Thrustmaster Viper TQS Unboxing and Test Flight

Mooch unboxes and test flies Thrustmaster's new Viper Throttle Quadrant System (TQS) Mission Pack for the DCS World F-16 module.
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Red Kite's Viper TQS episode with more detail: • Thrustmaster F-16 Vipe...

[@George-vm6tl]

My business partner Bob Carter (RIP) created the HOTAS at Thrustmaster which he started in the mid 1990's. We built the first game that used it , "Back to Baghdad". It's fun to watch how far this product has evolved. Congratulations Thrustmaster, Bob would be thrilled to see this.

[@trueclassiccars]

I was fortunate to fly the Brazilian Air Force F5 simulator outside of Santa Cruz Brazil. That base was used in the 1930s for the Hindenburg to dock. As luck would have it I had been using the original Thrustmaster stick and it was similar to the F5 controller. I aced their scenario testing. They were gracious to award me a certificate of completion signed by the squadron commander and base commander. Good memories.

[@jhmcglynn]

Did you see that the “Cradle of Aviation” Museum on Long Island put an F-14 on display? I worked on the F-14 project while at Grumman from 1967 till 1970. I was initially a summer intern at Grumman Computer Engineering before starting my Junior year at NY Institute of Technology. At 76 I’m still flying N519SM RANS S-19 that I finished building 2 years ago👨‍✈️.

[@TheNapalmFTW]

I just watched a 15 minute advert and I'm not even mad. Thanks ward.

[@ParkerUAS]

Thrustmaster controls have really leapt forward in the past 5 or so years. They were always good, but the level of precision now is as good as anything in Level D Full Motion sim. There is a Part 135 charter operation on my airport that has three "sim pits" set up in their pilot lounge/briefing room. One is fitted with Boeing Yoke, one with the Airbus Captain Pack, and one with the Warthog HOTAS. There is something amusing to watching Challenger 604 crews dogfighting in DCS while waiting on passengers to show up for a trip,

[@richardhockey8442]

'This is the captain speaking... any of you ever experienced a split-s?'

[@Vortex31415]

Love the Viper work, Mooch! Keep up the great DCS content. Appreciate your thoughts on the TQS; I just pre-ordered mine.

[@WardCarroll]

Enjoy it

[@johnnyp5573]

Now Thrustmaster needs to make a full F-14 HOTAS setup!!!

[@baconatoromg6062]

I'll go broke buying one

[@MavicAir1]

Having trouble not flying that plane.

[@aquamich129]

honestly, how many would buy vintage stuff? would be more intersting to have more mdoern jet. One day maybe an F35 in DCS? a rafale or something top nutch

[@williamedmonds9581]

You touched on 3 different phases of my enlisted military career. I was a Tomcat Airframer in VF-154 from 97-01. Then I went to the Air Force and was a KC-135R Crew Chief from 01-06. After that I was unwilling cross trained to a Drone Crew Chief at Creech AFB for 6 weeks and was stuck with drones until I retired in 2018.

[@rydenclancy9519]

I love simulators but just getting started in RC planes. A totally new concept to control something from a point of view other than the cockpit.

[@iandavidson99]

You should try flying RC planes FPV style

[@jamesmcd71]

I really want one. But I will never pay $500+ for a throttle stick. These insane prices will never come down if you keep paying these crazy prices.

[@hook86]

Then you will keep missing out. That's always been around the price point premium sim gear. You have to pay to play.

[@math1ass10]

Thats where winwing orion 2 comes in. The base version of the orion 2 throttle costs around 220 euro, and the f16 version costs around 300 if i remember corectly. This is euro prices tho, they might vary for difrent regions.

[@Bryan-cd9cl]

Sry bro but u wrong...500 dollars but hé gonna be there 20 years later..so for that Point of view...flying with your hotas every couple of day over 20 years.. it's cheap

[@jamesmcd71]

@math1ass10 I got my winwing in yesterday. $517.00 US with shipping. I ordered it Thursday night, and it was delivered by FedEx on Monday afternoon. It was 30%, but it's still $200 cheaper than a Thrustmaster set up. And it's much better in every aspect.

[@math1ass10]

@@jamesmcd71 exactly

[@charlesballard5251]

DAMN!!! I thought TM was out of business!!! Glad to see they are still alive. Great vid.

[@Lupinthe3rd.]

I would love to see you Ward one day play the old arcade game afterburner as the seat moved with each movement of the jet.

[@williamparrish673]

With crew support like that you can go confidently in harms way. MAN! Ward. I am so out of touch ,I had no idea this level of stuff was available.

