Why are people buying this?: Turtle Beach Velocity Flight Deck Review

[@rmp5s]

The screen is a KILLER idea just for changing plane profiles if nothing else.

[@g-locmedia]

It's is a cool addition hopefully they will add more features in the future

[@rmp5s]

@@g-locmedia For sure. I bet it has lots of other cool uses, too...I just hate mapping controls. 🤣 I have a WinWing F-16 throttle that's awesome and an Air Force licensed F-16 stick on a WinWing (I think) base. I'd like to get a force-sensing stick like the real F-16 but the setup I have works pretty well. If you get the chance to check out any of the WinWing stuff, you should. It's pretty good stuff!

[@sgtjonzo]

​@@rmp5syou might know this already but winwing actually makes the force sensing addon

[@rmp5s]

@@sgtjonzo Indeed! Good lookin' out. There's another company (like "Flight Sim Parts" or something like that) that makes one, too. I'd like to get one eventually. Not a HUGE priority, though.

[@garethhughes5745]

hmmm, X52 had this (and its way cheaper), although, i admit, Turtle beach made it even more detailed. I liked that this screen on X52 showed the button press binding description which you wrote for it, and the profile selected, and the world clock.

[@777Thibs]

I loved my x-56 HOTAS. I loved my T16000 HOTAS. I loved my VKB NXT sticks. Now that I own a 'complete' VIRPIL setup (Alpha Prime, Delta omni throttle, CM3 throttle, Ace pedals, panels 1 and 2) I couldn't go back. I understand the market for gear like this. Not everyone can afford a $500 stick and base. Also, competition drive innovation, I am glad that these exist.

[@ComdrStew]

Yeah but if you are already spending almost $400, you might as well save up and get at least the TM Warthog.

[@g-locmedia]

Yea I'm loving seeing all this new flight sim gear and think we're in for an awesome few years moving forward. Things like this do put a bit of drive behind the innovation

[@dtrjones]

Seems like a silly comment to be honest. I own the X-56 and T16000 HOTAS and this seems like a natural upgrade to both products. Granted if you own the complete VIRPIL setup you'll be happy but that's a lot more expensive, like I said a silly comment.

[@dani4157]

What stick base you got?

[@toom6087]

My X56 died after 3 months of dog-fight in Star Citizen. I use my dual stick Virpil CM2/Apha setup since 2019 and it works well. Never had a problem with. There are only deux options : Dual VKB Gladiator + VKB T-Rudder MkV + Tarck IR if you are on a budget. And then you can upgrade to a Virpil CM or VKB Gunfighter dual stick setup if you go for tryhard.

[@MavicAir1]

I have this Flight deck and absolutely luv it. I also own the X52 pro and the Thrust Master Warthog joystick and throttle which i use on a different PC.I play star citizen and DCS. For star citizen I printed out the key bind list and singled out all the qwerty keys and assigned them to the MFD which I don't really use but they are functional. There are some people who hated this set up because it didn't come with default profiles for MS Flight Sim or whatever. The first thing I recommend with this rig is to get to know it. There are some options on the MFD that are not in the PC Velocity hanger software which need to be looked at and changed if needed. I copy pasted both the images (joystick and throttle) on the TB website into separate MS word documents and created a blank template with text blocks for all the inputs and now have a fantastic star citizen profile which is so easy to change and update. So many inputs and small profile makes this perfect for a desk top set up. I do not regret buying this at all and when I compare it to the X52 it blows it away. It's hard to compare it to the warthog because they are two different animals but I'm finding flying with the flight deck in Star Citizen (so many needed key binds) is awesome. Edit: Sorry for late reply. Lately I've gotten away from Star Citizen a bit and have gone back to Elite Dangerous and DCS once in awhile. I created a great Elite profile using that profile template I mentioned. After the last updates Turtle Beach has given the ability to assign different key binds for the MFD blocks. Before you weren't able to change them. They were strictly qwerty but not anymore.

[@g-locmedia]

Thanks so much for taking the time to give your insight with the space stuff. Is star citizen your main game?

[@jaredmiller7493]

Could you post this somewhere? I’m looking to buy this set up for star cit but I am very new to sims and not sure I can manage setting it up so well organized

[@TrueBlade-1889]

How much better is it vs the X52 ?

[@23JAY3L23]

Would you email this to me? I really need assistance setting mine up with star citizen

[@christiannowak1125]

hey i’m looking to get this for star citizen do you mind making something that will help with the key binds?

[@justinscharf8838]

Wish there were still stores where you could go and actually try out the sticks to see how they feel. Would make answering the question of does it feel right for you a lot easier

[@g-locmedia]

long gone are those days

[@Darxxxide]

Microcenter

[@OliveLlama]

@@Darxxxide Not in England

[@halcyonzenith4411]

They’d never be able to sell most of these junk peripherals if people actually knew what they’re buying.

[@pricelessppp]

@@g-locmediaGameStop should do that.

[@takeoffwithjakesoft]

I like how the throttle isn't overly tall. Makes it nicer for desktop use.

[@g-locmedia]

The adjustable length caught me off guard and I thought it was a brilliant idea.

