Built by Thrustmaster as a spiritual successor to the highly successful Cougar HOTAS (Hands On Throttle And Stick), the Thrustmaster Warthog is a perfect replica of the HOTAS installed on the new iteration of the USAF's premiere tank killer, the A-10C.
The HOTAS is named after the nickname pilots gave to the aircraft when it was first unveiled.
INTRODUCTION
Like the Cougar (a F-16 HOTAS replica) the Warthog Control Column and PCL (Power Control Lever) are built in metal, but the Warthog features a series of switches and buttons on the PCL base to operate engines, autopilot and few other functions of the simulated aircraft without having to rely on the keyboard.
Both elements of the HOTAS feature a sturdy and heavy base with screw holes for cockpit builders and the large Control Column platform can be removed for better fitting; the base provides a very stable solution for those unable to fix the Control Column to a surface even during the hardest turns.
The Control Column is attached to the base via a 4-pin miniDIN connector and secured via a large screw; the miniDIN and the screw are the same of the Cougar and the Control Columns can be exchanged, though the Warthog Control Column has one extra button that won't be recognized when installed on a Cougar base.
As the Warthog features a new, more precise mechanism that is also less prone to lose precision over time, the benefits for the Cougar stick are obvious.
Using the Warthog Control Column on a Cougar base would seem pointless, but the Cougar had (and still has) a very active modding community and such users would want to test the Warthog with a force-sensing Cougar base instead on the usual “swinging” movement.
General views of the Control Column
The PCL base is more compact but considerably heavier (slightly more than 3kg) as it features a new up/down mechanism to set engines in idle and afterburner.
The concept is simple: at minimum MIL power, the user has to pull up the PCL to move it in idle position, a setting impossible to attain without the pulling movement. To get the PCL back to min-max MIL power, the PCL is simply moved forward and when out of the idling area, it automatically returns to the down position and the idle position can only be accessed by pulling the PCL up. Same goes for the afterburner position, virtual pilots have to pull the PCL up to set engines to reheat. As the A-10C does not have an afterburner, Thrustmaster made possible to remove this detent with a very simple operation:below a dust cover between the PCL supports there's a T-shaped piece that can be move forward and backward to activate or deactivate the afterburner detent. The afterburner detent is disabled by default and the idle detent cannot be removed.
As the PCL recreates the A-10C layout, there is no dedicated radar scanner elevation wheel on the front side, but its role can be simulated via a “mouse” multidirectional ministick on the left of the slew switch.
General views of the PCL.
PCL around 50% power; left throttle at min MIL power, right throttle at max power (no afterburner detent installed); left throttle in idle position.
Each HOTAS component requires a dedicated USB port; I doubt that they max out the bandwidth even with the advertised 16 and 14 bit precision movements - it's a common “problem” with all Thrustmaster products, even their MFD replicas need one USB port each. However this let the user combine PCLs and Control Columns as he/she sees fit.
HANDS-ON IMPRESSIONS
Let's start with the PCL.
The two throttles can be separated by operating a spring-loaded lever on the leftmost throttle's front side.
Throttles' friction can be adjusted via a dial on the upper section of the base; it takes five full rotations to get to max stiffness; by default the PCL at the minimum stiffness.
The left throttle features a three stage switch on the right side and a single button on the front.
The rightmost throttles as a 8 way slew switch and “mouse emulator” on the front side. The left side has a 8 way COM switch and three two positions rocker switches.
The base features controls for the autopilot (three positions switch plus button), RADALT and EAC switches (two positions).
On the PCL left side there's the flap switch (three positions); on the right side there's a slider, landing gear horn silencer (button), APU switch and two engine fuel flow switches (all two positions); between these there are two switches dedicated to engine operation; they have two “rest” positions plus a third “temporary” position for engine ignition.
The PCL is rather big, with the hand resting evenly between the two throttles reaching the bottom rocker switch is kinda hard, however the leftmost throttle switches aren't heavily used when piloting an A-10C. Most times the left hand will grab the rightmost throttle to have full access to the rocker switches there with the throttles linked together.
The PCL is easily the best and funniest part of the HOTAS to use, the switches have a great tactile and audio feedback; at the standard friction setting the throttles offer little resistance while still delivering great precision in power control.
The only “bad” thing is that the base lights up in green when plugged in and there is no direct lighting control on the unit itself, it must be set via software.
PCL detail. 1: COM switch; 2: airbrake rocker switch; 3: "boat" switch; 4: "china" switch; 5: slew switch; 6: "mouse emulator" 7: pinky button 8: throttle decoupling lever; 9: pinky switch
Base without the two throttles. The five white dots are customizable LEDs; the topmost dial is to adjust PCL friction.
Hand resting on both throttles: thumb can reach the "boat" switch; hand resting on the left throttle: thumb can operate the "china" switch too.
The Control Column is a more standard affair.
