Thrustmaster TWCS Throttle - Precision Throttle Controller with S.M.A.R.T Technology for PC

I've used Thrustmaster products since the 90's and never had any issues with them and this is no different.Years ago I was using a Saitek X52 and when that started failing I decided to purchase a budget joystick so got the Thrustmaster T.Flight Stick X back in 2016 when it was on sale. Although the T.Flight Stick X is 8 years old it still works fine but I missed my separate throttle so started looking for a replacement.After extensive research, reading reviews and tests I opted for this, the Thrustmaster T16000M FCS Hotas and one of the deciding factors was the precision of the joystick. I had originally thought about the Logitech G X56 H.O.T.A.S or Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog but the T16000M came out as my final choice.I fly mainly in DCS World and the precision of the joystick really shines through, especially in dogfights. It also works well in X-Plane and Ace Combat, although you will need to configure Ace Combat 7 manually in the config files.As this comes with the throttle I generally reassign the small sliding throttle on the joystick itself to another function, more often than not in DCS I use it as a zoom function. There are plenty of buttons to assign on the joystick itself, personally I mainly use the right side for engine controls and use the left side for things I use more often in flight as I can tap them with my thumb.The throttle also has plenty of buttons to assign and also has a dedicated analogue hat which is excellent in DCS for moving the camera around on targetting pods, you can assign the click of the analogue hat to something like target locking. There is also a rotary control on the top, left side of the throttle which is handy, again my main use in DCS is either zoom levels on the targetting display or I use it as the throttle for helicopters, leaving the throttle slide free for collective.One big plus of the throttle setup, that I was a little sceptical of was the rocker paddles on the rear. I use these as rudder control and I've got just as much control as I used to get with my dedicated pedals, takes a bit of getting used too but it's really impressive and saved me having to buy separate pedals and having another bulky box sat around.There are reviews that mention the plastic construction, yes it is plastic but then it's good quality and metal where it counts, my previous Thrustmaster that's 8 years old and still working is all plastic construction so not sure why some people have issues with it. End of the day if you want all metal then expect to pay 4x the cost of the T16000M and even some of them are plastic just with metal switches.One noticeable thing, which was mentioned in a number of reviews is the throttle slide action can feel a little but sticky. I did notice that out the box, it's not horrendous but can effect precision in something like DCS. There is an adjustment screw on the underside for the throttle action and I found loosening that off quite a bit helped make it more fluid, also being more gentle with the action and not forcefully pushing and pulling the throttle helped a lot. There is an after market slide you can fit but for me personally that won't be considered until the warranty has expired, as it is with the screw adjustment and being a bit more gentle using it I found it to be fine.If you want more button assignments you can use the Thrustmaster Target software that's free, personally I don't bother and I map everything I need to the throttle and joystick and then the rest of the commands I use voice control through Voice Attack.In all I think the Thrustmaster T16000M FCS Hotas is an excellent choice for some precision flying, especially if you get it while on offer like I did.

This is a great quality joystick, giving consistent performance while on a budget. You can grip the surface well, it feels responsive and is quite compatible with multiple systems due to its plug-and-play capabilities. It is fun to use it and quite entertaining. This is a great choice if you would like a cheap but durable joystick for flight simulators and such.

This was bought to replace my T.Flight HOTAS X that had started to feel a little tired. I plumped for this one based on the throttle unit with its multiple hats, and because it was seemingly designed with Elite:Dangerous in mind.Initial impressions are good - there's plenty of controls within finger reach and the precision of the joystick is superb. I was (and still am) in two minds about the on-rails throttle. It's probably a matter of personal preference, but I dislike the need to move your arm more fully to adjust the throttle, when more-traditional pivoting types can be done more lazily. There's also no obvious centre notch for sims with a reverse throttle, so either you need to map a 'toggle reverse' button or just deal with it. However with some practice it is possible to be more accurate with this style, or at least in principle. In practice it's tricky to move the throttle in small, precise amounts thanks to the type of grease used inside. I've since opened it up and replaced it with some damping grease and it's made the whole thing feel a lot higher-end - better tactile feel and far more accurate. The other thing with the throttle is the whole thing felt a little too fat for my hands - if it was slimmed down slightly it would make reaching all the inputs easier.The throttle provides numerous inputs too, including three hats by the thumb, an analogue stick under a finger, a flappy paddle and about five digital buttons. That's plenty to play with, but the layout could be better. The analogue stick in particular feels entirely in the wrong place under the left forefinger, where I never feel like I have the tight control I'd like. I wish it was one of the ones accessible using the thumb, where it would be easier to move accurately and would make more sense when mapping controls onto it.The stick is very accurate as I've mentioned, but lacking in convenient inputs. Given the wealth of hats on the throttle I'm surprised there's only the one on the stick - I would like to see at least an analogue one in thumb's reach. There are twelve additional buttons on the base of the unit, but those are only suitable for functions where you have the time to take your hands off one of the units. Still, with a bit of thought I managed to map pretty much the entire E:D control scheme onto the HOTAS by using a couple of buttons as shift keys, effectively letting me put multiple functions onto each input.Overall it's a decent set - a bit lightweight in use and ergonomically the cheaper HOTAS X felt better in the hands, but you can't argue with the accuracy of the sensors, and the throttle especially gives lots of flexibility. It's a good purchase but make sure it suits you before buying it, as this sort of product can be highly subjective.