[@meRyanP]

When I had this, the B1/fire button kept falling off. I also had problems with the stick resetting its states in MSFS, I went back and forth with their support proving what it did compared to my Thrustmaster, and they ultimately decided they didn't want to fix it, so I returned the product. The touch screen is useless for MSFS, the buttons are fixed to a single keyboard key, you cannot change them. Finally, I was having a hard time getting the sensitivity right in MSFS. I agree with much of what you said, especially the build quality and all the plastics feeling premium. I cannot suggest it for MSFS, but other things like DCS or space sims, it might not be too shabby

[@g-locmedia]

Thanks for sharing your experience with this. Great for other that are considering a buy. Much appreciated.

[@scipher99]

@@g-locmedia The detent, Screen, and buttons have been fixed or revised. I bought one and after firmware update the lag was very minimal to non-existent. Switches are firm with no caps coming off. The springs are very light now returning to center with a smaller detent when moved. I compared my new one to a friend's older version and it is night and day. It seems Turtle Beach is listening.

[@g-locmedia]

@@scipher99 awesome. Thanks for sharing

[@gregjr.8847]

I have used several different sticks in MSFS20 and all of them do that.

[@dokken1212]

I have a Thrustmaster Warthog and also bought this and love it. My Warthog is back in its box for the moment. I think, in the future, the digital display could be made much more functional through modding and I haven't really used it as yet. I play DCS and IL2 and this is excellent for those sims - more than enough buttonage and hat switches etc. The joystick feels sensitive and feels reflective of your inputs. Throttle quadrant is absolutely brilliant. Also, the unit is a lot heavier than you would think hence it sits well on a desk as it does have some weight to it. I also like the material on the joystick and throttle - feels comfortable. Overall, for the money, I don't regret buying at all. Love my Warthog but equally love the Turtle Beach :-)

[@g-locmedia]

I too love the weight. Feels substantial!

[@LivyathanAD]

I ignored a load of comments from people online saying not to buy one. I've previously used an X52, T1600 & X52 Pro for Elite Dangerous and this is easily my favourite. The flightstick feels pretty good and seems to pick up the slightest of movements, which is something I hated with the others. That throttle though, absolutely smooth as ... I absolutely do not regret getting mine.

[@g-locmedia]

Thanks so much for sharing your experience. Its great for others considering a purchase to see.

[@saus660]

Got this few weeks ago. Big reason for me also was the USB-C connectors so I can easily swap the HOTAS for other gear like my TCA Yoke or Honeycomb Alpha. Setting it up can be quite daunting. Agree on your not-so-good points. Still nice to have. I came from the Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS HOTAS

[@g-locmedia]

How do you rate it compared to the T1600?

[@bkdoesstuff1582]

I just got into dcs and wondering if I should get the thrustmaster kit with the pedals or save up the extra couple hundred and go for the turtle beach? I think Logitech has a kit with a split throttle that’s somewhere in between price wise as well🤷‍♂️

[@g-locmedia]

@@bkdoesstuff1582 what TM gear were you thinking about?

[@bkdoesstuff1582]

@@g-locmedia I was looking at the t16000m bundle that comes with the pedals on Amazon it’s about 60$ more than the Logitech x56 which doesn’t come with pedals and then the tb kit is over 500$ CAD so not sure where the best value is as a beginner

[@happy_red1]

​@bkdoesstuff1582 hey, I also got into DCS a few months ago, and ended up going with a route that seems pretty popular and well recommended for new DCS pilots. I got the Thrustmaster TMCS (the throttle from the T16000 bundle) on its own, and for the stick I got the VKB Gladiator Evo with the Space Combat Grip or SCG. There's a bunch of reasons this is a really good beginner combo - The Gladiator is, pretty much no competition, the best "budget" stick available right now. Most entry level sticks such as the T16000 use a ball and socket gimbal with a plastic ball, which aren't adjustable and wear down from friction over time, which can lead to sensor issues and generally not feeling as nice. The Gladiator instead uses metal rollers on metal cams, springs, and contactless sensors - the movement is smooth, the centre detent and stiffness is adjustable by swapping cam profiles and springs. The plastics on their grips are really high quality with a nice texture. The ergonomics are good at least on the SCG and SCG Pro grips, and they have plenty of good quality buttons and switches for DCS binds. With the cam and spring gimbal, contactless sensors, sturdy construction and quality materials they last forever. VKB also offers pretty good support too, if you have hardware issues they're apparently pretty good at sending out replacement parts for repair. The community is also good, and because it's such a popular stick, there's tons of resources for setting them up and getting good use out of them, which I found really helpful with how intimidating flight sim is to get into. The only downside is they're more expensive than something like the T16000 or X52, I think around €150-200 Euro. That's why you get the TMCS throttle - as a standalone it's pretty cheap, and it works well. It also has plenty of buttons, switches and rotary things for all your binding needs. It's a sliding throttle on plastic runners, so you can get those wear and sensor issues after a year or two of use. The main point though is that you get everything you need to start - a really nice stick (a bad throttle is annoying, but a bad stick can ruin your day) and a perfectly decent throttle that altogether should cost you a bit less than the TB Velocity Deck. After that, if you reckon you're going to stick with flight sims, I'd grab some pedals and suggest upgrading the throttle. You won't feel any need to upgrade your stick at the same time, so your costs are spread out too. Some people are plenty happy with the Gladiator and stop there, but if you do catch the simpit bug and want to go for a higher end setup, you could also consider getting a left handed grip and the 45° adapter to turn it into a quality omnithrottle. If not, it's always nice to have a backup stick that still works well and feels good, or it can be a great way to entice friends who want to try out flight sims too.

[@chilledburrito]

The idea of the more techy HOTAS that are coming out as of late are interesting. This is almost like an x56 if it was more refined.

