Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack Review

[@i7rooper]

This thing should be $300 tops. Only for that price I could pick it up instead of the WW F-16 throttle.

[@RobertS1089]

A plastic bottom plate? Seriously, Thrustmaster? Thanks for the review, you are the first one to mention and show this - not so unimportant - fact.

[@Traumglanz]

Plastic itself is not really the issue, there is a lot of really sturdy plastic, carbon reinforced. etc out there and used by the competition. But Thrustmaster did decide that they will use cheap plastic instead of anything sane here. And that's imho a nogo for such an expensive throttle. The whole thing should be priced a lot lower.

[@Wrootplonk]

I was really excited when I saw that TM was coming out with an alternative to their now VERY old Cougar, but once I saw the pricepoint it became a nonstarter. TM absolutely needs to realize that they're not along in the flightsim-peripheral market anymore, and that their brandname by no means carries the same amount of streetcred as it once did. Either way: good vid on it. Nice to hear some thoughts on it.

[@cecielhelder5923]

Have you looked at WinWing and VKB prices? By the time you pay shipping and import taxes a complete joystick pushes 400-500 bucks. Thrust master is keeping up with the competition, not pushing new price boundaries. Choice is good but it’s coming at increasingly higher prices. I got the Warthog complete Hotas set for $299 when it came out. The good old days.🙂

[@rokosoldat9912]

​@@cecielhelder5923 Looked? Most people on this video paid and received those products. And have been doing so for years. A STECS Mini Plus is under €285 with VAT, and will be €270 on the next shipment since it won't be air lifted from China to the European warehouse. Sales is done from inside of Europe so there are no extra tariffs. Shipping costs, that are directly on the consumer and not in the sticker price, are for shipping from Lithuania. Prices for the US are significantly lower than this.

[@Ainar86]

@@cecielhelder5923 Yeah, but those $400-500 ones will last you a decade without hitch while a Warthog is likely to break in 2-3. It's honestly better to get a VKB Gladiator which is both cheaper and better quality, despite being plastic.

[@cecielhelder5923]

This was a response to the new F16 Throttle, not the Warthog. Not sure how good or bad the quality is. My Warthog throttle is still as good as when I bought it a decade ago. You’re right about the stick though. Broke within a year. The grip is gold though, put it on a VKB Gunfighter base. Later added to a VKB Gunfighter Ultimate. @@Ainar86

[@oppotato5440]

the "extra" paddle is a real thing, its called the Hands-On Black-Out switch or HOBO, which is for blacking out the internal lights

[@Jabbers]

At interesting, did not know, thanks for the heads up!

[@Jabbers]

Correction: At 01:22 The paddle at the bottom is actually on some Jets, it's apparently called the "Hands-On Black-Out switch or HOBO, which is for blacking out the internal lights" as quoted from a viewer. Image reference: falcon4.wikidot.com/local--files/avionics:hotas/throttle.jpg

[@i7rooper]

It would be nice if you make the correction in the video or cut that part off.

[@generic_luke]

Honestly for the price, I really cant imagine myself every buying it. If it was much cheaper, then it could be an actually competitive product in the market.

[@farcydebop7982]

Just as what happened in simracing, it looks like they think they have a big enough brand with the general public, to ignore there are other more specialized brands providing better products for cheaper. You see them now in the same boat as Logitech, losing the market to Fanatec, Moza, etc... Even if it is more of a niche thing, they may also be losing the flightsim market, if they stay disconnected to the competition.

[@dunbar555]

that paddle really exist on some F-16 variants and control NVG lighting in the cockpit

[@TheSkipjack95]

A plastic base on an overall meh product that you still want to sell at 500€. Who thought that would work nowadays.

[@m0rph3u5.]

Great and honest review as always. You've hit the nail on the head when you said the price is not competitive. I meant for the same price you could get WinWing F-16 setup including the stick, or get Virpil throttle (which is the best imo) and save $/£100-200. Needless to mention the versatility of the latter for different jets or space sim..etc

[@xx-ti3tl]

Well, in the US at least the shipping and customs fees will probably eat into the price advantage Virpil, VKB, or Winwing may have otherwise

[@m0rph3u5.]