[@zachrengifo932]

I just found out military flight sims with set ups like this was a thing for consumers I always thought stuff like this was for military training or something lol. I always known about Microsoft flight sim and some of the crazy set ups but this is next level

[@SDsc0rch]

ward, you're giving me ideas...... (this is gonna be expensive!)

[@craigh1790]

Another Mooch gear video...its like I've died and gone to heaven.

[@LoydChampion]

Pretty trick set-up. Never knew you could get such a complete set-up simulator.

[@DCSHacks]

THAT WAS AWESOME! I was afraid that Mooch had 'Lost that loving' feeling' on DCS. Nice to have you back and super impressed you did some homework on the Viper! Keep em' coming!

[@tayzonday]

My MS Flight Simulator installation is 2 Terabytes 😳 . . . And I’m still just keyboard/mouse. I should get more hardware

[@MergedSimulations]

bro what

[@Pellenkeller]

Let’s get Tay Zonday into DCS lol

[@KayoMichiels]

You should check your global map download limit

[@_vr]

Tay is just ALL OVER INTERNET. I love it! FIAT FIRE!

[@C6v1999]

Great review. You should really consider buying a Virpil Warbird joystick base (it works with TM grips). The feel and precision is so much better than my TM Warthog joystick base that I will never use the TM base again.

[@eustacequinlank7418]

I think he mentioned he was using one a while back. He may have pulled out trusty TM for the video! Warbrd D is fantastic with the TM F18 and 16 grips though. Each company seems to have its highs on "lows". I want more TM sticks. I wouldn't mind a Su-30 or a Mig-29grip either, you can get them custom made, but beyond my willingness to pay. I'm still rather happy with the Cougar TQS and the Warthog throttles. I wonder about modding the Warthog, but I think for each mod I think of, I'll more likely place toward and new throttle when the time comes.

[@6omega2]

I love how you call analog instruments "steam gauges." I somehow got through a dozen years in the USAF without ever hearing that. LOL!

[@ndr226]

Now that's a clear and to the point review.

[@dpjordan75]

Omg that's amazing! You are very blessed to have such an awesome setup. Well worth the money!

[@archiehenderson2744]

Love your pups 🐶.

[@jackshittle]

I remember in the 80's when I was in middle school I bought a book about military aircraft and when it got to the F-16 it said that the F-16 is the only fighter that can keep accelerating while going vertical. Not sure how accurate that was but for whatever reason I think of that every time I ever saw an F-16.

[@tap_water872]

Need more DCS videos

[@jfiery]

I just got the Viper EX from Winwing and love it. It has a lot more switches and buttons but the base is the generic WinWing one. I won't be switching but really would have considered this had it been available.

[@bjrnchrstn]

Don't worry, you bought the right one. No need for expensive plastic TM junk.

[@jfiery]

@@bjrnchrstn good to know.

[@Bruce_Warren]

Nice Fam-Hop and throttle demo Sir, Thanks!

[@thomasnelson2463]

Your setup is off the chart, I'd love to have one just like it, but I don't have room for it. I was a boom operator on KC-135A's a long time ago. I noticed at around the 12:06 mark as you eased up into the pre-contact position, the boom was down, but the Boomer's sighting door is closed. I doubt that it is possible to even lower the boom with the door closed, it is literally the first "prep for contact" check list item after hooking up to oxygen and radio!

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

Nice flying there Ward.

[@AndrewSkow1]

11:26 Reminds me of that scene in Apollo 13 with the air filters. Why would different branches want to be able to refuel each others aircraft in war?

[@cltnc571]

Sailor had that "oh great, nothing but video games for hours to come" look.

[@WonTONgaming218]

Huge fan Ward! Thank you for the in-depth review. Appreciate what you do sir.

[@clydeberry8523]

In the DCS F-16 I recall optimal rate speed to be 430 knots

[@greekveteran2715]

Dassault Rafale and F-16 Viper,are my favorite!!!

[@dudehuh5491]

you going to give your support team some stick time !

[@ramses2797]

I got mine on pre order can't wait till October 11th

[@matthewrank109]

DCS being flown by a real pilot is just next level cool

[@MrBumbles2]

sweet im working on new system being in lost my whole f16 cockpit to a fire. will never replace my access to singer link f16 sim. the real deal. was nice having access for years being my step father flew around the world setting up sims for singer link. was getting by with the thrustmaster for ace combat , but its time to do a serious upgrade like you have. would work great for my f16c flight sim. so its new computer time and cockpit time. cha ching.

[@tanberjan]

Great to see some more DCS content! Will you be getting the new Heatblur Phantom F4E? Looks absolutely incredible in the trailer!

