This is one of the most prolific flight sticks you can buy. It's incredibly cheap and is a great first step into what's otherwise an expensive hobby. It's not without flaws- the calibration degrades over time and the "throttle" is a flappy piece of plastic, but for less than the cost of an Xbox controller it's a worthy buy.
The Thrustmaster HOTAS X is slightly more expensive than Logitech's offering, but it does come with a large throttle and has better sensors in the flight stick. A great option for "casual" flight games, such as Star Citizen and ArmA 3.
Saitek's legacy offering can be found used for around the same price as a new HOTAS X and is roughly comparable to the Saitek X52 in features and quality.
This is /r/hoggit's favored HOTAS for a reason. It's reasonably good in all areas, though it doesn't quite excel in any. It is the cheapest HOTAS you can buy with a dual-stage trigger, which is important for virtual A-10C pilots. The hall effect sensors and arcing throttle a decent step up from the entry-level offerings, and there are plenty of buttons for any game or simulator.
The X52 Pro is almost exactly the same product as the X52, but with more metal parts instead of plastic. This does not greatly alter the stick's characteristics.
CH Products has been making HOTAS sets for decades, and the only thing that's changed about them was the switch from Game Port to USB in the late 90s. The Fighterstick is an excellent joystick modeled after the stick from an F-16. It's an overall excellent product. The Pro Throttle is more of a mixed bag- it doesn't arc like the Saitek products do, and generally doesn't feel as nice when moving through the range. Overall, the CH Products set is the epitome of a mid-range product.
The CH Fighterstick does not include a yaw (twist) axis. You will need pedals if you want yaw control.
The X55 is Saitek's newest offering, featuring a new split throttle. This is a step up from the X52 in both price and features. The dual-stage trigger from the X55 is gone, but the throttle more than makes up for it.
This is the best HOTAS ever made. It's modeled on the real controls from an A-10C warthog, features all-metal construction and can easily be modified into a floor-standing full-size stick.
The Warthog does not include a yaw (twist) axis. You will need pedals if you want yaw control.
The Cougar is the previous title-holder of "best HOTAS ever made." Most gamers will want to opt for a shiny new Warthog over this decade-plus-old relic, but Falcon BMS players will be interested in this, as it's modeled on the real controls from an F-16.
The Cougar does not include a yaw (twist) axis. You will need pedals if you want yaw control.
Note that you only need pedals in one of the following circumstances:
- Your flight stick doesn't include a twist axis
- You want to fly helicopters with more control than a twist stick provides
- You already have an awesome HOTAS and head tracker/virtual reality and still want more
An all-round good option.
An all-around good option with adjustable tension. Note that Saitek's other pedals (Cessna and Combat pedals) use the same internal parts with a different exterior.
The Warthog of rudder pedals, featuring all-metal skeletal construction. Hand-built by a furniture maker dissatisfied with everything else on the market. (You may have to go on a waiting list for the next batch.)