@@xx-ti3tl same here in the UK with Virpil (until recently when they opened a UK-based store after I purchased mine), but it is still worth every penny

[@pyroscot]

Great to see you active again dude, hopefully catch you in DCS at some point. Pete

[@SeanAnwalt]

Great video, Jabbers, thank you. I think I will hold off purchasing this tqs until both the quality improves and the price drops. I'm glad to see most of it is still TM quality, but disappointed there are quality issues, especially concerning the internal nuts.

[@nyrubin]

I like it that it stays in place, that a lone makes it better than most center spring loaded flight controllers in my opinion

[@Viper._.-]

Fun fact the button on the bottom of the throttle where you would rest your ring finger is a button found on the block 40 f 16s it is used to black out the cockpit for NVG use

[@zinjguo8268]

The mounting nut problem should be easily solved. Just dip some super glue on the knurled part of the nut and let it dry. Obviously this should've been done at the factory, but here we are...

[@Flyboy_Gospel]

Jabbers, Im happy to see you back man.

[@Squid2650]

My son is hoping for this one for his DCS adventures. Good review Jabbers. that bottomplate is kind of a concern, could se a lot of better solutions, from a basic internal bracing to a full metal plate. Oh well.

[@vincentvoncarnap]

For me it looks like the STECS mini/mini+ from VKB is a better option in general, if your son is just getting into DCS

[@OneOddFellow]

@Squid2650 Check out the WinWing F-16 throttle. It is reportedly of MUCH superior construction and should be a fair bit cheaper as well- depending on the cost of shipping to your area.

[@Squid2650]

@@OneOddFellow Winwing to hear will make it about 20% more costly, so that is a no go. Also, My son has good experience with TM so thjat is the plan, I had even offered him my Warthog, not nope.

[@RagsHSC-7]

I thought that I would like to try it. I started with the TM 16000 m euro fighter HOTAS. 3.5 k hours. All I had to do was to maintenance on the throttle assembly inside. Just had to open the back and pop the rotary off and clean up the sensor which is gold plated. Which you had to be really careful and reinstall but at full mill. The gold plating wore out so the contact wore out so either I had to spend the gold-plated really thin washer so it would idle. Seeing this and what they have on top tells me that the throttle is the same inside. I have no complaints for the price of the TM 16000M but the price for this. You can genuinely see that it's all plastic. Replicating the flare button with nobody is going to pound on the side of their hand as to the wall of the cockpit. The price for that unit should be relative between the 16,000 m and their warthog. When you can, go to WW or another to get a one-to-one full metal jacket per se. Thank you for showing the demo. I've seen others use it and have to reach under the throttle for the buttons that were mapped or binded, whichever you prefer. Thrustmaster really did me good with no complaints. Not even the maintenance was difficult watching a KZbin on how to. The price is way out of bounds. You can just look at it. Not just the mounting plate but the gear. I would have just done a two-way switch for that and would take many many hours and have no problem other than the plastic. It's the plastic look of it. That's unfounded in today's market of flight sim, realistic feeling and immersion. Take care 🕊️

[@steeltribe3967]

Thanks for the review.

[@ColonelAkirNakesh]

This has nothing to do with the throttle but just wanted to say it's nice to see you back :)

[@rwhunt99]

I think T Master is simply taking advantage of the high prices for HOTAS systems and they increased their price on their Wart Hog without any improvements for years, and now seek to increase profits through additional products. I appreciate your video and no one else has complained about the knobs and mounting issues you had, so that' a good heads up on your part. I am in the market for a new throttle, but it seems like it won't be Thrust Master. I'm not sure how Thrust Master handles these free tryouts, that is, do you ship them back to them and they send them out to others, or was yours brand new? I ask that because I was wondering why you had such an easy time to break their mounting system, that bodes ill for them. Most vendors would use a hex sided mount for the nut to slip into.

[@Jabbers]

Brand new in the box, I do not return it to them. Yes a hex nut would have been a better choice here.

[@williamwilkinson2748]

I use heavy duty stick on Velcro to attach the unit to my desk mounts, great stuff Velcro!

[@SsgtHolland]

Thanks for the heads-up about the bottom plate. This is insanely flimsy design. It should be metal or resin with normal hex nuts that fit snugly. Until TM revises this, I won't be buying it. Especially at this price.

