I have been using a microsoft sidewinder 3D pro for many years and I would like to upgrade.What can you suggest? It is worthwhile to look at a force feedback model? Thanks for the help.

Force Feedback is interesting, but I don't find it very amuzing for flight simulation. It's been a few years since I tried it on the Sidewinder Force Feedback versions. When I used it, it was still in it's infancy, and I found it difficult to fly with. It all really depends on what type of flying you do. If you're a heavy jet or a small GA aircraft, I recommend you try a good yoke / rudder pedals combo. The CH setup is fairly cheaper than some of the other options and it makes for a great starting point in that good ol hand / feet coordination. It adds much more realism to flying and you'll quickly learn to appreciate it. Once I went yoke, In never went back!As for joySTICKS, I still find the Sidewinder Precision Pro sticks the best for the money. Microsoft makes great peripherals, mouse, keyboards, joysticks and etc, and you can normally bank on their quality.

"Once I went yoke, In never went back!"So you fly the Airbus, Cub, Katana etc. with the yoke as well? Not very realistic :)The first step would be to get the CH Pedals, IMO. If you fly a lot of yoked planes such as Cessnas and Boeings, you should get a yoke as well, if you can afford it.

Yokes is inferior to joysticks if you go by precision. In FS 2004 you don

Like you, I have been using a MS Sidewinder Precision Pro. Since I am ordering a new computer tomorrow, I recently bought a new USB joystick. My main suggestion is for your to go to local stores and actually try out the stick before buying. I feel the joystick is a tactile experience and that you really have to go with what physically works for you. As for me, I went with the CH Combatstick. Not that this stick is everyone as it doesn't have a twist handle. But so far, it seems to be working out and appears to be built very well and should last a long time.

>"Once I went yoke, In never went back!">>So you fly the Airbus, Cub, Katana etc. with the yoke as well?>Not very realistic :)>>The first step would be to get the CH Pedals, IMO. If you fly>a lot of yoked planes such as Cessnas and Boeings, you should>get a yoke as well, if you can afford it.I don't fly the Airbus, I don't fly the Cub and I definately don't fly the Katana. So, yes, yoke and rudder pedals is the way to go for me and I still fly with them today.Sure, I have a joystick. If I want to take up the Extra 300, I'll give the joystick a run. If I want to play some fighter game, I use the joystick. IT all depends on what type of flying you do......

<>As I posted in another thread, I have a PFC yolk/power quad/rudder rig that it outstanding...tough as nails and spring loaded for some tactile feedback but I want to use a stick for the Spitfire etc.But the PFC rig attaches to a serial port. What I am hoping is that I can buy a USB stick...like yours that doesn't even model the rudder and just plug it in and be able to use the PFC rudders at the same time I use the USB stick without the two conflicting.In other words, without disabling the PFC rig could I simply not touch the yolk and still use the PFC power quad and rudders along with the USB stick?????Thanks,Jim

Yes probably. Just disable the elevator and aileron axis on the yoke :) Can

It works fine that way. That was the setup I used for a year and a half without any problems. I just upgraded my system and was forced to go with USB rudder pedals because of no game port. Could have tried an inexpensive sound card with a gameport, or a gameport to USB adapter, but decided to bite the bullet and go with the new rudder pedals.Still trying to get used to them, my old Thrustmasters felt more realistic.(stiffer spring action)Chuck