[@tmmy2ootuff843]

very well thought out and put together review, brother! thank you for sharing! I need something in my price range for a beginner setup just to get flying amd you put this on my radar.

[@g-locmedia]

no worries. Glad is was of some help

[@michaelbaggerman8513]

It is a very good set, i have played 3500+ hours with the rhino x-56 hotas and if i would compare the build quality alone i would say the turtle beach set is a whole lot better for sure! Input-output is like a whole new level of control with out cramping up your hands to do fine mannouvers in flight sims. And i needed bolts to keep the rhino x-56 stable, with this set you dont need any at all, the mass of the base of the stick and trhottle are heavy enof to keep them stable. And the buttons options are amazing, they just work perfectly for me. Oh, and metal parts where needed, no plastic shit!

[@g-locmedia]

Thanks for sharing your detailed opinion. Great for potential buyers.

[@jojovogel]

I bought the winwing Ursa Minor and I am super satisfied. Its not the best for sure, but for the money you get a pretty nice, solid and good quality product

[@natedogg7376]

Bought this and the stick started shorting out, literally the stick itself likely from the screw on connection having an issue. I liked it but returned it. Went down a VKB rabbit hole and purchased the STECS MAX and Gunfighter 4 w/ ext and WW2 grip and I do not regret it. BTW came from a X56. Recently got into IL2S hence why I got the WW2 grip but works great in everything!

[@g-locmedia]

So you're loving the stecs? How'd the build quality on it. I'm keen to get a hold of one to check it out.

[@natedogg7376]

@@g-locmedia I am absolutely lovin the STECS. Premium feel imo. It is the commercial grade glass reinforced plastic but it looks and feels like a quality build and with more buttons than I know what to do with as I got the MAX and the desk mount. No regrets!

[@JDoberman]

I use it for DCS, only issue is that most HAT’s don’t have a button press. Half the axis’s don’t work when they have interchangeable buttons from button to axis. Just annoyance at this point but it does the job well and the screen is a-ok.

[@g-locmedia]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on it.

[@dishdoggiegaming7254]

My entry Level HOTAS was the Rhino X56 and this was not around back then. This just looks to me like it is a far better entry level buy to find out if you will stay with a Flight Sim to keep your investment down. Getting overwhelmed with profiles is a learning curve. Trust me it is better to Only deal with a learning curves then Compatibility problems. You may never even know Compatibility problems if you buy a product that just works every time you use it. My Rhino X56 had a lot of issues in that area with USB problems. Better to get a plug and play and only deal with learning curves. Looks like a Good product to start with to me.

[@g-locmedia]

Yes I agree with the plug and play aspect. I'm not sure if this is aimed at newbies. I reckon it might be for someone moving up from entry level that just needs a bit more of everything.

[@xomm]

Yeah, I'm impressed with how things have moved recently in this space, especially since the Saitek days. For a long time it seemed like almost everything $300 and under was super flimsy and using software stuck in the 90s. Wasn't expecting Turtle Beach of all companies to step up here lol.

[@stephenjones8928]

Thanks for the video. And thanks for dusting off the units prior to close-up camera work. It makes your video production values look professional instead of just some guy working out of the trunk of his car.

[@g-locmedia]

Lol. I actually missed a few spots at the beginning of The video.

[@BeardedKaos]

So I recently got one of these, loved it, but had to warranty it after I realized the throttle on the left was dead and I had a connection issue in the stick at the base. I attribute both to shipping than an actual build issue personally as both were moving parts and I am pretty sure FedEx checked it over my fence. I will say that for the short time I did get to use it, it felt great but will agree some of the switches felt either lose or a bit stuck.

[@Factsfun-kg4xc]

The problem with this is that you can get a complete VKB HOTAS or HOSAS setup, including an omnidirectional throttle, for about the same price. VKB is simply superior in every way.

[@g-locmedia]

VKB keeps coming up. I'll need to try and get a hold of some of it to see what everyone's talking about

[@article1934]

stop smoking crack..... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@sentium9760]

VKB NXT sticks are by far the most bang for your buck.

[@g-locmedia]

They do have a few good options. I'm going to try and get a hold of some as people are raving about them.

[@luckyflyerclub8970]

It's certainly cool and I can see it absolutely shaking up the entry level market. If I didn't already have a full VKB setup, I'd def be going for this

[@EvokerKing]

why was there no mention of the screen i noticed on the stick? i do really like this thing though, looks awesome and i hope to have one some day

[@spencebourque4481]

For the same money you can go vkb stecs and a evo joystick and be way better off in my opinion, you get buttons that are interchangeable and a lot more binding options, plus you don’t have buttons falling off that you need to super glue back on.

[@TrueBlade-1889]

If you can find any in stock ... VKB are a joke.

[@spencebourque4481]

@@TrueBlade-1889 What you mean in stock lol i ordered mine last month and got it in 4 days.

[@g-locmedia]

I hear good things about the VKB stuff

[@Osean_Kitty]

If the throttle was sold separately, I'd buy it cause that touch screen has so much potential.

[@g-locmedia]

There is potential there and I agree I do think people would buy the throttle seperate

[@LiveseyMD]

I own X56 and I love it (except the awful rotary knobs on the throttle). Because I am awful in remembering key bindings I modeled and 3d printed custom keycaps for a relatively cheap macro keyboard. In my opinion the biggest disadvantage of the touch screen instead of switches or buttons is a lack of tactile response.