[@doctorwigglespank8933]

I'm interested in the stand-alone throttle, as I'd rather build a custom button box with the features I want, and that gear handle doesn't instill a lot of confidence that the panel is worth the extra cost. Hopefully the price will be lower than the $350 MSRP once it hits the shops. I'm not in a hurry to own one, so I'm fine with waiting for a sale, as well.

[@TheCrash1983]

Thrustmaster have fallen behind there competitors. i wish someone would mass-produce a ffb stick at price that is not insane.

[@squinkys]

Damn that's some smoooooove VR buddy.

[@MarvinBoydCo]

Do you think this throttle is not just for the viper but can be used for other modules in DCS without issue?

[@Jabbers]

I don't see why not. The only downside is you won't have dual throttle input for modules like the f18

[@PedroHenrique-bs8hj]

vkb is light years ahead!

[@oldmanfunky4909]

To expensive! I'll be getting the new VKB split throttle and using it for all my DCS needs.

[@RTSchramm]

Did the mounting screws come with the throttle, if not what size screws did you use?

[@JPsTechReviews]

So can the Throttle be used without the mission pack/button box.

[@Jabbers]

Yes you can purchase just the throttle

[@Vortex31415]

Thanks for the review, Jabbers. I pre-ordered mine last month, and it should arrive tomorrow. I plan to mount mine with a Monstertech table mount, so i appreciate the heads-up about the nuts. Just a few thoughts about quality. I've been using a Virpil CM throttle for almost three years now, and honestly I wasn't that impressed with it. Coming from the Warthog throttle before it, the switches felt flimsy. The throttle handle itself was too far forward, and the software had a nasty tendency of re-writing the profile in the firmware when it was disconnected. I also had to tape the dual throttle together because they never fully seated properly and always moved with a little bit of play between them. I ordered this TM Viper Mission Pack for two reasons: (1) I spend most of my time in the DCS Viper, and (2) I care most about the quality of the switches on the grip and the smoothness of the throttle axis itself. On this last point, it seems that the TQS is actually one of the best options on the market. As long as i can mount it properly, i think ill be very pleased with it as an upgrade over my Virpil throttle. Thanks again!

[@febriyohanes3598]

is it worth it to buy this throttle than wartog dual throttle ??

[@febriyohanes3598]

well after i see the mounting base that are plastic i think i just gonna stick with warthog throttle once again :) many thanks dude. that mounting base look so weak.. not so sturdy

[@himmelweiss4306]

Looks interesting, but 500€ ??? No thanks. I will go back to Virpil: 350€ for VPC MongoosT-50CM3 Throttle

[@flipcoin6301]

Epoxy the nuts

[@Jabbers]

Epoxy these nuts, sorry couldn't resist 🤣

[@Lightswrd]

РУД за полтыщи долларов. Надо сильно хотеть, чтобы столько потратить на игрушку, имхо, но может быть кому-то зайдет

[@theflyinggasmask]

I want this over the WinWing throttle, but, It's way way way to overpriced! If i ever decide to get an F-16 throttle, It's gonna be the WinWing one...

[@tim-3705]

this thing should be 200 dollars not 500

[@jamesmcd71]

In my opinion, it's overpriced. And I don't blame Thrustmaster for the price. Like most things, the PC game related. The consumer is willing to spend massive amounts of money on crap. This controller cost Thrustmaster less than $100 to manufacture in China and ship to the US. And you are more than willing to pay $599. Remember, it's your money. Demand value for it.

[@RW-zn8vy]

Yea people need to just let thrustmaster go, I do use their grips only though. I think the tpr rudder are good but again expensive.

[@KillerKev1961]

Yeah, no.....not buying this. Ill stick with my warthog.

[@febriyohanes3598]

my warthog already broken. and wanna looking for replacement, i`m interested with this throttle.. but after i knew the plastic mounting on this throttle and the price are more higher than warthog i think. i`m just gonna stick with warthog. yeaahh gonna buy that warthog again

[@MsTheCops]

I've owned the TQS for a few months now ...I do like it but kept my Warthog system ...just in case. I noticed the red light on the landing gear lever is not lit. I've got the same problem & the gear lever works like a toggle button ...no up & down.