Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Flight Stick VERDICT

The beast in premium joystick controls

THRUSTMASTER $699

4Venturing into the premium-tier flight sticks further opens your options, but the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Flight Stick has remained on top for several years. The peripheral is a favourite among enthusiasts, granting both responsive and precise control over your aircraft, with a build quality that surpasses closest rivals. The result is a consistent and robust stick for all forms of flight, including Microsoft Flight Simulator.

The Warthog Flight Stick design comes from the similarly nicknamed A-10 Thunderbolt II, which helps nail down an ergonomic in-hand feel while also grounded to realism. The construction is on the high end, lining the plastic stick with metal accents you wouldn’t find on cheaper alternatives. It also includes a detachable metal base, which helps on the desk while still adaptive to integrate into a cockpit setup. And weighing in at 3kg, this joystick won’t be moving anywhere even if you’re not using the included mounting solution.

Thrustmaster’s HEART technology seen in the best flight sticks backs the Warthog, using magnet sensors for 16-bit resolution high precision, while also durable for multi-year usage. The company also boasts its five-coil spring system, which it claims provides tension and consistency without dead zones. The stick also packs plentiful inputs, with 19 action buttons, two eight-way hat switches, and various other assignable buttons to get you into the air.

The stick can be used standalone or as part of a larger modular set, and like many on this list, it shines when paired with other accessories.

Smooth, precise controls 85 High-quality construction Great in-hand feel