[@g-locmedia]

Yea there is that. A sort of stream deck setup would have been cool

[@general11871]

Hell I think I might have to get this to try it out, I have the x56 right now and after about 3 months of using it, I was already having massive problems. Ghost inputs, alt tabbing somehow made my buttons not work, but the sticks curves worked just fine, putting the stick to the far left turns on the lights and forces them to just cycle at light speed, constant disconnect issues. I might actually just get this.

[@AndyBrodie]

Love my flight deck. Takes a bit of time to personalise the buttons and switches to suit but we'll worth putting the effort in. Only negative is the two loose switches on the flight stick.

[@g-locmedia]

Yea id definitely worth spending some time with the setup as you'll get much more out of it. What games/Sims do you play with it just out of interest?

[@wschnabel1987]

Am debating on getting this or their yoke seup for star citizen/elite dangerous....Though the one thing I miss the most from the 90s era of flight sticks was force feedback, sadly most games do not support the drivers for that anymore. What I'd love to do with the levers on the yoke is set them up to control my mining lasers power output in star citizen (Mole/prospector), or the rotary dial for that.

[@Frosty_V0]

For military aviation, stick is always better

[@g-locmedia]

I don't really play space games so not sure how this would work. Let me know how you get on though. I'm intrigued

[@JPancakes92]

There's always going to be someone who is eager to get their gear and willing to make compromises for that to happen. At one point I also told myself "this stick is great! idk why anyone would say otherwise" to glaze over the many imperfections one can spot on a T16000. After enough incidents of being dissatisfied in some manner, VKB was able to save the day and restore my faith in peripherals again. I've always wanted to love Turtle Beach due to the aesthetic and price point, but after experiencing the Velocity One's build quality it's a stark reminder as to why I need to be more skeptical of mainstream hardware.

[@g-locmedia]

Thanks for sharing your experience. Always valuable for other to see.

[@jonservo]

Just got VKB gladiator premium stick and Omni throttle and I wish I had got these from the start. I had the twin thrustmaster 16000m set and though they aren’t bad in themselves, the VKBs are just that much better. Vkb knocked it out of the park with the gladiator series and STECS throttle, the build quality and sheer number of customization options are unrivaled at their price point in my opinion. I think the thrustmaster set is fine for newcomers who don’t want to spend a ton to find out if they enjoy using flight sticks but now I see the value in saving up and investing in quality gear

[@aldeuchar780]

Excellent review.I have the Velocity One flight stick and enjoying it immensely.Still waiting patiently for the throttle quadrant to go with it.🤞

[@g-locmedia]

Thank you. I haven't heard anything about an additional throttle quadrant. Has it been announced?

[@aldeuchar780]

Not yet but i'm keeping an eye on their website like a hawk.The extra ports on the back of the base had youtube reviewers saying this had to be for a throttle add-on for sometime in the future.Nothing official on that yet.

[@RedWolfe]

I have it as well and it has the ports that sure make it clear that they had plans for something but I wouldn't doubt it if those plans got shelved when working on this. As beautiful as this is I really wish they had followed the same steps with the VelocityOne & Flightstick and that was they are cross platform giving a bit more value to them.

[@voided76]

I went from a thrustmaster T.flight bundle, to thrustmaster pedulation rudders and a winwing F16 stick w FA18 throttle setup. MAN its good.

[@g-locmedia]

What sim do you play?

[@jmorello123]

Looks good and I liked the presentation.

[@g-locmedia]

than you. Hopefully it was helpful

[@ryanbarnes3548]

for $370 id go vkb their detents are awesome and insane amount of buttons especially if you get button upgrade and the turtle stick is ball and spring too cheap for the price. vkv come with different spring options. I spent $500 and got the max with two extra expansions and all the extras accessory's but if you got $370 go vkb. I see these breaking way to soon.

[@g-locmedia]

I don't see these breaking as the build quality is quite good but after hearing you talking about VKB you've got me a little interested to check out some of their budget stuff.

[@SenseiFamilyJedi]

love to see it. great start to a promising tech

[@BlAcKFiSh6]

What about joystick contacts, that is massively important, are they plastic/nylon or contactless so we can see what the longevity might be like…?

[@juanalejandrosotto6217]

Crickets 🦗 hehehe

[@BlAcKFiSh6]

Ummm, okay whatever you like mush, if crickets are your thing you crack on.

[@Scott-kk1qx]

Just bought the Thustmaster t1600 but after seeing this video. I’m wondering if I should return it for the Turtle beach. I haven’t even used the Thrustmaster T1600 yet. Still in the box. This cost more but seems like it would last me much longer and have more software features. I am planning using it with MSFS and DCS. Hopefully 🤞 they will add more profile mappings.

[@Ryecrash617]

I'm fairly happy with my T16000M HOTAS but realize that it will eventually need to be replaced. I'll keep this one in mind.

[@g-locmedia]

This would be a solid upgrade but I'd also look at some of the winwing and virpil offerings as their pricing model seems to be starting to change

[@MacVerick]

I have the Flightdeck and I am very happy with it

[@g-locmedia]

What sim or flying game do you use it on?

[@MacVerick]

@@g-locmedia So far, DCS, TCA, MFS, Project Wingman, Nuclear Option, Elite Dangerous, and X4. I plan to try it out on Mech Warrior 5 and Frontier Pilot Simulator at some point as well.

