Most PC gamers play with a keyboard and mouse, frankly because most PC gamers are either casual gamers or are playing First-Person-Shooters at their local LAN party. But there are times when you need a custom controller for a particular type of game. For PC gamers, an Xbox 360 controller works just great (read our review here) when a keyboard just won’t do.
One prime example where a real flight stick comes in handy is in Battlefield 2, UT3, or Quake Wars. When in walking mode nothing can really beat the tried-and-true keyboard+mouse, but when you enter a vehicle things can change quickly. Helicopters (or futuristic vehicles that work like them) are particularly difficult to control unless you have a gamepad or flight stick.
The Saitek Aviator Flight Stick is geared towards the flight and combat simulator enthusiast, although it works quite well in the abovementioned games.
Saitek launches the Aviator – the first dual throttle joystick for modern flight simulation games. The Aviator is designed with everything you’d expect from a high performancejoystick, including a rugged, military-style design, rapid response trigger, 8-way hat switch, plus illuminated rocket or missile fire button with safety cover.
And a first in joystick design, the Saitek Aviator features dual throttle levers. These enable independent control of multiple engines when flying a large bomber or modern passenger jet, or an engine/flaps combination for better control during take-off and landing. The dual throttles can also be locked together for simplicity when flying single-engined aircraft.
Additional controls include 3D twist for precise rudder control whether taxiing or in the air,front-mounted instrument panel which includes base-mounted toggle buttons with up and down switching functions, and mode selector to instantly change the Aviator’s controlsto suit flying scenario. Saitek’s programming software means the Aviator offers up to 8 separate commands which can each be programmed separately.
The Saitek Aviator represents a new direction in joystick design. The groundbreaking dual throttles and a wealth of programmable switches and controls make the Aviator the perfect joystick for the latest flight games, designed to offer gamers both the maximum flight sim authenticity and control. No other stick is as well suited to the planes being flown on today’s PC Flight sims.
- Rapid fire trigger
- 4 buttons
- 8-way ‘point of view’ hat switch
- 3D Twist Rudder control
- Dual throttles
- Single spring gimbal mechanism
System Requirement:
Connectivity: USB 2.0
Windows XP, XP64 and Windows Vista (all versions)
This product is fully compatible with Windows Vista. However, the SST software and drivers on the accompanying disc will only work on XP. If you are using Vista the latest drivers and SST software can be downloaded from our Drivers and Software section.
The stick is designed to look like a military stick, which is rather odd because the product is extremely light. The stick has a single-spring gimble, and dual-throttle sliders. The base has four programmable toggle switches, which can be set to for common flight tasks as landing gear and flaps. There is also a big red A/B switch, so the four toggles can pull double-duty.
The actual stick itself has a very large trigger which is very light to the touch. The 8-way hat switch is positioned directly in the top center of the stick, another button on the right, and there is a big-ass red button covered by a flip-lever. This button is probably more useful in combat sims, and this button would most likely be the ‘missle’ button.
I don’t really understand the whole flip-lever protection thing. Sure, it’s cool to flip of the lever, thereby “arming” your virtual missiles, but in the gaming world, this extra time wasted could cost you. Those levers were invented to prevent accidental missile fires, which is a good thing in real life. In the virtual gaming world, you don’t pay by the missile, so who cares if you accidentally drop a megaton bomb over that residential area?
The single-spring gimble makes the stick respond decently, and tension increases the more the stick strays from the center. There isn’t a ton of tension, so it feels comfortable. There is also an optional hand rest that can be installed on the bottom of the stick, which allows you to rest the right side of your palm while you grip. This makes the stick more comfortable on long flights, but has the tendancy to make your tricep hurt after an hour of playing (since your arm is in an unnatural ‘active’ position).
The dual-throttle sliders will be a boon to those sim fanatics who fly jumbo jets, which allow you to set the throttle of each of your plane’s engines seperately. The left throttle has a button which activates a pin to lock both of the sliders in place. The button toggles like a retractable ball-point pen… click once to lock, click again to unlock.
It has a wide base so it doesn’t scuttle all over your desk, and you might not notice the lack of weight. The USB cable is connected at the right side of the stick, and has a decent 6-foot length (although 8 feet would have been better).
Overall, this is a good stick for flight enthusiasts, and is rather inexpensive. This stick probably will probably only appeal to those who are into PC flight sims. If dual-throttles, a ‘CAUTION’ missile lever, and military toggle switches get you all excited, then you’ll be pleased with this stick.
The major complaint is that is feels so flimsy for looking so beefy. Although Saitek has a warning about their drivers not working with Vista, the stick works perfectly fine without any driver installation. Many flight enthusiasts are on Vista just to see the DirectX10 visuals on Flight Simulator X, so you can use this stick, regardless of Saitek’s cautionary note.
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