I have finally decided that I want to buy a Thrustmaster cougar stick since I love Falcon 4:AF; however, I can't find one ANYWHERE online. I would buy the warthog, but it's 500+ bones. Can anyone tell me where to buy one, and, if not, can you recommend a great HOTAS stick?

http://www.provantage.com/~56GMCNTLCHPD.htm

The lack of second stage in the trigger and the paddle switch may irk some diehards looking for a proper F-16 stick, though it's possible to correct that in theory...by repurposing the trigger microswitch as a new paddle switch and turning the throttle wheel axis into an analog trigger, with Control Manager Scripting filling in the digital button stages. Then there's the wide, light throw; perfect for a WWII warbird, but the complete opposite of the F-16's force-sensing design. (On the other hand, I've found that a force-sensing stick doesn't lend itself well to almost anything that ISN'T Falcon 4.0.)

Anyway, the Cougar was apparently discontinued after TM introduced the Warthog. You may have some luck in looking through buy/sell/trade forums and eBay; after all, that's how I got mine, albeit back when Frugal's was still alive and Cougars were still widely available. (But this one had a stick mod, and now it's modified even further with throttle mods. I really can't bring myself to part with it. Still, you might be able to find a modded Cougar for a few hundred less than a Warthog. Just keep looking.)

Ah, now that's what I call a joystick! I read up on this particular joystick just now, and I hear nothing but good feedback. Thanks for the link!

NamelessPFG: Thank you for the advice. It would seem, however, that I have found a more reliable, similar stick.

As long as you're happy with it, that's all that matters.

I personally can't get used to the ergonomics of most CH equipment (the Fighterstick digs into my palm in a way that TM sticks don't), but I know first-hand why people like them...and most people don't own a modified Cougar for cost reasons.

I bought a hotas cougar from ebay, second hand for 107 Euro. I prefered this one because of its mechanik to make an extension mod.

Can't you just screw your Cougar handle into the base of the Warthog?

If you can find a modded Cougar, btw, it is worth EVERY penny. Or, get a used one and then get IJ's Uber II NXT mod:

http://frugalsrefugees.yuku.com/topic/274/Mods-and-Tweaks

I was talking about the CH Fighterstick with that quip, not any of TM's F-16-based sticks. The F-16 FLCS, F-22 Pro, Cougar, and Warthog all have the second trigger stage and the paddle switch, though the Warthog's is easily user-removable for the sake of A-10 purists.

From what I've heard, the Cougar handle is indeed intercompatible with the Warthog base, but I can't directly confirm this due to not owning a Warthog, and I can't be bothered to sell my FCC-modded Cougar stick (also with those replacement screws) + Hall sensor/UTM-modded Cougar throttle + Hall sensor-modded RCS to afford one in the first place.

(I am curious as to what the U2-NXT feels like, though...since you're also living in Georgia, maybe I'll get the chance one day. In the meantime, I put up with the lack of buttons and switches on the MS SWFFB2 as my deflecting stick of choice.)

Also, there's someone in the Buy/Sell/Trade subforum here that still has a Cougar to sell, if anyone's interested...it's stock, though.

You live in GA? Where at?

The U2-NXT feels like a smooth, tight woman's bottom covered in butter. It is _that_ good. It does take some getting used to as there are no flat spots in the center so you really have to develop a feel for where your hand is as the stick gives you no feedback til you start getting farther out and the tension starts increasing. The springs gradually increase the tension all the way to the edge of travel and at that point they are almost as tense as the stock Cougar. At the center though, there is hardly any tension at all giving you amazing accuracy with it once you learn to control it.

I can confirm from personal experience that the following work:

WH stick on FCC mod Cougar base
WH stick on stock Cougar base
Cougar stick on WH base

What may not work is a WH stick on a U2NXT base. I don't have an U2, so I can't confirm but I have read multiple people say that it didn't fit/work. I guess IJ just used a slightly different connector or something.