[@g-locmedia]

@@MacVerick wow you're in to a lot of games. Just out of curiosity where do you find it most useful?

[@MacVerick]

@@g-locmedia The amount of buttons, axis and analogs is great. The force feedback on certain actions is very nice, and changing the RGB on the fly for different games is just really cool. I haven't even started using the touchpad yet. I will eventually I am sure, but so far I haven't yet needed all the regular inputs on the Hotas for these games.

[@mr.simulator4724]

wow, the throttle has such a small travel. it would be really hard to fly in formation or try to air refuel with it or try to land

[@g-locmedia]

I actually thought the travel was fairly good. What throttle do you use at the moment? Maybe a full measurement of the movement would have been helpful in the video. I'll keep this in mind for the next time.

[@Magariz1283]

literally was just thinking of picking this today, but chose not to before i do research. Id be using this for Everspace 1&2 and Elite Dangerous. Maybe other space sims if i find any other good ones.

[@sniperp999]

I torn between this and the Velocity One flight yoke. Just getting into "legit" flight sim, actually flying a plane as you would IRL. Ive never had a yoke and only cheep flight sticks so im not sure what one to get. Im probably mostly going to be flying GA and commercial planes so leaning toward the yoke, but after hearing issues on the elevator pitch im unsure.

[@g-locmedia]

@@sniperp999 are you talking about the notch and slight stickiness

[@sniperp999]

@@g-locmedia yes. I've seen several reviews going back and forth on it about getting better over time and also getting worse. Even seen a video about adding an additions bracket and bearings to the yoke to stabilize it

[@g-locmedia]

@@sniperp999 if this is something that's make or break for you id suggest the honeycomb

[@BlackMatt2k]

The shallow base is very appealing, but if the mounting holes don't go all the way through I hope there's an adamantium plate in there, not some plastic threads.

[@g-locmedia]

What's an "adamantium plate"?

[@BlackMatt2k]

@@g-locmedia I'd settle for steel/aluminum. Adamantium = fictional metal Wolverine's claws are made out of. Just saying I hope the mounts aren't screwed into something weak inside. Thinking about the "nobody will ever see this" mess inside some Saitek bases.

[@Chaos8282]

Wish companies would make left hand stick and right throttle combos more often. Until then I'm sticking to my pair of VKB gladiators. Which to me is the best I can get.

[@Frosty_V0]

No bro, the majority are right-handed so ofcourse most are right-handed. Also, why can’t lefties still use this?

[@joestock732]

They dont change the inside of an f 18 to make a lefty feel better.

[@mcslashvideos]

I'm enjoying mine, only had it for three weeks. Your toggle switch problem is not an issue for me. I find the stick detent not an issue as I like a 'return to center' feel. Time will be the real test . . . as a 'Bull in a China Shop' kind of guy, I could not get an X-52 or X-56 to last more than two years, I am hoping for better luck with Turtle Beach. I play MSFS 2020, War Thunder, IL-2 BoS, Elite Dangerous, American Truck Simulator, and Hydrofoil Generation ad the ability to create different profiles in different colors with different touch screens is appreciated. The fact that the HOTAS is updateable is great, as they have already improved the touch screen binding editor. Its weight and build material make it feel more durable than the Saitek/Logitech sticks and if beats their lifespans I will be very happy. TIP: Rather than mounting screws, I used velcro tabs.

[@g-locmedia]

Velcro tabs. That's a cool way to do it. Thanks for sharing your experience. Will be interesting to see how it hold up for you.

[@smartalec12]

I’m tempted to go from my x52 pro to this for star citizen and the occasional MSFS. And it’s on sale at £270. Is this a better purchase at this price?

[@g-locmedia]

@@smartalec12 if you want it for more bondable controls then yea this will be good for that. In terms of feel a can't remember there being much difference between those two but it has been a long time since I've had my hands on an X52.

[@Gazooka]

My x52 pro died, the virpil setup is pretty pricey but top quality, this was a big upgrade for a very reasonable price, build quality is solid. Use it to play in elite dangerous, star citizen, nuclear option, dcs and mechwarrior 5.

[@AnonymousSnow]

i have this, i ignore the touchscreen, use joy to key to bypass the lack of bindablilty to buttons, and my center 2way also is the only 1 that sticks, think its intentional, the lack of center clicking on more than half the hats is the only nussance for me

[@g-locmedia]

Great feedback mate. Valuable for others to see

[@AnonymousSnow]

@@g-locmedia They havent made the buttons bindable yet, but they have made it so you can change the touch screen outputs so there no longer fixed keys

[@RedWolfe]

I've been a fan of Turtle Beach for several years because they are at a price point and quality I like. What's better is the increase in quality. This third Flight Peripheral. Is. A. Another. Large. Increase of. Quality of Life.

[@g-locmedia]

I too think most of their products are very good build quality

[@frigginresulrum]

I loved my X56, but the ghost throttle has been plaguing me lately. I've been thinking about either getting this, or just replace the throttle with the Virpil Mongoose and then replace the stick later.

[@g-locmedia]

I actually prefer the warbird over the mongoose. Warbird feels way smoother. Put a SMALL extension on it and its accurate as hell

[@garethhughes5745]

My solution to this (Ghosting on X56) I found works is to have the Throttle plugged in a USB3 port on the back of the PC, and the Stick plugged into a powered USB Hub. For some reason that works for me, I've no idea why, but if I plug both the Stick and Throttle in the back of PC I get ghosting. Same as If I run the Throttle through USB Hub. Hope that helps. I would say, if you can, borrow someone elses Powered USB hub if you dont have one to try it out, as getting a nice one is a little pricey for a fix to get things to work. I'm using a Sabrent Switched 4 Port Powered Hub. If that helps.

