Choosing the Perfect Flight Stick | Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition Review

Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbust Edition (affiliate) - amzn.to/2ErVrwi
My Head-tracking Solution is DelanClip - Use this discount code at check out to support the channel and save some cash - JHC7XE9KSANF - delanengineering.com/shop/

[@Elidrys]

I have this. Love it. Hate the words Airbus on it, but looks good, feels good, like the buttons and interchangeability. Works great with Star Wars Squadrons. My friend is looking at some crazy over the top flight stick setup for Star Citizen, but I am so happy with this for the money paid and value.

[@CodPix]

well, it's the airbus edition. The normal one is the t16000

[@funda298]

Good breakdown. Purchased this and the throttle module after watching your video. You deserved the freebie 👍

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Hey thanks so much!

[@ColinBlanco]

I'd like to point out that the sidestick does have the same buttons as the t16000. Button number 2 which is a thumb button on the t16000 is moved as the second trigger button. You don't lose any of the buttons and you have the ability to lock the Z axis making it the superior option of the two outside of which one has the best looks for you.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

true! Thanks.

[@suiiiiii7cr7]

You mean the airbus edition is superior right?

[@zetetick395]

@@suiiiiii7cr7 Please let it be so, those button-sets on the T1600's foot-stand were just god-awful, so squishy and 'un-clicky' ......And the 'throttle' slider..... @_@ SO feeble! Wibbly, wobbly and wonky, and had zero resistance in its sliding action! Cheap like a christmas cracker item! ......All on what was otherwize a really nice-for-the-price flightstick! Still have and use one! (mainly coz it's ambidex stick, and I'm a lefty)

[@jjbchem]

Thanks for confirming the integrity of this stick. I’m buying one right now

[@australianarmy9623]

Thinking of buying my first yoke to start my pilot career... haha. This was a very useful video, thank you and keep it up man.

[@MIHAO]

Great review with some excellent b-roll footage. Thanks! Ordered mine today!

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Enjoy! I'm really happy with it. And truly appreciate your kind words!

[@MIHAO]

@@ControlledPairsGaming you're welcome. have a sub ;-)

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Woah! So glad to have you.

[@lilsins656]

We’re did u get urs from

[@rxm078]

Thank you, just purchased due to your review, AND the whole premium of MSFS2020 lol thanks :P

[@HypePerformanceGroup]

Great vid as always!

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Thanks, big dog!

[@Kirwish5]

I had that joystick and return it to shop. Precision of joystick is good, but center of joystick is too tight for me - very hard to do delicios manuvers. So now again searching my taste joystic :)

[@gigabytegallery7305]

Appreciate this review, I'm glad I didn't buy this first & then watch a review. I've been searching for joysticks I can use for Combat flight games, I would have been stuck paying money just to send it back.

[@ADorschner]

This is on sale on Amazon for $78.90 currently, bought it!

[@tylerlimongiello4577]

Ok i know I’m late to this but I got the game on Xbox a while ago and I’ve been flying with controller for ever and I’ve been wanting a joystick for a little bit now and after watching this video I will be probably purchasing this one 😁

[@joaquintall5180]

C.P.G., at 2:55, you said, "This trigger is not meant to release weapons..." Having said that, is the AIRBUS edition NOT suited for shooter games like DESCENT 1 and 2 and 3, and ONLY usable for civilian flying games? Many thanks for taking the time to respond!

[@Diosesdepapel]

Very Nice review , Tks for sharing

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Thanks for watching!

[@gregoryquint7653]

I bought the Air Bus thrustmaster and went back to my Saitek x52. Flys like silk.

[@Luca-pg5mj]

why did you go back to x52? what are the differences in accuracy and quality?

[@gregoryquint7653]

@@Luca-pg5mj the Air Bus Thrustmaster was no comparison, because it always drifted, even tho I went through calibrations and it just feels cheap. My Saitek x52 may be old, but nothing compares. Always win in flying games! That is most important.

[@JLProPhoto]

Just going to correct something small on the trigger: I'm not familiar with the actual Airbus, but triggers on civilian aircraft controls are usually the radio PTT.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Excellent info! Thanks. I'm typically in DCS, clearly.

[@JLProPhoto]

@@ControlledPairsGaming Even in DCS, it does come into play on the Huey (its trigger is the radio. Weapon release its the top of the stick). It probably is the same on the Mi8, too, but I'm not sure. I just was told it was designed as a civil helicopter first and then adapted for military use. I just checked the actual stick button layout: Trigger is PTT, the Red button is AP Disconnect, the trim hat is the trim. Everything else is extra. Civil aviation is so simple compared to military stuff.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Makes sense. User preference for mapping in the SIM, if course, but glad it can be made to reflect real world. I like the wheel brakes on the trigger, honestly.

