Several weeks ago I got back into IL-2. I bought it several years ago, but FS always lured me away. This time I stuck with it just long enough to start having fun. I've been thinking very hard about getting a new joystick. (In FS I fly with a yoke, unless it's helicopters.) The Saitek X52 has a lot of attractive features, but for that price I want something durable, and I'm a little worried on that front. This morning, on a whim, I froogled "sidewinder precision" and found that I could get a new Precision Pro (not Precision Pro II) for about $35 (US). Would anyone who has this care to comment? Save me from a bad purchase? Urge me toward a good one?

Some get them to work but the original MS Stick didn't work with FS2004 for many users....It might not even be USB, I don't remember...be sure to check if you've got a game port still.... 35 isn't actually that great....you could just get a junker stick for like 20-30 bucks in a store.

I have the Precision 2 and like it quite a bit. Does everything I need, does throttle and rudders, its preprogrammed for FS9/FSX, and its cheap. I've had it for a good 5 years or more.