[@Koalateatimes]

TurtleBeach is definitely at work with their flight sim products. But, I'm not able to justify a HOTAS setup that's the same price as their yoke setup. Knock $100USD off and maybe it's considerable. The X52 and X56 are still far superior, especially with one being less price than this.

[@g-locmedia]

I don't fully agree but I can see where your coming from. Thanks for sharing your point if view

[@JeffGreenNV]

I'm still struggling a bit with customization for specific planes, but I'm getting the hang of it. This is by far the best HOTAS I've ever owned.

[@blob0000]

Personally, I dont care THAT much about the build quality, i care more about having a shit load of buttons, and these screens look exciting! For this price you could get a TM Warthog, which has way better build quality and is more precise, but it doesn't have as many buttons and it doesnt come with screens like that.

[@g-locmedia]

Yep for some people, the functionality will be the most important thing and this has bucketloads.

[@Waldherz]

Just finished watching. I might replace my X-52 Pro with this one day. It got a bit sticky due to pure age and I just dont want to remove the rubber coating...too time consuming.

[@g-locmedia]

I reckon its a decent upgrade to the x-52 however there are others that would disagree.

[@Waldherz]

@@g-locmedia Probably. What I see a HOTAS with better software, a screen that I can actually use, more switches and a flatter base (I dont screw my HOTAS to any mounts). So to a more casual player, this seems really nice. For once youtube recommended me a good video xd Im very tempted now.

[@andrewvillegas7747]

For VR there are some MR apps so you can see your hotas /yoke

[@g-locmedia]

they are a bit clumsy at the moment but i do think this is the way forward

[@andrewvillegas7747]

​@@g-locmediaagree with you on that one lol

[@IopuaauahiPapale]

my x56 was unreliable. I was constantly trying to fix usb and ghost signals with it and it felt like a toy. i like the haptic/visual detents - because i'm using this for a lot more than just msfs. virpil stuff is always backordered so i got tired of waiting around for them. money better spent on the rig and display anyway.

[@g-locmedia]

Great insight and thanks for sharing mate

[@zJericho101z]

My X52 is a decade old now and i was looking at this as a possible replacement. I am hoping they do a pro version with a more responsive touchscreen.

[@denvera1g1]

I do not like the placement for the touch screen for my use case, you almost have to have a custom mount as desktop is both going to be hard to see, as well as easy to accidentally touch. I'd almost like it moved to the right or left of the throttle

[@g-locmedia]

That fair feedback I reckon. I never had a problem with it myself but can see what you mean

[@denvera1g1]

@@g-locmedia To be fair i have a weird desk thats pretty thick so i have to sit kind of low and reach up to the controls to keep from hitting my knees on the table.

[@LightningStrikeHit]

I got one of these and the build quality is mostly fine aside from the caps covering the switches on the bottom left of the stick unit. What I was more disappointed with was the usability of the touchscreen buttons. Firstly, they map onto keyboard keys, which is a real pain. Secondly, the keys appear to toggle visually, but input wise, they are only active (pressed) when being pressed. I wish they set these up as custom controler keys and could be configured as togglable in the software as right now I can't use them for many actions within msfs because of this.

[@g-locmedia]

Yea i'm hoping the update that so we can have button states

[@simongentry]

on sale right now for 299.00 at amazon

[@redbelliedgaming]

This looks like a really nice hotas. Gonna check them out after I get into flight simulator

[@angus3963]

Would love to try this with WT, although I'd want some pedals for the Heli.

[@g-locmedia]

I have the Turtle Beach Rudder pedal review coming soon.

[@Chooie6]

One thing you didn't answer is what kind of mechanism does the stick use because "it feels good" isn't a good enough to explain. VKB and Virpil use a cam and two spring setup that is the ideal mechanical setup but something like a Logitech stick uses a greased ball and a single spring which feels good to the untrained but is a terrible design.

[@mrfawkes9110]

It uses a sprung ball and socket like the T-flight HOTAS one and every other garbage tier joystick. For $300 I expect to get a midrange mechanism, not the mechanism used in toy tier.

[@Chooie6]

@@mrfawkes9110 so a greased ball and single spring garbage good to know not to even recommend it to anyone then.

[@teufellhunden]

Seems like this would be a decent intro to HOSAS if the stick came in a left handed version

[@g-locmedia]

Yea it would have been cool if it was ambidextrous. great for those Airbus sim pilots.

[@ronkramer3476]

I love the TB flightdeck. THOUGH build is poor. I know lots of guys in the forums with malfunctions. One on this 5th replacement. Another had no lights on left throttle side. I got mine and was mixed at first. But LOVE THE RUBBER COATED FEEL. HOWEVER a few days with it and my left side "L1" throttle and the track lights under it are FLICKERING BAD. wondering... spend 300 more for a Orion. (but it's metal grip - I love the his rubber one. REally not excited to put another 300-400 into that. So - mine flickers. DO I SEND IT BACK to amazon for a exchange? Will I get one that's good or one that's worse? IT's a shame = ( But it's really hard for me to part with it. My X52 was still working over 10 years later but I sold it to get this. LOTS of problems binding it to FS2024 but I don't think it's a stick issue. Seems to be a FS2024 ISSUE!!!!!!!! I works then it doesn't next flight. Torn what to do? exchange until I get one that full works? But then in 3 mo it could die like some other people out there.