[@JLProPhoto]

@@ControlledPairsGaming It really makes me wish they would have added the brake lever like they did with the warthog. That single extra handle is a godsend.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Yup. And taking my hand off the stick in the final moments of approach is a BIG nope 🤣

[@Your_Average_Joe.]

Thank you for the review, and I have a quick question. What are your PC specs ?

[@striderdnb]

Had to return mine after a few weeks due to the Z axis (rudder) not being centered correctly.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Good to know. First I've heard of people having issues with that.

[@EGGUZMAN]

I picked up an open box TCA Officer Edition for $140 at a local electronic store. The problem is all the accessories are missing like the buttons for right hand flying etc. it did come with the default buttons already on the stick. I don’t know what to do now if I should just return it and get a new one and pay the extra $35. Are the extra buttons for right hand flying worth it?

[@astroguimo]

Can you map combinations of buttons? I would be nice if you could combine the trigger and Hat switch for pitch trimming.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Just depends on the game. MFS2020 Does support combos.

[@astroguimo]

@@ControlledPairsGaming sorry, yeah I meant FS2020. Thanks!

[@tinysheepfan673]

I really wanna hey one of these. They don’t ship to the us as far as I know so ima try to get it on amazon.

[@jimle22]

I am in the Philippines ordered one from Amazon US and because I paid in advance with CC, it was lost? and never made it past Manila to my house. I then ordered from Shopee.com which is local (like Amazon) C.O.D. and it arrived in a few days. Shipped from Korea. Here COD is the way to go because if doesn't show up they don't get their money. Amazon was tracking the package and knew it was lost or stolen and gave me a refund. So that was cool. I have it now and really enjoy using it with XPlane 11.

[@tigheklory]

You never showed the bottom of the stick, I have the dual T16000M and they have a left and right switch on the bottom. Does this have the switch on the bottom?

[@SalsVideos]

I have one and like it a lot. However, I find it difficult to level off ailerons in MSFS 2020 when centering the stick coming out of a left or right bank. Aircraft wants to remain slightly banked and requires constant adjustments. I've tried calibrating according to instructions, but that doesn't resolve the problem.

[@micsunday14]

Make a little deadzone. Tiny dead zone

[@ericpeng]

the sidestick is in the left hand version and your using it as a right hand version so ofcorse it's not gonna feel good! btw the trigger is in the real life sidestick the trigger is for coms on

[@ArizonaMMJ]

Which do you recommend for someone new to Flying MSFS and wants to spend under $100? Looking to mainly fly jets and small jets and not a ton of commercial stuff.

[@Luke-wx5bu]

i just brought one of those, nice with that reverse throtle, i got the old t16000 but it got broken

[@chulian1819]

how did it broke?

[@Luke-wx5bu]

@@chulian1819 not sure how it broke

[@zetetick395]

I like how the background music sounds like it's trying to sell me some kinda sanitary towel / stool softening pharma product.

[@RLJIM]

I've been looking at this one, how to you look around whilst flying? Is there anything on the stick so it can be done with one hand? Only played on controller before so not sure what people do. Ideally VR would be great but currently got nothing more than a monitor. Cheers

[@meareAaron]

could you also use this for fighting flight sims? or is there a disadvatage from using this over the T1600?

[@macaroniwithdachickenstrip8684]

If you get the hotas can you fly single engine aircraft still?

[@Jasemtl]

How does it compare to the thrust master hotas x? I am having trouble controlling in fs2020 with the Hotas x and can’t find this airbus model.

[@tranquilhawk5110]

Once my joystick arrives I’m going to map the red button on top to the autopilot disconnect and connect it just feel right

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

That definitely makes sense.

[@pushiii]

In an actual airbus this is the button that disconnects the autopilot or even sets the sidestick priority when pressed 3 times in a row. So that mapping would make a lot of sense :)

[@tranquilhawk5110]

Martin püschel yeah I realized that it was the autopilot disconnect like a day later when I watched a video about it. What a coincidence

[@pedroelvas9148]

@@pushiii To set the sidestick priority you have to press it for 40sec

[@pushiii]

@@pedroelvas9148 really? Never tried holding that button for so long... for me it usually works when pressing multiple times in a row. I believe it was 2-3 times to disengage Autopilot and cancel the master warning directly and 5-7times to activate sidestick priority.

[@skruffy79]

Are you using it in left handed configuration with your right hand? (I thought the red button was supposed to be on the other side when using with right hand) or maybe doesn't matter?

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

I totally was lol. It doesn't really matter. The Airbus Sidestick is on the left of the pilot IRL so I think this is the default configuration tbh.

[@skruffy79]

@@ControlledPairsGaming thanks for the reply, thinking of purchasing when they become available - cheers!

[@jimle22]

It comes with duplicate side buttons in the box. You can swap them around so it fits left or right handed ambidextrous functionality.

