Former F-16 Pilot Reviews Thrustmaster Viper TQS

Thrustmaster sent me a Viper TQS and Mission Pack to review. Does it live up to the hype?
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[@Brees1986]

I had the original Thrustmaster Flight Stick in college, back in late 80’s to early 90’s. Back then, they were located in Tigard, OR. I remember there was a recall of some sort on it and I had to ship it back for repair. I remember being embarrassed going to the campus PO with a box labeled “Thrustmaster”. The name just sounded dirty….

[@Diesel0012002]

I still use my 20 year old cougar. The AB detent is toasted. I've been waiting for a replacement. This looks nicely done.

[@Alicatt1]

Still using mine too, replaced the pots with hall sensors and now working better than new. I also have the original analogue FLCS + TQS from Thrustmaster its packed away in the Cougar box at the moment.

[@Diesel0012002]

I've been through a couple cans of deoxit electronic cleaner/conditioner on my cougar. That stuff works wonders.

[@maddthomas]

I have had three, down to one. I bought most of them as broken, for parts only to get at lest one working and want to share what I found trying to get parts for them. The company that made the potentiometers for TM are CTS and CTS doesn't make those parts any more...BUT CTS does make 100k Pots with center detentes for Fender Guitars as in the Cougars ANT ELEV pot, it is a direct drop in replacement if you can solder 3 wires. The MAN RNG/UNCAGE pot is another 100k pot but it has a momentary push button, I cannot find another one like it BUT, you can use the Fender pots to rebuild the original TM CTS pot, just take it slow when bending the metal tabs to disassemble if you go to fast they break, all you have to do is swap the internal PCB and copper wiper if you do this you cannot mistake those parts. I did this and I had a 20 year old TM Cougar with crisp center detentes and OEM fresh pots. The last potentiometers used are the throttle axis and X and Y axis on the stick, TM used the same 100k pots for all 3. So if you have too, you could keep your throttle going if the cam and springs assembly inside you stick breaks by robbing one of the X or Y axis pots for your throttle if you couldn't get the Hall senor replacement for those axis. Just for clarity the Fender Potentiometer is called " Fender 100K B Taper Mid Boost Potentiometer ", you can order them off Amazon for $10 each, the only difference I can see in Cougar vs Fenders Pots are the Fenders do not have a serrated post to hold the knob on and that is solved by a drop of super glue. Diesel0012002, the AB detent is 2 metal claps fitted around the throttles rotation shaft pressing on a flat piece of spring loaded metal with a crip in the center that can be adjusted, this might solve your problem. If you remove the 8 screws on the bottom, flip the throttle and place in your lap so the throttle grip can hang downward and the base lies flat so you can remove the bottom cover and you will see what I described, just FYI if you don't flip the throttle upside down things will fall out. I hope this helps, for $20 and a little time and patience you can restore your old Cougar to almost new.

[@Tonpilot]

I still use Cougar too. Do you know if TQS can work with the old stick?

[@Diesel0012002]

@@maddthomas Thanks for the info. I'll have a look at it. I certainly can't make it any worse.

[@TaroBlindLabrador]

Long way from Falcon 3.0 and MS Dos 5. In those days, you had to set up your own Exec Bat and Config Sys files. A bit of trial and error and with only a 486 DX and 4 mb of RAM, it was still great for its time.

[@fridge7515]

I just got mine in the mail and at first my inner Larper was pissed about a button for cutoff to idle. But i found for the cold start larp nerds like me, instead of using button 16 for cutoff to idle. When you move the throttle to cutoff it has a button 18. Using that will allow cutoff to idle without having to physically push a button. Enjoying all videos and books, thanks

[@ridingwithbaz2736]

Really really looking forward to an in depth comparison of the winwing vs the thrustmaster

[@JBSmoke1]

That looks sweet, Mover. I see Luna assisted you in setting it up. :)

[@CWLemoine]

As my direct supervisor, it is important for her to be paws on at all times.

[@Hammy_on_twitch]

Always a blast to see you review the cool stuff. That Fox3 shirt makes you pretty easy on they eyes as well.

[@iammorpheus7345]

Just got mine about 2 day ago. As you said it's plug and play with little setup needed. I will say that the LED for the landing gear doesn't work yet nor the RWR lighting. Other then that i am living it. If your flying the F 16 and am thinking of getting it, you won't regret it. Lmfao sooo I am sending mine back due to as they say "abnormal input." So the tech tech team is going to look at it. I really hope they fix this. 500 bucks for my RDR cursor, antenna elevation knob, and about 3 more while throttling up and down. Let's see what happens with them, well let you know.