[@Tuscarora]

It still needs a paddle function on the front side of the throttle or it is not even in the running as far as I am concerned

[@g-locmedia]

What's the function you would attach to the paddle? Just curious

[@Tuscarora]

@@g-locmedia The Paddle works perfectly to replace rudder peddles. Not everybody can use their legs or wants to or it's inconvenient.

[@g-locmedia]

@@Tuscarora ahh year I got you although you can use the rotation on the joystick for rudder

[@Tuscarora]

@@g-locmedia Yes I know but I find the paddle so much more realistic.

[@miro3164]

Schuld i get the Turtle Beach Velocity Flight Deck or the Turtle Beach Velocity Flight stick

[@g-locmedia]

It all depends on how deep you want to go. Are you new to flight Sim?

[@shyneus9773]

Crazy that you can get something of significantly higher quality for less or the same price.

[@g-locmedia]

What would be your pick?

[@shyneus9773]

A used TM Warthog would be similar quality, 'better' feeling, but different and cheaper. Or pay £30 more and go WW Orion 2. Maybe I just don't appreciate the non-replica features like profiles, but I'd always prefer replica or life-like. I've had the TM T16000, the TM Warthog, and now the WW Orion 2. Personally much prefer the WW switches and materials.

[@cenkcdemir]

Can this screen be used for DCS or MSFS screen export like DED, GPS etc?

[@redbelliedgaming]

I am planning to try out a much cheaper version to start with but this one looks like a great upgrade

[@luciusesox1luckysox570]

I'm a sim racer and am very used to expensive FF gear. My own setup is low to mid range and comes in just shy of £1000. In the very top tier in the sim of my choice people spend multiples of thousands to chase "performance". Racing in that level (a level I would never ever have been good enough to get into probably it's for the likes of Max Verstappen, yes really) there is a 14 year who races and uses an Xbox controller... successfully.. Yep... I wont publicly say his name but he's there for all to see. In aviation parlance it's all about putting the thing on the thing.

[@g-locmedia]

Yea there's such a massive range pricewise for al that equipment

[@QuentinStephens]

When you talk about the detent on the stick, do you mean dead zone? Because the two are very different. Or do you mean spring strength? Because detents are stops, e.g. on the throttle going from max thrust to reheat or min power to off.

[@g-locmedia]

There is no deadzone that I can tell. By detent i mean its like a notch through the centre of the stick. The spring strength is contributing to this a little too. Detents aren't always full stops, detents are used on things such as throttles too, often they notched these out on things like throttles to give you a sense of positioning but also describe the feeling of large notches moving through an axis on say a yoke or stick.

[@QuentinStephens]

@@g-locmedia So you need a little extra force to get moving?

[@Thesecondmanincommand]

My screen for the touch pad won’t turn on

[@ProGamer-gc3wv]

Sorry, but its a horrible product. I got my first one, after 2 Months it was dead. Became my second, after 10 days the joystick axis just got dead... Can not recommend it.. Dissapointed

[@g-locmedia]

@@ProGamer-gc3wv thanks for sharing. It's Valuable for other to hear the experience good or bad. Was it dead on arrival?

[@ProGamer-gc3wv]

@@g-locmedia nope on arrival it was fine and after 2 months it was looking like it is 2 years old, it feels very used. Then the axis were not working, buttons etc. Then i got another one and after 10 day the joystick broke, the ball in the middle was making strange noises, something broke and it stuck on left. The axes point upwards, LOL thats the worst product from them and its very expensive for that china quality. Just stay away, not worth

[@ProGamer-gc3wv]

I installed my old X56 Hotas and it works, no issues, plug in and play. Sometimes cheaper and older product are better

[@xX_Gravity_Xx]

Can I remove the spring? As a helo guy, that is make or break. I have a preferred band rerig. I might even go for springs in the future. But I can't do any of that if the spring is permanently attached and can't be swapped for a lighter one or removed.

[@g-locmedia]

For flying helicopters this wouldn't be a good choice I don't think. You cant remove the spring.

[@alezandercorben4122]

I want to try this hotas for elite dangerous but ED doesn’t have bindings for it.

[@Basketballpoeple]

I bought a cheap stick is it worth it and it is used

[@reallybigjohnson]

Looks great but the low refresh screen is a deal breaker.

[@g-locmedia]

The screen does remain an issue for some

[@HORNOMINATOR]

very detailed overview

[@g-locmedia]

thanks so much

[@dnt_alert5806]

Would’ve been better in my opinion if they had swappable buttons/switches instead of the touchscreen

[@g-locmedia]

That's a cool idea. I had imagined a stream deck like button set could have been cool.

[@Taztorien]

they have left hand Stick? looks nice for SC, and affordable

[@g-locmedia]

No left hand option that i'm aware of unfortunately

[@Taztorien]

@@g-locmedia Panda is sad :(

[@cmdrTremyss]

what kind of sensor the rudder control has?

[@seanlowe7443]

How does this compare to the TM HOTAS Warthog? Looks like there are way more buttons on this one, but the TM seems a more solid primarily metal build. Doing my research on what gear I have and a buddy has the TM so I feel like it is top-notch (in my limited experience).

