200-503 CH Products Flightstick Pro USB 4-Button Joystick 8-Way Hatswitch

I've used lots of different joy sticks over the years and have always found myself returning to the CH Flightstick Pro. It's solid, very well built and features a design that is far more concerned with actual function and utility than it is with looking like something that belongs in the cockpit of 2789's finest interstellar fighter. Which of course is to say that it works very very well.Primarily, the thing I find most useful is the *extremely* forgiving/elastic "spring" action; the Flightstick requires *very* little effort to move along the extents of it's X and Y axis' and such movement and effort needed to realize it is equally precise and unchanging throughout the full range of either axis' extents. There is no greater or lesser tension depending on where on the axis' you might be passing through. It's ridiculously smooth and even and one finds oneself giving more attention to precision and more subtle movements as opposed to trying to jam the stick back and forth or side to side as things become frenzied in game play. Again, the motion is extremely easy ... in fact, you could play any game/simulator and experience the joysticks complete range of motion on either axis using just one finger placed on the top of the Flightstick; it's literally, *that* effortless in it's motions. Some people might find this disconcerting at first but once you acclimate, you won't look at other joysticks in the same way any more.Further, this ease of movement allows the base of the joystick to stay firmly planted on the desk...with no lifting of the edges or corners as you make full sweeps of the sticks movement gamut. Since one's movements tend to become more precise and since the motion of the stick is so smooth and spring pressure so consistent throughout the sticks motions, it's very easy to tell when you are at the limits of either axis' movement. A base that moves around and lifts or slides as I attempt to game is one of the most annoying and consistently problematic aspects of just about all other joysticks I've tried. If any portion of the base actually lifts from the surface of your desk (or whatever) then the problem is with your play style and not the Flightstick...as the only thing that could make it lift is violent/fast/sudden jerks of the stick...which, by design of the thing...are obviously not necessary.It's not a cheap joystick, just speaking monetarily but it's built to last (had one for 10 years before getting another) and as mentioned already...is a near perfect bit of industrial/utlity design.I've never found any other joystick that I can use (much less remember the make of)...and I've used many.Oh yeah ... look around Amazon too ... there's usually a "USED" option for much less than the new price.FYI.

Easily programmable and works nicely with Mac OS. A lot of free flight sims will not work and you are stuck with using your mouse. "Sky Gamblers -Storm Raiders 2" is a fun sim that does work.

I enjoy instrument flying in MS Flight Simulator, so precision is the most important factor for me in a controller. I've tried several joysticks over the years but no other joystick can match the precision and feel of the Flightsick Pro.One reason I like the Flightstick Pro is that it's one of the only high-end joysticks that you can use with either hand. The latest flight sims let you pan around the "virtual cockpit" with the mouse, so I prefer to fly with the joystick in my left hand and my mouse in the right. You fly most real-world aircraft with your left hand anyway, another reason I prefer this configuration. Most of the fancier joysticks (including CH Products F-16-styled options) are built for right-hand use only.The Flightstick Pro works right out of the box, with no need to load drivers or other software--just plug it in and off you go. The base is solid and heavy enough that it doesn't slide around your desk, but it's still compact enough that you can move it off to the side of your desk and not have to worry about storing it when you're doing your regular computing.Although it lacks the bells and whistles and slick look of other offerings, the Flightstick Pro has a precise, solid feel that is unmatched in any other joystick I've tried. CH Products has a long-standing reputation for quality, and if a basic joystick is what you're looking for I don't think you can top this one.

This joystick works amazingly well on OSX, 10.6.8 through 10.8.1Only small issue is that I noticed the computer wont go to sleep on its own with it plugged in, but that's not much of an issue at all to me.There is no rotation in the stick, only x,y movement, so that is something to consider.The tuning to non movement works very well, and the stick is by default compatible with the Google Earth Flight Simulator.All buttons are very responsive, and have a good tactile feel to them.The construction is VERY solid, and the plastic is really high quality stuff. Think LEGO quality. Nothing cheap feeling about this joystick at all.The cord is way long, which is super useful for how I have it setup on my desk.Overall a great purchase, as I expect it to last a very long time.

Nice flight sim product. Solid construction, feels right in your hand, left or right. Keep in mind though, you will have NO rudder control, that said I would purchase again if I needed one.

My previous joystick was the original CH Flightstick, which I bought 20 years ago. Modern computers don't have game ports so I decided it was time to upgrade, and this product does not disappoint. CH makes top quality products, so I knew it would be a safe purchase.Pros:* The joystick feels solid and well made.* The grip fits perfectly in my hand.* The buttons and hatswitch are comfortably within range of my fingers.* Plenty of USB cable is provided for easy positioning.Cons:* It's big and bulky. I had a little difficulty finding a good place to put it on my desk where it wouldn't block a portion of my monitor.This is a great product for both hardcore flight simulator enthusiasts and more casual users who just want an easier way to fly aircraft in BF3. I highly recommend this and any other CH products.

Product advertised as USB, but it was not. Seller's solution was offer to pay for an adaptor for a much older version than what I needed. Had to return it, and pay shipping for it!