Just found this on facebook

Here's the stick


Here's the throttle


No FFB though guys but there's more info at http://www.saitek.com/x55/

Yeah i'm really curious how they're going to price it but i think they really messed up. This is bound to be more expensive than the X-52 Pro (currently ~200EUR) which means it gets way too close to the Thrustmaster Warthog (300EUR) for it's own good.

Apparently like in X-52 they only put Hall effect sensors on the x/y stick axis. So i can't see how you would choose this over the Warthog HOTAS if it's not priced significantly lower (i'm talking X-52pro range which won't happen what with the mecanical switches and the dual throttle). Also very likely it won't have the same solid feel but who knows.

With no force feedback HOTAS on the market i was hoping Saitek would think to cover that but no, they went with this. Also with pots on all but 2 axes (at least that's how i read the info page).

The throttle looks interesting and i like the separate cables for the stick and throttle but i don't like this product.

I like the look of it, I think. I did like my X52.

Interesting, seems that stick allow change coils.

And throttle offer more rotaries that the "dejavù" F-"something" designs.

Sokol 1

curious, for x-65 owners and this new x-55, which 'buttons' used for trims?







lucky you, in this part of the world, X-52 pro is around $175 while the warthog... *drums sounds* at $650! lol.

Vertical spring with the plastic ring at the bottom of the spring that runs along the base = bad design. After about 3 months of heavy use an X-52 will stick when you try to move it and I doubt this is much different. Good luck getting anything smooth. No thanks.

Yep, +1 on the skepticism on the spring design. Throttle looks good though, a cross between the Cougar and WH throttle. Obviously the stick is an F-16 stick.

It's pretty surprising that there's no viable replacement for the MS FFB2 on the market.

I don't consider the G940 since it has been discontinued and, in any case, was dogged by poor design/component choice/quality control.

I just got a 2nd hand WH which I love (esp. since I've extended the handle à la Gardena mod), but I do miss the FFB effects. I'm not prepared to sacrifice my two MS FFBs and my Warthog though that would be ideal...
I'd love it if CH took a swing at created a high-end FFB stick.

They were the first

And you have "luck", in this "corneroftheworld" is >500$ for X-52 and 1000/1200$ for Warthog...

People scary with plastic parts should look inside Warthog gimbal...
http://www.dodaj.rs/f/21/SO/HFvjAET/dsc00251.jpg
http://www.dodaj.rs/f/U/q/1Gf7pSr4/dsc00248.jpg

Sokol1

Yeah... I don't know. There are two things where this HOTAS kicks Warthog's ass. Rotaries, specially for mixture/prop pitch in old birds, and radar cursor control for a modern sims. Not a day goes by in which I don't wish the Warthog had those two things.

The rest, like all other Saitek sticks, so-so. Good bang for the buck IF they make it cheaper, otherwise there's no point IMO.

What intrigues me most is the mention of new Saitek drivers and software, because it's about time SST got put to pasture!

They NEED to compete with T.A.R.G.E.T. and the Control Manager, because the software is a big reason I recommend TM and CH above all else. If it winds up being backwards-compatible with existing Saitek equipment such as their rudder pedals, Pro Flight instruments, X-52 Pro and X-65F, all the better!

However, I also expect much better construction this time around. The X-52 Pro used a lot of cheap plastic in its construction, down to very sloppy gimbals that I had to shim so there wasn't so much annoying play, which the magnet mod to fix the axis linearity will ruthlessly reveal and throw you off at times if you shift the handle the wrong way.

I'm also hoping that they don't continue the X-65F regression to a single-stage trigger, because the A-10C really benefits from first-stage PAC and I rely on dual stages for switching into/out of cannon mode on FC3 aircraft and the Ka-50.



If only the CH Force FX, you know, had a USB interface and Control Manager support...now that would be the ticket!

But no, we've still just got the SWFFB2, which while a good stick, is too simple for modern aircraft, particularly helicopters like the Ka-50 that really benefit from FFB due to DCS being pretty much the only sim with a proper force trim system in place (also present for fixed-wing aircraft).


You do realize that the Warthog's slew control beside the "coolie switch" on the right throttle, where your index and middle fingers rests, is meant to handle that function, right? It HAS that functionality, and it's better than the X-52 (Pro)'s crappy mouse mini-stick, too. (Never touched an X-65F throttle, but it seems to be a lot better there.)

On the flip side, I still prefer the Cougar and CH Pro Throttle slew sticks because they have a nice range of travel to them and are easier to work. The Warthog slew control is very touchy, but precise; I'm sure it would be better if it just had some more leverage. I should probably stick the end of a golf tee or something on it to provide that extra leverage.

Lack of rotaries are indeed a Warthog throttle disadvantage, though. I would've preferred TM to deviate from the A-10C design slightly, like they did with retaining a paddle switch on the stick meant for F-16C use and making the throttle's "friction lever" another analog axis, by putting the F-15 antenna elevation rotary on the left throttle. That would've helped a lot.

Yeah, that's the one I'm talking about. Its throw is just too short for any comfortable use as an axis. The X-65 is way better than the X-52 and Warthog in this regard because the ministick has a longer range of movement, so moving the cursor just a tiny bit is very doable.

And yeah, agree on the single stage trigger... I don't know what they were thinking.

Okay, so you knew it was there all along, just poorly implemented in physical design. Gotcha.

I still can't believe the single-stage trigger is still in place...they're already willing to re-tool the handle a little with the thumb fire button and TMS now being in their proper places, why not go the extra mile?

I'm interested in this to replace my X-52. I am also concerned about the single stage trigger, it's so useful in A10, and noticed here - http://saitek.com/x55/ - that it would appear that it is single stage (under features on the right it says trigger 1).

Edit: Just checked their twitter account and they have confirmed single stage.

I tried to get these folks to do that a while back.. Saitek FFB campaign and they came out with the X-65. don't understand why this is so hard for some to grasp... a solenoid can do things that no spring can do... If FFB features in sims were updated to include things like engine vibration etc.. in the throttle and the pedals it would be incredible and probably sell like hotcakes..

I know I'd buy one. Unfortunately it sounds like they've made it difficult to implement new FFB features in Windows for anything other than an XBOX controller.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectInput
[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DirectInput][/url]

then no buy from me.

also usefull for WW2 birds. 1st trigger guns, 2nd guns +cannon
Bummer

never used one so I'm confused, how do you able to fire the 2nd stage trigger weapon without firing the 1st stage?

You don't. You either set your 1st stage trigger up to do something you want to have happen in conjunction with whatever you have the 2nd stage doing (perhaps designate the target under the reticule), OR, you have SST profiler modes where the 1st stage isn't assigned anything... OR, you utilize the triggers where the simulator itself will ignore the first stage trigger's function because it isn't active under some circumstances. DCS Blackshark's cannon comes to mind as an example, IIRC. If you don't have the cannon selected in the cockpit switchology, then the first stage trigger attempting to shoot the cannon will not result in a shot. The second stage trigger can fire your missle without a cannon shot accompanying it.

But it appears that won't be a concern/option with the X-55, which seems poor choice on Saitek's part.