Can anyone recommend a HOTAS joystick that suits the DCS AV-8b Harrier VR sim.
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Hey Cap!
Winwing’s F-15 or 18 stick is basically the same as the Harrier’s (with a few button swaps), if you’re looking for visual fidelity.
But many would extoll the virtues of having as many buttons on the stick as possible…especially in VR…in which case, the F-16 type stick or even the Russian inspired Virpil sticks (one of which I have) might better suit your needs.
As for throttles, I know of no direct models, but something with a lever for nozzles would be a strong contender.
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Hi and welcome to Mudspike @capt.edge
This is a deep subject that usually begins with how much do you want to spend…
But to simplify I will tell you what i used before and where I am now. If you want Easy, cheap
get a SaItek X-52 or X-56 on Amazon. The X-56 would be my choice as it is newer. That is the cheap option. Expect it to last 2 or 3 years max. They will get you going for now. For a more costly but more solid option the Thrustmaster Warthog is still available in Amazon for about $550 plus tax.
My personal preference is the WinWing now WingCtrl Throttle and the Thrustmaster A-10 Joystick. With the WingCtrl throttles, you can buy different handles like F-18, F-15 or F-16.
Some of us use the Moza force feedback base. I don’t like the WingCtrl Joysticks because they don’t fit Thurstmaster or Moza bases. But they are quality. The Moza is a beast, its expensive but its so good.
Now you are getting deep. Anyway, that is what is out there. The F-18 Thrustmaster stick is same as the Harrier and the F-15 too.
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Just to mention, also VKB has a wide range of quality joysticks and throttles.
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Ditto what @Deacon211 said. Whatever throttle you chose, with the Harrier it is helpful to have a second axis on your throttle to assign to nozzle control. That’s usually right and left engines on aircraft like the Hornet, but since the Harrier is single engine, you can assign one throttle axis to nozzle control.
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I 3D printed replacements for both of the small axis levers on the side, turning them into mixture and large, offset prop pitch levers.
Easy option I used for a time was two knobs on a small shaft that I glued to the top of the axis triangle. Worked okay but they could collide.
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I have the X-56. Cheap, easy, precise, lasts forever.
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Truly, the nozzle lever for the Harrier isn’t particularly large, so using some sort of cap for one of the smaller levers is not a bad idea.
I have the Virpil T50(numbers, numbers, numbers) throttle which has a modestly sized lever inside the throttle and it works great for nozzles.
Lot of wisdom here. Some of these are pretty expensive. Something like the X-56 is not a bad entry solution that you can keep or upgrade at some future point.
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