... Read more
