Unboxing Saitek Pro X-56 Rhino H.O.T.A.S. (2016 Flight Stick Review)

[@CraigHair]

Thanks for disclosing that it was free. I'll be looking to see what you think of it. I'm considering getting my first HOTAS because of SC

[@crazzilla7203]

oh wow i didnt realise these were so complex! i remember i had one years ago for an old jet fighter game i got, and it was just a joystick with a trigger.

[@NiTeHaWKnz]

That leaver in the front of the stick will be for brakes on ship with wheels or a plane in DCS

[@duztdruid]

Did you ever end up reviewing this? Are you using it still and if so: happy?

[@oscarc332]

the stick is usable for simulated an airbus stick?

[@spoonfullofsalt8889]

I love your camera quality.

[@malegrape4929]

great unboxing vid Dan, keep it up :D

[@MartinNewton1981]

Excellent Dan! You should do more stuff like this!!

[@DanGheesling]

FURANUKU777 Thx Fur!!

[@dha12oks]

Really am tempted to get this, but X52 is doing me fine, only thing I like about this one is the hat switches on the joystick, and the split throttle control.

[@ph11p3540]

It's not much different from the previous X55 model. The main change was the 3rd joystick button on the left side being replaced by a thumb stick. I have used my X55 for 3 years now and it still holds up nicely.

[@LunchBXcrue]

I would imagine you would use the dual throttle for making a tight turn, like by putting more power to the outside engine and or less to the inside. Just an idea though

[@artsolano6762]

I would mention the issues with the internal cabling that have been reported. Its been reported that through prolong use, the cables can become snagged and then disconnected. Apparently the cables each individually move around when the throttle or joystick is moved. These problems were reported a while back and maybe its been fixed.

[@Moctipotili1]

I am so excited that you will be using this in Elite Dangerous. I have been using the x52 for a year now and it has improved my performance by about 300% You should live stream ED and Star Citizen to get pointers from players who have been using this device for a while. I can tell you this, the pinky lever is essential in elite dangerous! Super happy for you man.

[@sigmaicspi]

Jason Lewis I'd like to see Elite Dangerous too

[@Faramir992010]

Hey, great video, I have an X55 and there's not a lot of difference with the exception of the stick thumb switch for the X55 it's a button and for the X56 it looks like a 8 way joystick on the thumb. the pinkie trigger is useful for something to switch like maybe the flight mode or a weapon system. In SC the mode switch is used to select different modes for all the buttons, use the throttle thumb wheels for fwd/bkwd strafe and left/right strafe. As far as the dual throttle goes it doesn't seem to work to control the engines separately, I keep them together, but, if they could work individual thrusters left and right that would be nice. I really like the X55, I wonder how the X56 will be the mini-sticks look interesting.

[@cHRIstChURchWOlf]

Hi Dan, Dairy Farmer from the South Island of New Zealand here. Been following your SC lets play for a few months now, loving the Interrogations and Battle arena matchups with Packett, Rapture, Beninate and the team. I think Catnuts has gone from "Book of Cowards" (tm) to "Worthy Adversary" though as he plays a great villian in your videos! just wanted to say your videos and streams are awesome, with the timezone difference i get new ones in my email in the morning, and the're made in the best spirit of the game. Will be interested to hear your thoughts on this X56 as its what I want to get for my SC rig down the line. Looking forward to more awesome vids with the new releases from Citizencon and 3.0. Really enjoy the "Gentlemen Roleplay Leader" you play in your vids. love your work, keep up that fresh Yeezy!

[@DanGheesling]

chris leigh Thanks for the kind words Chris. It's amazing how a game like SC can connect people on opposite sides of the world!! Happy to have you a part of the community

[@yerok2345]

I would like to see a video of you using the joystick. Half the screen of you flying in game and the other half of your joystick

[@AJ-kj1go]

new sticks

[@ledheavy26]

Dan do you use your ch throttle in full range in SC? Meaning that from all the way back to full throttle is forward and then hold a modifier button for reverse thrust? That's how I use mine in Elite, but haven't got back in SC to set it up. Also do you use the mode selector in the analog mini stick for different layers of controls?

[@Kissamiess]

Ah, Saitek. I have just a single "never again" experience from pre-Mad Catz era, around the turn of the millenium with one of their Cyborg sticks of that time. The flimsy thing broke in record time. I hear they got worse with Mad Catz, but now they got bought by Logitech, who wants to get in on the space sim controller market. I don't have high opinion with Logitech either when it comes to the joysticks, but maybe they can make it right together. I'd wait to see what they come up with. I hear the X-56 is the modification of X-55 to make it more space sim-y. Bit more analog ministicks to get those 6 DoF. The shape looks like typical A-10 Warthog/F-16 replicas most of these bit more expensive sticks seems to manifest in. When I set up my CH Fighterstick functions for SC, I decided to imitate the F-16 functions as much as practical because that is what it's modeled after. It has no paddle switch like this stick does, however. I like the magnetic Hall effect sensor instead of potentiometers too, though it might not save the whole stick. It'd be probably best to start from scratch when designing 6 DoF controls for these space sims, not imitate existing fighter jet setups as much.