[@rongamblin2107]

Nov. 4 23 Thank you Ward. Excellent

[@doncrawford1255]

Wow. That is so awesome, Thankyou for sharing this, I really appreciate it

[@donrumsey]

Just received my STECS Standard throttle. Programming now. Need to upgrade my Stick. I fly mainly Hornet C module. But have the A-10 & Strike Eagle

[@milesfinch]

Dear Mr Ward Carroll, were you appropriately attired for flight operations??!! ;-)

[@RW-zn8vy]

Very nice review ward

[@glenncooper3524]

Have you ever checked out growling sidewinder? He's become an outstanding DCS player I've been watching him from the beginning like I've been watching you since 20k subs. Love your channel

[@MaxOVRLRD]

Nice video! You should use a stabilizer for your video. I had just watched a video right before yours where they used video stabilizer and much less jittery.

[@Thomasnmi]

Wow, you are into this in a big way.

[@famlrnamemssng]

He's a former Tomcat RIO so of course he is

[@CocoDave37]

Ward, CAT3 with wing bags is not ideal for showing a good rate turn.

[@iloveaviation-burgerclub-a8145]

Well, Ward, perfect for a former Navy Tomcat Rio used and loving to fly military grade jet planes. But for me a stick&Rudder Set with some flap device and fuel switches would make me pay for it.

[@cheddar2648]

We have come a long way since Falcon 3.0, geez. 😳

[@giamma3605]

bro.. what a setup!

[@stevensutton2252]

Now all we need to do this is a joke just get him the afterburner seat so it shakes and rolls F-14 arcade games seat

[@Edward135i]

I love watching retired military pilots play DCS, just like when Aaron Amick from Sub Brief plays sub games like cold waters.

[@MikeLitoris66]

At least it has a proper axis for radar. Always hated the Warthogs "mouse nipple". Had to replace it with a proper slew mod which costed me about 80€

[@drewjames8594]

Greased it! Almost like you’ve done that before..

[@merkury06]

Now I want one!

[@schellenberg_pro]

Чрезвычайно интересно!!!

[@karabinas]

Nice setup

[@Marauder1981]

This mouse is called the SmegCollec.

[@Pichouette]

Just how many hours of instruction are required for someone to be able to actually play on that home computer setup??? 😳

[@mikestewart4752]

Jesus Ward! All I can handle is an Atari!

[@evolgenius1150]

The slapswitch for countermeasures is cool, but I think I'll go with the WinWing

[@RickyD1968]

That is really cool !!!!!

[@starfleethastanks]

"the airplaine can rate all day" Or for the few minutes it takes to hit bingo.

[@half_r_mk5]

Nice hardware, what VR headset are you using?

[@killer16341]

This is looking great - but actually - i dont see the BIG advantage to my Cougar throttle, which i modded to use it via USB.

[@PogMoThoin22]

Tidy those cables man!!!

[@chrispetty8587]

I was in Oceania u til 1981 vf74

[@cheddar2648]

Sick rig sea dad.

[@Subgunman]

More info on the SimPit please!

[@leveretth]

I only watch Ward's channel for the doggoze...😉

[@gregwalters946]

The winwing setup is ten times the quality

[@daemon.mythos]

From your experience, do you prefer a side-stick or a center-stick when flying?

[@larsulrich3356]

Jittery camera. No track IR?

[@SJkopa]

AWESOME

[@davidsyes5970]

It seemed the radar antenna wheel may have rubbed your leg once or twice. In-game, how much impact had it had when searching in a dogfight? I suppose the simpit arms have more adjustability. If I buy the TQS (don't have any rig yet), I'd like for there to be a modular version that moves the landing gear to an extended position, or the ability to user-fix it with an extender bracket. I suppose that for shipping costs, the packaging has to be as small a form factor as sellable/salable.

[@susanjones2701]

Good video!

[@channelvr1293]

If you don't mind me asking, what software do you use for recording vr ? Thanks.

[@ThumperE23]

Is that the Bethpage Fire Department T-Shirt you're wearing, Commander?

[@Yewbzee]

Would a set up like this be useful to a young trainee military pilot as they are going through their training, for example for getting the touch for landings, or is it too basic with the potential of picking up bad habits?

[@WardCarroll]

Good training.

[@spacecatboy2962]

tomcat tails is free on youtube

[@soulsmaniac5550]

the red landing gear lights do not work the leds are off it is a thusmaster problem

[@thestoneworks]

How do you deal with the sticking of the stuck bottom?