[@Fox3-Luck]

Thanks Mover!

[@OhItsThat]

Like sim racing the quality and quantity of the hardware is passing the quality and quantity of the software. Nice video dude

[@akamouzis]

which one is better winwing f-16 hotas or thrustmaster tqs?

[@pilotken8685]

Using the WinWing F-16 HOTAS/Throttle currently but seriously considering this product now. Thanks for the video and really looking forward to the winwing comparison video. Will compare notes! ~ "Newtubbe (USAF 99-05)"

[@paulholmes672]

As a F-105 and F-111 maintenance guy, I'll never see a throttle I'll be familiar with, being run qualified in both airplanes. Dual engine fighters are a bit more rare as well although you'd think there is enough F-15 and F-18 interest out there somewhere. Sticks are a bit easier, although the F-111 has to have a TFR Paddle off switch 🙂. As far as the F-16, never was a fan, and turned down two tries to send me to the Shaw Swamps.

[@BorkToThe3rd]

Went to Fox3 Managed Solutions and their merch store doesn't have your t-shirt. My wife fox hunts and I really think she needs that shirt!

[@mando7558]

Which of the two options do you believe is superior, or which one do you favor more, the Winwing F-16 Throttle and Stick or the Thrustmaster Viper TQS?

[@CWLemoine]

That'll be a separate video. Both have their strengths and weaknesses.

[@farcydebop]

The Winwing is way cheaper and has a lot of modularity, but it is not plug and play like the Thrustmaster. So the best would be the one fitting your need. There have also been few complains on the build quality of the Orion series, but for the price, I don't think we can take it as a general issue.

[@fl398motorsports3]

I have the WW version, really like it… in fact, it was the WW F-16 throttle and stick that finally forced me to learn and enjoy the -16.

[@ILruffian]

@@CWLemoineLooking forward to this. The zoom wheel on the TM looks like a great feature.

[@FGCH03]

Good review mover.

[@RonI-qz2tz]

Great video. Thank you

[@richieismyhero]

That looks awesome!

[@30K_ACTUAL]

What is the hogknob?

[@DoradoFever]

Looking forward to the comparison video. Have the TM Warthog and was very inpressed with it for the A-10. Was bummed TM took so long and got the WW Viper when it became available, but still prefer the quality and feel of TM over WW.

[@bronco5334]

I agree regarding the TM Warthog throttle, but the difference between the TM Warthog and Viper that makes all the difference to me is that the Warthog is a perfect 1:1 replica, with all the switches in the correct place, while the TM Viper kind of "cheats" by taking the selection of switches the designers thought were "most useful", and re-arranged them to fit onto the controller. This results in a controller that does NOT replicate the real switch locations (as Mover briefly mentions). For most people this isn't a deal-breaker, but if the switches on the panel aren't in the right place, you might as well get the WW, which *also* doesn't have the switches on the panel in the right place, but at least has more of them, and in more varieties (more rotary encoders and axes). The WW also has smoother throttle movement with the roller cam.

[@nolan6137]

Very nice Review

[@GrantvsMaximvs]

Mover Versus Gonky III: The Wreckoning

[@febriyohanes3598]

i love to fly more than 1 plane on dcs. sooo.. which one i must buy ? warthog or viper ??

[@tsangarisjohn]

I would love to buy it but its too specialized and expensive. I like flying more than one plane in DCS. I will probably buy the VKB throttle instead. Having said that, it is cool to have the option.

[@kongchoong]

2:24, what is the black sun gear above the "SPD BRK" label?

[@jameswilliams1085]

Ive has mine for about a month now. Was a real pain to set up...in no way was It plug and play. The three way switches dont , yes i i have (or i beleive i have haha!!! ) downloaded The latest drivers and that side tonbe honest was disapointing. For The switches , ive really given Up on them . The throttle is excellent ....though binding the radar slew was difficult to put It mildly. I like It. I just wish It really had been plug and play though. I just now tend to click The cockpit buttons on screen....

[@gtmike916]

This is really nice!! I think this would be great not only for DCS, but for PC players on War Thunder as well!

[@Blackcloud_Garage]

Good stuff

[@RedTail1-1]

Everyone is getting this thing for free. When am I getting mine, Thrustmaster?

[@shawn2443]

Mover……. Where’s the 69% off promo code : )

[@arnie24070127]

For the algorithm

[@Bobinification]

The most unenthusiastic eyes I've seen on your face in a long time.

[@MsTheCops]

I have one ...I like it ...but I cannot to get the landing gear indicator light to work & the slider works like a toggle switch. I noticed yours was not lit red either?