homepage Forums Technology Flight Sim Controllers Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Discussion Thread

That's ... sexy? :-)

Hmmmm interesting stick base there; guess I need to start looking at building that pit now to have a place to mount the thing.

Interesting, it says the stick`s base is detachable. More information on the throttle base would be nice, ie: the LEDs, backlighting, and the `Trim`wheel, I thought it was a throttle friction adjuster.

If we look at the equivalent panels in the DCS cockpit:



and compare it to the HOTAS shot above, we can see there is some more writing near the forward edge of the throttle base, I guess this is where the LEDs are located.


When I first saw the new Warthog stick I figured TM would make it compatible with the Cougar given that it also has a knurled knob, this is nice to have confirmed. The Warthog stick looks like a truer replica of the latest F-16 stick grip anyway, with regards to the shape of the stick head, and paddle switch. We shall see about my other prediction... finally seeing additional stick grips, as was the original plan with the Cougar. Although the throttle unit of the HOTAS Warthog isn`t the same as the F-15 or F-18 it`s a lot more realistic than using a single F-16 throttle like the Cougar. Anyone else figure an Eagle or Hornet stick grip would be a worthwhile addition to the Warthog product line...

I imagine that the "detachable" stick is just like it was on the Cougar. Don't know though and wish I was one of the lucky ones who was able to do a little testing for them...I have a few choice comments and words that I would like for them to hear from a long time TM user perspective.

No, no I mean the BASE of the stick, ie `detachable metal plate for desk or cockpit-style use` from the description above.

I had the chance to test T.16000M (HallEffect AccuRate Technology) which will be used at Warthog and I can tell that will be the new HOTAS Ferrari (Cougar is until the release!)

Interesting technology indeed.
I have been thinking about buying a TM T160000M and dissect it and put its innards in an old TM F22 Pro or a CH Products grip.

That would be sweet technology on the cheap.

That wouldn't be nowhere near as sexy as what this HOTAS promises to look like, but hey...

I wonder if you could gut it and place those inside a Cougar? If so then it would be TREMENDOUSLY cheaper for a mod than buying the gimbals from IJ and the sensors from Cubpilot.

Nice work there GRSwaty! Looks like an interesting movement with the HEART innards on that stick.

Cougar-compatible handles? Now I'm REALLY interested, provided that the HOTAS Warthog stick is indeed made of higher-quality metal throughout and won't lose its paintjob so easily. Cougar handles tend to develop a bit of shaft play that becomes extremely obvious if it's being used with a force-sensing mod.

What's with that stick base, though? It seems unusually small-just a round can part right below the stick, and then this big, flat square base all around, whereas you'd think that the stick base would be more boxy like the Cougar for a deflecting stick. I guess the new gimbals, Hall sensor system, and control circuitry are much more compact. (That, or the actual brains of the HOTAS Warthog were moved to the throttle this time.)

Also, there's still another major unknown-how does it handle rudder? I highly doubt it's a twisty-stick (not with that Cougar-style knob to keep the stick attached), but who knows if they're still going to keep the ancient DB-15 gameport for those of us who already have such pedals for the Cougar?

Good points all around and I wish I knew the answer or had another view of the throttle base to see what connections if any extra were there.

That's the spirit!

The electronics are said to be first grade, but mechanically it's very bad. Nothing that couldn't be fixed with some common hardware; i.e. the cheap plastic shaft.
Also you'd have to align the sensor correctly to get an accurate reading.

Don't hold your breath. I wouldn't trust Thrustmaster/Guillemot to make good on this.
I know for a fact that before the Cougar was released, other grips were said to be released, i.e. F15, F18 etc... it never materialized.

So, I wouldn't rest my hopes on this.

Also, the Warthog HOTAS isn't as boxy because the whole electronics part is quite compact - from what I have seen on the T160000M - as the switches are located in the grip.
It's good, on a side note I hope they won't skimp on the quality of the stick gimbal.

I remember that too. We were also apparently supposed to get an "RCS Pro" with toe brakes that plugged right into the Cougar, which clearly never happened.

Nevertheless, if I get the Warthog and it does have a better, compatible handle, I'd probably use it on my Cougar base for when a force-sensing stick better suits the sim in question.

That also means that the stock gimbals in the Warthog better be good, however...

I have an RCS with toe brakes....nevermind the fact that I had to mod it on my own to make it happen but I still have it...hehehe

I fear that the Warthog wont feature a digital gameport for rudder pedals. My F-16 Cougar pedals don't work with a gameport/USB adapter because these adapters are made for analog devices.
I will have to keep the Cougar plugged in (without the throttle), just to get the pedals working.
Most games these days recognize multiple USB devices, so that should be no problem.

If It's doesn't,I will keep my Cougar too!

You have Simped?

Yes, the F-16 Simpeds for the Cougar. They are digital ones, so no adapter will work. Mr. Hoffman from SIMPED said in a telefone call, that he also has to wait for the new HOTAS and see how he can make things compatible. Thrustmaster doesn't send them pre-production versions for evaluation. He will develop an digital USB adapter once the HOTAS has been released and he gets his hands on one of them. But that will only work, if the Warthog directly supports pedals. I hope he will also develop an adapter for the case when we have to use the SIMPEDs as stand alone devices.

Thank you for the info!

I hope release date is close!

The Cougar uses a digital gameport for the pedals? I thought it was just analog with good hardware to handle and filter it all, otherwise how would the RCS and Elite pedals work, among others? (Or does it have to do with the toe brakes?)

In any case, if the rudder pedals can't plug directly into the Warthog and integrate under its own DirectInput ID, then I see no point in keeping my RCS pedals to use with it should I part with my Cougar.