What a bummer. Just out of curiostity, was it the pro version or the base x52 (before it was reconstructed into pro) with this problem ?

I've had an x52 pro and x52 for 7 years and 2 years respectively and never had any of these issues.

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/

I'm sold based on the springs alone. It's taken waaaaaayyyy too long for high end HOTAS to feature adjustable physical axis response.

Also, the stick mounting mechanism looks to possibly pave the way for swappable sticks, like Thrustmaster promised and never delivered (twice, for those keeping score). Saitek is big on the accessorizing, so it could actually happen here...

Plus, the throttle looks awesome, and the switches look functional. Way more useful than the LCD screen on the previous mid-level HOTAS from Saitek, and not a cheep gimic to get you to buy the Saitek Panels like on the X-65.

Day one customer here.

Yeah I'm thinking of getting this too, comptroller funding approval need though.

This thing looks badass.

All of the X-52's we bought were vanilla X-52 (non-pro one).
I didnt realize until now that there is actually a hardware difference between vanilla and pro version.
It seems like the pro version has two hall sensors for main XY axis.



It is actually really good HOTAS stick to start with if it works perfectly fine considering the low price it offers compared to other expensive one.

The rotaries in my X52 are getting worn out/glitchy and I've always wanted a replacement with more analogous controls plus mode-switches (like the 3-way switches on this one), but the X65 has always felt overpiced for my needs.

This one looks spot on! Very likely day-1 customer here.

Only thing that miffs me a bit is the lack of *buttons* on the stick (3 buttons + trigger + pinkie), since when for example flying WW2 games/sims you often have one trigger for machine guns, one for cannons, one for bombs, and one for rockets (instead of just gun trigger and pickle). Losing the two-stage trigger doesn't really help with that either.

Is not need a exclusive button to drop bombs - if you do a sucessful jabo mission you use this button only a half second...

Taking this X-55 as example, a possible combination:

Trigger = MGs
Left shoulder button = Cannon
Red button (above left HAT) = Rockets
Red button + pickle (acting as modifier) = Bombs.

And previous Saitek HOTAS have two stage trigger...

And plus this have 3 mode available.

Looking at other HOTAS on maket they dont offer more press buttons on stick (only HATs).

Sokol1

I'm a very satisfied WARTHOG customer but I am liking the looks of this X-55. The F-16 style grip and the well-decked-out-but-not-cramped throttle look mighty inviting. Nicely done, Saitek.

Ive never had a problems with lack of buttions for bombs on my ch pro fighter stick, and I used to fly il2 quite a lot.

Just comparing to the "weapons release" button in modern planes. *If* the stick can be programmed well enough one could use the 3-way switches to modify the input to give realistic weapons release functionality, but since most WW2 games/sims don't natively support that it is completely up to the software for the stick (which I certainly hope is better than the current one for the X52).

Sims for more modern planes tend to natively have the weapons release functionality so for those it solves itself.

So yeah, I still believe the layout on the joystick (and throttle. Holy crap that's a lot of things for the thumb, while the fingers have nothing to do) could have been done better. The overall shape and all seems nice. Just wish they moved one hat from the top to the thumb, and put a couple of buttons in its place.


Hope the price will be low though. The use of pots instead of Hall sensors in almost everything isn't fantastic news, and they really need to stay a good chunk down from the Warthog in price to be properly competitive.

Did you notice on the stick says X55F? If only...

I might guess Saitek learned from the X65F's mistakes and are correcting them with this one:

* Pickle button not in the way anymore while manipulating Hats
* Keep the Throttle layout which everyone praise, and add button in the base (like the competition)
* If they keep with the force sensing, and add movement, this would be stick nirvana, hence the F on the stick's logo!!

keeping my fingers crossed, I was this close to buying an X65F, now i'm just waiting.

It is clearly not a Force Sensing stick setup. The "F" suffix on the designator has been used in earlier Saitek HOTAS sets (ie. X36F) that did not use force sensing. They stated they are using hall sensors on the X & Y axis of the stick, so it is definitely not a force sensing setup. That's actually a good thing, as they need to serve a larger niche.

On either CIG's or these forums, somebody compared the descriptions on the Throttle for the X-55 to their X-65 and concluded that something was different on the layout of the grip controls. I don't remember specifically what it was.

If you really want Force Sensing and can live without the movement in exchange for keeping the cost down, then you better jump on an X-65F while you can. It appears that Saitek has stopped making them (Madactz.com doesn't show the item as available any more when you search U.S. Sellers on their site). The lowest price I'm seeing at the moment in the U.S. is www.tigerdirect.com at $309.26.

If you really want Force Sensing with the small amount of movement (ala a real F-16 style), then you're looking at a much bigger hit to your wallet... To do it all new, you're looking at a Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog (or just the stick, if you don't want the throttle), and then the 3rd party FSSB R3. http://www.realsimulator.com/html/fssb_r3_warthog.html

FWIW, neither have I (had any problem with XY calibration). And I've had my pro for ~4 years.

Guys there is a deal going on at https://www.massdrop.com/vote/saitek-x55-rhino-hotas-system-for-pc

About 32 guys from the DCS forums have jumped on board - we need another 168 people and we could qualify for discounts of up to 42%

Anyone know if it's going to be a twisty stick? Looks nice but really don't need a twist rudder.

It has a rudder twist, but you could always leave that axis unassigned.

True but you still have that instability. Maybe they will put a lock to stop that.

They usually have that option. The x52 did from memory.