[@dataset_cs]

This is AMAIZNG WTF

[@mcdonald1743]

What game is this? What head set? What system do I need? I would like to have this whole setup. If anyone can tell me all the parts, system so I can look it all up.

[@danam0228]

I need to play DCS more, cuz I'm never gonna be a real pilot, that ship sailed a long time ago cuz my dad who was in the air force said "no way, you're going to college". Turns out it was good decision. I ended up finding out lafer I had issues with my eyes, floaters. Hopefully my son fairs better. Can be a pilot if he wants. 😊

[@glennmurray.]

Top videos 🙂

[@phillipjones3342]

I'm 73 and a veteran of the United States Air Force I would love to fly on one of those but I haven't got the kind of money it would take to get that set up how much did that cost

[@RW-zn8vy]

Depends on the gear you buy, ward is using higher end stuff he has a couple grand worth of gear.

[@GDViperWorks]

How much of the grip, switches and grip connector are plastic?

[@jw8042]

How do you get so good video in VR?

[@goldy123123]

Hey, can you recommend some VR´s??

[@st0mper121]

kinda looks like the cougar throttle.

[@andregrastyan3403]

That is very y cool.

[@jimmy8x541]

the "PBGV" made me laugh. you military boys can never have enough acronyms :D

[@jayabramson6702]

PBGV is well used in the dog community. How many dogs do you know with 4 words in their names?!?! 🤦‍♂️

[@branjosnow6244]

Gonna be a bit brutal here with my take on this, the more I see and read. The throttle itself is just perfect, however just a load of toggle switches and a few variables would have been better than trying to mimick the F-16 panel? I own the Warthog throttle and F-16 stick. There are like 4 switches I simply have no need for left on the throttle. Having predetermined labels and uses on the panel switches is a bad move, especially when people normally remap them to something else? The switch system of the X56 was great, all toggles. The Winwing I think just went for a mass of programmable switches and buttons, without trying to mimick any particular cockpit? The landing gear lever is pointless, as it's never in dramatic times when you use it anyway. So even the keyboard shortcut, or just moving the mouse to click as in VR isn't all that hard. Again, I would/will buy this for the throttle grip alone, as it is a replica of the F-16's and those dials and buttons on the grip make me want to salivate. But! along with the predetermined panel layout, it kinda looks like it was made by Matel, ie "My First Cockpit"? If I'm not mistaken, I think the throttle and panel can be bought separately?

[@brikilian7834]

That's the difference between gaming, VR gaming, and simulation. Personally, I'll take a few loose switched wired to an arduino, that I can move and re-map as needed for whatever game I'm playing that day. But for someone who is trying to simulate the experience, or who is using VR and wants the things they see to match the controls, this accuracy matters.

[@branjosnow6244]

@@brikilian7834 Yeah but it's not accurate though, so there is no need to even try and be accurate with only a 6 inch panel, it comes off a bit gimmicky. It just should have been a few rows of switches, buttons, and variable dials. Dude even said you can barely reach under the throttle at full speed for the landing gear lever, and that is 50% of the time you'll use it per flight? I love my Warthog setup, but the button placement on the throttle panel is as horrible as on this one. The on/off switches should have all been toggle switches. The stick and throttle are perfect on the TM's, zero complaints here, but the panel button placement and why they pre-labeled them, was IMHO a poorly thought out design. For example the Warthog panel has all the buttons labeled for a 'cold start', and literally nothing labeled for when in actual flight. It has a dedicated flaps switch, how often do you use your flaps during a session? Hardly ever right, yet it has a dedicated switch for it? The only realism needed is in the stick and throttle grip, the throttle panel should have been jammed with numbered programmable buttons/switches/dials. We don't need gimmicks, we need tons of programmable buttons, the more the merrier. For the money I paid for this thing, it could have been so much better. But I'm just griping/nitpicking. It's just with so much attention being devoted to the stick and throttle, the rest just seems very "lacking" in an ergonomic sense.

[@BCSchmerker]

+wardcarroll *THRUSTMASTER® has the ergonomics down.* I prefer Tek Creations™ for the panels and CDU, however, as Maker patterned 'em after the General Dynamics original.

[@C2Baird]

How many $US for the whole package pls Mooch 💎

[@mikegreene8461]

I hope someone sends you a bettter mic next.

[@MsTheCops]

I have the exact set up you do ...no VR ...triple 43 inch displays. I bought the TQS RIGHT after the Warthog & only use it now. However; I cannot get the gear lever to operate properly nor does the red indicator light. The TQS is not recognized in the dang Target setup fiasco ...lol.

[@jjbode1]

That looks complicated enough to warrant another video on those details.