[@sksupply]

I just recieved this after using the Logitech 3D Pro for 10 years. Anyone have good advice for mapping trim when not flying a Bus?

[@jimle22]

Trim is mapped by default I think buttons 7 and 8. You can also map other buttons for rudder trim.

[@alhami2808]

Can we use for rudder for taxiing?

[@wongeric8725]

how to use TCA reverse throttle, not work on fs2020?

[@kirk2632]

how to you set up the TCA reverse thrust on the MSFS?

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

I've not tried that, I'm afraid.

[@sirgenesis1292]

Just pointing out, when the red button is on the right side it means it’s the Captain’s stick and should be held with the left hand 😁

[@CodPix]

you can change the position of the red button tho

[@viperro4542]

The rudder axes is gonna fail, that's the only thing preventing me from buying it

[@makkeyn]

any differce between T16000M in fealing or ahrdness in center for example??

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

The TCA feels a bit more stiff... But that may be a result of it being newer to me. I'm near certain they have the same sensor and springs.

[@tranquilhawk5110]

Do you think it’s hard for righties to fly airbuses as captains?

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Nah I didn't have an issue.

[@ThatOneMapper.]

is this a USB-C plug in??

[@elmalloc]

I'm very new to flight simulators. Why would I purchase this instead of a honeycomb yoke for example?

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

It's cheaper.

[@omerkaya6898]

Is it suitable for Battlefield 1?

[@antonioparisi6315]

Nice review! What are your graphic settings? My rig is pretty much like yours but I can't get it going so smooth

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

I have everything at high and then inturn up super sampling, select textures, water, and reflections. I turn down shadows a bit. Lots of tweaking but it finally feels nice and really pretty still.

[@antonioparisi6315]

@@ControlledPairsGaming Ok thanks I'll give it a try. I noticed also that in wild areas I can run everything at ultra at 40 fps. But then when I try that in cities the game just crashes.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

I get framerate drops in super urban areas as well but not outright crashes. I'd also recommend choosing time and weather to make for beautiful environments. The game renders lighting and clouds without too much issue so flying with a scattered deck at 10k MSL at sunrise/sunset always lends beautiful scenes. As a rule, the closer an object is to you, the prettier you should make it, So precipitation on the glass, icing, and the like are important to me, grass... Less so.

[@screaminseagull]

@@antonioparisi6315 this sim is the new Crisis.

[@sharkyy12]

What would you use that lever for on the front of the stick

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Auto pilot disengage or perhaps a comms switch

[@sharkyy12]

Controlled Pairs Gaming oh ok ill probably use it for comms because im also gonna get the throttle quadrant with the ap disengage butting on the side of the throttles. When its available

[@obesekid6947]

goddamn congrats on the free joystick lol. did you have to send it back? im surprised they sent it to you with 5k subs.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Ha thanks. And no it's mine. You miss 💯% of the shots you don't take 💪

[@tcnetworksltd7216]

Still the T16000M 💪

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Still my go-to, TBH.

[@bleimen9234]

@@ControlledPairsGaming why is this? im planning to buy one of them but I just cant decide. Why is it ur go to? :D

[@martinhabich5078]

so can I use it for squadron or dcs? or better for flightsimulator Microsoft style.?

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

It'll work with all of them. I'd record the T16000M with TWCS for a well rounded option that would work well with each game you've listed.

[@martinhabich5078]

@@ControlledPairsGaming thx. hm well nothing to buy here.... so I thought to buy an Thrustmaster TCA for not atotalidiothighprice and maybe later buying a throttle if need one

[@Thristed]

do you need a trottle with this aswell?

[@CodPix]

you can buy one

[@no-kf8yy]

Damn bro, my t.16000m's rudder is already failing me. Just in time I guess.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Maybe grab the TERP Pedals?

[@no-kf8yy]

@@ControlledPairsGaming I'll try but I'm really bummed because I liked using the twist rudders.

[@kamp.4466]

If you're looking for some decent pedals that aren't too pricey, I'd recommend the CH Pro pedals.

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

I'll check them out!

[@hyperveloce]

Hi, just curious, will the joystick still malfunction even if you don’t use the rudder function or is it just if you use the yaw frequently? I’m new to flight sims, joysticks and I don’t want to spend money on these if they’ll fail no matter how you use it.

[@micsunday14]

Don't you use mouse look?

[@ControlledPairsGaming]

Nah

[@MrJoaoAfonso]

where's the throttle?

[@EdUcation-og2is]

1:50 on the base of the unit

[@MrJoaoAfonso]

@@EdUcation-og2is I know I have the T16000 for DCS world. I was talking about the separated throttle. I didn't so it yet on youtube.

[@rickyembers7634]

used it for 12 hours lol

[@BMW_M4W]

😢

[@aps-pictures9335]

Lol 12 hours?? No.

[@SIMRIG412]

Definitely not the best entry level sidestick. This stick is plastic trash