Best Review Products

The Saitek EVO Force looks a bit too sci-fi if you are like me and enjoy flying vintage aircraft, but one thing I have found from Saitek in general that their products are a good value for the money.

I wanted more immersion from the IL-2 WWII combat flight simulator that I have been enjoying for the last few years, and this joystick delivers the performance I was after. Most importantly, as what ever aircraft I am flying approaches stall speed, the stick shudder tells me that I need to push the throttle to maintain attitude (and altitude).

One thing (besides high tech looks) that I’d say is a shortcoming, is the spring tension is a bit weak. I wouldn’t want to be fighting the full G-forces of pulling out of a dive, but perhaps adjustable force may be a feature that would make this type of product better.

That being said, I am pretty happy with this product over all for its reliability and value.

I purchased the X52 stick and throttle for use with Falcon 4.0 Allied Force (F4AF), an F-16 simulator, and they’re working out pretty well. I’m impressed with the sheer number of inputs, as well as their variety, including the three 8-way hats, the slider (which I’ve mapped to my airbrakes), the two rotary knobs (which I’ll map to my sensor elevation and sensor strength once I get that far; I’m still learning to fly at the moment), and the tri-mode switch + shift (which lets you make any button/switch do six different things).

The X52 uses non-contact magnetic hall-effect sensors for the stick’s axes, as opposed to rheostats or other contact-based technologies. This means that the stick should maintain its smoothness and precision over its lifetime, as there are no brushes to wear out.

A single spring is responsible for centering the stick in both dimensions. The design seems like it will more reliably return to center over time, as opposed to sticks with two pairs of opposing horizontally-oriented springs that center each axis.

The software included for programming the inputs is really intuitive, and I was able to get the behavior I wanted in a few minutes, without having to read a manual or a help page.

The bases of both the stick and throttle each have two holes going all the way through from top to bottom, which’ll make bolting them down easy.

I only have two complaints: 1) the Cyborg styling looks stupid, and 2) the stick exhibits constant resistance throughout its range of motion (as opposed to increasing resistance the farther it is moved from center; “progressive” resistance). I could’ve spent another $100 and bought the X52 Pro to avoid these issues, but couldn’t justify it. Besides, it doesn’t cost Saitek $100 to change the styling and add an additional spring.

I’m using the X52 alongside CH Products’ Pro Pedals USB, and they do not conflict with eachother, at least not when playing F4AF.

My review of this product is using X-Plane Version 9. In a previous review of CH Products Rudder Pedals, I spoke of my transition from keyboard control of flight simulators along my particular path. The next best thing to a control wheel is a joystick with twisting action. Having said that, there is still no real comparison to the CH Control Yoke, except maybe a real airplane control yoke.
I recently upgraded from an adapted joystick with few functioning inputs to the CH Products Control Yoke. What I was missing could add ten things to a long list of wishes.
It surprised me to feel and see the differences that this great device brought to my simulated flying. The Yoke has both centering aileron (roll) and elevator (pitch) inputs plus, 3-levers and 2-rocker switches on the main console. On the left hand grip there are 3-buttons and 1-rocker switch and on the right side there is a 8-way hat switch, 1-button. and 1-rocker switch.
I’m a licensed pilot, currently flying a Cessna 172. Adding a Control Yoke to my Flight Simulator adventures lets me realize how much I enjoy flying, whether be it for real or virtually real. The movement of the control wheel is smooth and right on. Having similar controls on the console lets me practice my movements in the real cockpit.
How nice it is to control reality flying with the Control Yoke!!