[@grumblepus]

I don't know if another comment has mentioned this, I scanned through and didn't see one. But I thought I'd point out that there is what appears to be your office address on the box. You've got a great channel that I see it picking up loads of fans as time goes on, I'd hate to see the info become a headache for you! Keep it up on the videos, I've been winding down with the latest WHP antics every night!

[@lordseb4449]

Are you still using this Hotas Dan? What's the verdict a year or so later.

[@edwardpage9996]

What's the joystick made out of metal or plastic?

[@stevenorman9345]

Dan, have are you still using this setup or have you moved to dual joysticks?

[@johnathanassion4855]

What games have you tried this on? Wonder if it will work on Battlefield 2, 3, 4 for helicopters and jets and the new Battlefield 1.

[@DanGheesling]

Still trying to figure out what the dual throttle is for, anyone know?

[@Kissamiess]

Yeah, A-10 of which's throttle it's based on, has those 2 big engines and you could controls them separately if needed. In SC you could maybe set one for throttle and other for forward/back strafe, but then you'd have to keep them separate most of the time and would have hard time reaching all the buttons.

[@shawnaw2]

Its mostly for flight sims such as microsoft flight sim, where you fly commercial airlines with 2 or more engines; the split throttle allows you to control each engine differently, one left one right usually. In real life there would be 4 throttles if there were 4 engines. This allows very slight turning without using the rudder (I believe so, havent play so far in it) since moving the rudder will shake a big plane easily whereas shifting engine power will allow slow turns (you don't need drastic turns in a 747 afterall, you don't dogfight in those) for a smoother ride.

[@catnuts]

I would dogfight in a 747

[@williamsternritter3214]

Valkyrie, Also in case of emergency you can very quickly cut off the affected engine.

[@kizunadragon9]

Don't buy the x56 Rhino (the blue one) it's the old Saitek model, instead get the Logitech G X56 (the black and gray one. Logitech revised the design and fixed all the flaws in the rhino.

[@MajorOSC]

Correct

[@ChozoSR388]

16-bit resolution = slicker than owl snot.

[@Daemsco]

Hey Dan can you do an egg carton unboxing?

[@dogboy0912]

lol thanks man. I'm repackaging it for moving and this vid helped.

[@arsan_sn]

which one should i buy, x52 or x56??

[@REPORODGE]

BOTH the world is yours and everything in it!

[@baloobear56]

x-56 has the best of both worlds. if you do flight sims your options for muli-engine aircraft control is greatly enhanced by the new saitek unit. Flew IL-2 flight sim for 8 yrs. x-56 is a very nice upgrade for that Sim.

[@Drvnwolfie]

the new one in the front is called a Paddle Switch.

[@iissacc]

Everybody want to know what I would do if I didn't get a Saitex Pro X-56 Rhino H.O.T.A.S., I guess we'll never know

[@DanGheesling]

sammeboy11 I guess we'll never know

[@stevebob2941]

HES GOT A KNIFE!!!!!!

[@LordTiberius52]

I DO NOT comprehend the purpose of an unboxing video. I want to know how well it works. My current joystick has a permanent drift that I have to negate with an increased dead zone created by software. I want to know if this joystick will hold up for years of play. Not drift. Not have buttons that fail. You know... Useful information.

[@baldwincyriaque]

"I don't own a H.O.T.A.S gambling site"Lol

[@HaileyLove11]

I love unboxings

[@coreyex1]

Hotas sounds like a side dish.

[@Griff-i-nator]

I think I would prefer the X-52.

[@baloobear56]

Flew IL-2 STURMOVIC flight sim game for 8 yrs. saitek upgrade is fantastic for those who fly multiengine aircraft. X-52 does not support multi engine even though it is a very good stick.

[@Kellscfk]

Are you sure that didn't come from NASA ? :)

[@yamaan93]

actually logitec bough saitek from madcatz

[@ShadowKeeper12]

And...... Now we know where you live. 😝

[@momtracy100]

catnuts is coming! lulz

[@iamcliff4351]

LOL, at least hold it up the correct way!

[@beast_clintwood8074]

If you are looking for a X56 profile for SC I can recommend the one from Xamindar (which still works with 2.5): forums.robertsspaceindustries.com/discussion/331452/x56-hotas-profile-for-star-citizen-v2-4-0/p1

[@DanGheesling]

Beast_Clintwood thanks!!

[@beast_clintwood8074]

I was so eager to program my personal setup but after 20min I was like: ok, someone must have done this before. ;D

[@Night6436]

So you get given a free joystick and then you try to encourage people to buy through the link. You tubers want everything.