Time to retire the HOTAS Cougar

Hardware & Tech Questions
1

Well I have had it with my Cougar. for the past few months I been battling Throttle Axis issues with my Cougar.

I had a hall sensor Z Axis but it never worked properly and This Origianl pot has just given up the ghost. So after all these years I am going to retire the old faithful Cougar..

Right now I just purchased a Newer X52 that is black and silver and should work for now until I can get more money for something better.. now that might not happen if I am happy with the X52 I will just use that for the newxt couple years..

I had just ordered it from Amazon and should have it Sat 17th.. hopefully it works out and I can reliably game again with a HOTAS of sorts..

Looks like I will need to program a few Buttons to the F16 and KA50.. Elite dangerous will need some buttons programed as well.. I may look over the buttons and figure out which buttons will be programmed on the HOTAS..

I can not wait until Sat to try the new stick out.. I was in Elite Dangerous and smashed into the planets surface as the throttle got stuck wide open and I had no shields !!! AKK!!! well it was time..

2

The X-52 is still hard to beat for less than $200 as long as the pots are OK. I’m still enjoying trouble-free service from the X56 after at least 7 years.

3

well it said it was brand new not renewed or used so the pots should be fine and yes it is hard to beat for under 200!!

Look forward to a trouble free HOTAS again..

EDIT: I cancelled the X52 Pro and went with the X56.. I think that is a better choice but it will not be here until Feb. 2nd.. but it was a better HOTAS..

4

Sounds like the Cougar was an amazing return on investment. I’m surprised that you would feel at home with anything less than an F-16 style HOTAS.

5

Really hope you’re going to enjoy the new hardware! I had an x-56 for more than 6 years and really love it. With that said.. I have an Orion-II ViperAce now, which is another F16 replica. It’s about 100 more and I haven’t looked back for a single millisecond.

6

well I am unable to afford anything more at the moment and with Amazon I get payments of over 5 months. I would like to et another F16 styled HOTAS.. maybe over the summer or fall..

I will enjoy it as long as it does not give me issues like non working buttons or similar but it is new so I am not expecting any issues out the gate. the Cougar was getting old and I am tired of repairing it and not idea where to get a new Z axis for it. and besides I dropped it a month ago and now some of the hat switches do not work so I would need to do some minor repairs which I do not feel like doing..

7

good choice imo . happy owner of X56 too .

its not perfect , but the great precision of contactless sensor without deadzones in the stick is hard to beat

8

Hey That is good o know. is the throttle a similar sensor contactles? Yes not perfect but will work in the meantime.. and if I do get a F16 styled HOTAS again maybe I can keep the x56 for backup..

9

Well scratch the X56 I replaced the pot with my hall sensor and somehow managed to get it working again. after I calibrated it all the buttons still work. so being the miser I am, I had cancelled the order for the X56 and going to keep the Cougar for a while longer..

I just can’t get rid of it at this point I had it so long it feels almost like part of me lol!!

10

Good job on the repair! I’d still have my cougar, but the local weather conditions accelerated the zinc pest to the point that it became unusable :frowning:

I do still have the stick grip and the throttle handle, they’re good display pieces if nothing else!