[@g-locmedia]

The TM warthog does have a super heavy build quality but much less features. I think they are aimed at two different people to be honest. Both the warthog and his stick actually have a similar detent though. What Sim do you play?

[@seanlowe7443]

Sorry, I think I hit comment too soon, because as I'm reading my comment it looks a little jarbled. I meant to say that I'm researching gear because I'm thinking of actually getting into flight Sim. Currently I have played VTOL VR but my buddy has been teaching me the ropes so that I can join him in DCS should I decide to jump in

[@xFlowXxX]

Warthog is just over considered. It was masterclass few years ago, nowadays, if you don't want to go to Virpil, Winwing or VKB, buy this, not a Warthog

[@SagittarA]

warthog use is way too niche because it doesnt have whole 1 axis on the joystick (rudder) and only has pitch/yaw. Which makes its 1/3 unusable already. Then add lack of buttons/features and you get warthog... and as someone that plays space sims/MSFS2020 you do need that rudder control.

[@plateaufightclub3767]

have you got the touch display to work in dcs if so can you help me out with that?

[@darknewt9959]

This is the sort of shiny stuff that has me reaching for the credit card before the video has even ended, in spite of the fact that I already have a hotas, only use flight sims occasionally, and when I do it's in VR, so I'd never see or enjoy the shiny in action.

[@jamietyler4099]

I’m building a cockpit specifically to practice for a tail dragger stol style planes. I got the virpil ace pedals with damper and looking for suggestions for a stick and throttle and anything else you recommend for my purpose. Thanks I love your videos.

[@g-locmedia]

I would actually look at the Virpil WarbirD and the Virpil throttle if you have the budget

[@jamietyler4099]

@ i appreciate the response I’ll look into those and most likely get them coming thanks

[@pju28]

how you flip/move on the F14 the wings with this Hotas?

[@g-locmedia]

You could bind any of the buttons to do this

[@grantnowling5124]

this is my first simulation product and im wondering if anyone has a guide setup for warthunder?

[@g-locmedia]

Sorry mate. I don't have any setup guide for Warthunder

[@MrBlobfish2000]

Hey there. Great review again. Would this be a good stick to begin with? I will only play MSFS and DCS with it. It looks almost perfect to me. My only concern is the detent. It looks pretty horrible and non fixable to me.

[@g-locmedia]

If the detent is an issue I'd look at something else. Maybe the virpil warbird stick.

[@אורןדודוביץ]

is i have Thrustmaster T16000M FCS HOTAS would you sya this one is better????

[@g-locmedia]

Yea this is a step above the t1600

[@אורןדודוביץ]

TX

[@slickwilly988]

I personally would have liked to see you testing the Turtle Beach customer support with the loose switches, but this is nitpicking.

[@GODzilla_FH]

Already have a good joystick, would really like to get the throttle seperately, but of course this isn't an option. :(

[@g-locmedia]

The throttle really is quite good.

[@xXE4GLEyEXx]

Can the stick on its own be purchased? I need no throttle but the stick itself looks like it would be a useful upgrade :d

[@g-locmedia]

Unfortunately not. You gotta buy both.

[@xXE4GLEyEXx]

@@g-locmedia ty for the reply! Gonna keep my eye out for it, maybe one day they will offer the stick separately ^^

[@yepitsodex]

is the deadzone on the stick not software imposed? we need to know if its a software thing or if mechnically the stick has a deadzone.

[@ValiantDWC]

It is imposed by software in Turtle Beach's Control Software (Called "FlightHanger").

[@tk64681]

How long are the cables that come with it and are there longer cables available???

[@g-locmedia]

about 4-5ft long but you can use a standard USBC-A cable

[@glennkanaley224]

Mine died after 6 months. The top of the stick lost connection with the base. They are sending me a new one now. Hopefully i have betting luck. It worked great with Elite Dangerous. Then it died.

[@MuffinHunter69]

Can’t configure mine to war thunder any tips

[@g-locmedia]

Is it not showing up at all in your controls

[@aaronsimon5769]

I have to say from looking at this HOTAS, it's not bad.

[@g-locmedia]

Yea, I think is a fair deal for the right type of simmer

[@aaronsimon5769]

@@g-locmedia The Hotas I have works great on Elite Dangerous. But when it comes to Star Citzen it's a mess.

[@JaggyP1109]

Does this work on MechWarrior Online????

[@g-locmedia]

Sorry. I only really play flight sims so I can't comment on that

[@mast3r-633]

Ive not seen this stick before right now, but damn does it look amazing and for $400 Id rather get this over a virpil or VKB HOTAS

[@g-locmedia]

Certainly with the Virpil you're kind of swapping build quality for features. VKB I don't have much experience with

[@TheLukemcdaniel]

My issue is longevity, and this goes for most any of the mid-high end range ho(s/t)as setups. They all of proprietary software of some kind. If the company closes up shop for whatever, or drops support for that stick/throttle, you have a ticking time bomb on your hands. At least with vkb and virpil(I think), if you have the latest downloaded, you can reconfigure, but ftmp, all the changes happen in the stick, so you can plug it into virtually any machine, even one not running windows, and ftmp it'll just work. But with logitech/thrustmaster and now this, most of theirs seem to require having their software running to make any changes. Especially with logi and this having those screens. I can see the benefit of designing your own button area, but it's just not a long term solution. To me it's pure gimmick, and this looks more like a child's toy.

[@g-locmedia]

I actually used this in MSFS before installing software although I reckon you might run in to problems with the touch screen. You have valid points.