[Review] Saitek Aviator

[Krpano]

Hey, me again.

It took me a while to post about the Aviator.

But here it goes.

Well, the box looks like this.

The contents.

Manual - CD with drivers and Saitek Application - hand rest (not sure if its called like this) - Joystick

Back side

4 two-way toggle switches and 3 pos. knob

Front side

Dual throttles

I dont know what they mean !

Top part...

Rapid fire trigger - 4 buttons (one has a cover protection) - 8-way ‘point-of-view’ hat switch

...

Here with the protection raised. The button glows red when connected.

The hand rest...

I dont get it, why it doesnt come fixed.

...

The rest is too low. You wont be able to reach the hat switch properly while your had is beign supported by the rest.

Pros:

- Nice look

- Kind cheap, got mine for 50 CHF (about 46 USD)

- Precise joystick, the throttle is robust and has 2 of them. Which means you can control left/right side of the plane individually

- The twist for the rudders feels strong too, not something that breaks easily.

- The 4 two-way toggle switches and the red knob at the center are a plus.

Cons:

- Extremelly light joystick.

- Short USB cable.

- Has a cheap feeling when touching it, due the lightness.

- Hand rest is too low.

- The 4 two-way toggle switches and the red knob are kind hard to get used, specially with IL2 game. Didnt use the stick with any other game anyway.***

*** This 4 two-way toggle switches and red knob.

Its kind of odd.

For ex.: If you set the red knob (which has OFF/A/B positions) to the engine (in IL2). The A position wont turn the engine ON, you need to move the knob all way to the B position. Then if you die and you are in B and you refly, you have to move the knob to OFF to start the engine. SO sometimes you will find yourself flying on OFF, lol.

The 4 two-way toggle switches. Well, before buying it i thought they were like real toogles switches(you move up and it stays up). But no, you move up and it returns to the middle position.

So here is one problem i have: I use one for LANDGEAR UP, so i move the switch up to retract the landgear but like i said they wont stay UP, so you never know if your landgear is up or down without looking at the exterior of the plane.

Maybe i just need to get used to it.

I dont use the saytek software, just configure everything directly with IL2.

So far im satisfied with this stick.

But as soon as i move to a bigger apartment ill be getting the X52.

Even tho the Aviator has lots of buttons, you still need to use the keyboard.

So my final note would be 7/10

[instant.human]

to be perfectly honest, i didnt even think about joysticks for YEARS... i thought they were... dead or something. ;)

but thats a nice review, nevertheless. =)

[Yusuf M. Veteran]

Excellent review. The joystick looks very cheap. The exposed spring just seals the deal on how cheap it looks.

[HawkMan]

I dont use the saytek software, just configure everything directly with IL2.

That's probably why the toggle switch don't work as you expect it to. it's also probably mean to shift joystick modes. i.e A and B modes changing the buttons to different mapings.

If I where to buy a new flgihtstick I'd buythe big one with separate throwwtle though, I used to have a F16 FLCS and TQS back in the days, or rather I still do, but they're analog and, well....

[Krpano]

Thanks guys.

@ HawkMan

I think you are right.

Anyway, now im used that way...

[Skulltrail-old]

to be perfectly honest, i didnt even think about joysticks for YEARS... i thought they were... dead or something. ;)

Agreed. This joystick looks rather cheap though...

Saitek wasn't necessarily known for joysticks. More like mice.