The trigger is a two stage design with a rather long run between the two stages: the first is triggered with a light press, the second requires a full depression. On the opposite side there is a normal button, a 8 way trim switch and two 4 way switches. Below this group, on the left side there's an additional four way switch.
The base of the Control Column has an other button (operated by the little finger). The last button is positioned on the front side of the Control Column and can be depressed by operating on a metal lever. This button is intended to emulate the autopilot switch on many other HOTAS and when in a A-10C can be used as a shift button.
A small but comfortable hand rest is modeled onto the Column's bottom part, just above the miniDIN connector.
When grabbing the Control Column all buttons are within reach of the designated finger. All buttons and switches near the trim and the lateral 4 way switch can be accessed with the thumb; the trigger and the Master Mode button with the index; the little finger operates the bottom buttons.
The Control Column is attached to a self-centering base constrained with a proprietary 5 coil spring system: this new mechanism is wonderfully precise and the stick never fails to return in its neutral position even after the hardest movements.
Control Column handling
Upper quadrant detail. 1:weapon release button; 2: trim switch (LWD and RWD stand for Left Wing Down and Right Wing Down respectively); 3: Target Management Switch; 4: Data Management Switch.
Trigger stages: standing by; first stage; second stage
The HOTAS is named after the nickname pilots gave to the aircraft when it was first unveiled.
INTRODUCTION
Like the Cougar (a F-16 HOTAS replica) the Warthog Control Column and PCL (Power Control Lever) are built in metal, but the Warthog features a series of switches and buttons on the PCL base to operate engines, autopilot and few other functions of the simulated aircraft without having to rely on the keyboard.
Both elements of the HOTAS feature a sturdy and heavy base with screw holes for cockpit builders and the large Control Column platform can be removed for better fitting; the base provides a very stable solution for those unable to fix the Control Column to a surface even during the hardest turns.
The Control Column is attached to the base via a 4-pin miniDIN connector and secured via a large screw; the miniDIN and the screw are the same of the Cougar and the Control Columns can be exchanged, though the Warthog Control Column has one extra button that won't be recognized when installed on a Cougar base.
As the Warthog features a new, more precise mechanism that is also less prone to lose precision over time, the benefits for the Cougar stick are obvious.
Using the Warthog Control Column on a Cougar base would seem pointless, but the Cougar had (and still has) a very active modding community and such users would want to test the Warthog with a force-sensing Cougar base instead on the usual “swinging” movement.
General views of the Control Column
The PCL base is more compact but considerably heavier (slightly more than 3kg) as it features a new up/down mechanism to set engines in idle and afterburner.
The concept is simple: at minimum MIL power, the user has to pull up the PCL to move it in idle position, a setting impossible to attain without the pulling movement. To get the PCL back to min-max MIL power, the PCL is simply moved forward and when out of the idling area, it automatically returns to the down position and the idle position can only be accessed by pulling the PCL up. Same goes for the afterburner position, virtual pilots have to pull the PCL up to set engines to reheat. As the A-10C does not have an afterburner, Thrustmaster made possible to remove this detent with a very simple operation:below a dust cover between the PCL supports there's a T-shaped piece that can be move forward and backward to activate or deactivate the afterburner detent. The afterburner detent is disabled by default and the idle detent cannot be removed.
As the PCL recreates the A-10C layout, there is no dedicated radar scanner elevation wheel on the front side, but its role can be simulated via a “mouse” multidirectional ministick on the left of the slew switch.
General views of the PCL.
PCL around 50% power; left throttle at min MIL power, right throttle at max power (no afterburner detent installed); left throttle in idle position.
Each HOTAS component requires a dedicated USB port; I doubt that they max out the bandwidth even with the advertised 16 and 14 bit precision movements - it's a common “problem” with all Thrustmaster products, even their MFD replicas need one USB port each. However this let the user combine PCLs and Control Columns as he/she sees fit.
HANDS-ON IMPRESSIONS
Let's start with the PCL.
The two throttles can be separated by operating a spring-loaded lever on the leftmost throttle's front side.
Throttles' friction can be adjusted via a dial on the upper section of the base; it takes five full rotations to get to max stiffness; by default the PCL at the minimum stiffness.
The left throttle features a three stage switch on the right side and a single button on the front.
The rightmost throttles as a 8 way slew switch and “mouse emulator” on the front side. The left side has a 8 way COM switch and three two positions rocker switches.
The base features controls for the autopilot (three positions switch plus button), RADALT and EAC switches (two positions).
On the PCL left side there's the flap switch (three positions); on the right side there's a slider, landing gear horn silencer (button), APU switch and two engine fuel flow switches (all two positions); between these there are two switches dedicated to engine operation; they have two “rest” positions plus a third “temporary” position for engine ignition.
The PCL is rather big, with the hand resting evenly between the two throttles reaching the bottom rocker switch is kinda hard, however the leftmost throttle switches aren't heavily used when piloting an A-10C. Most times the left hand will grab the rightmost throttle to have full access to the rocker switches there with the throttles linked together.
The PCL is easily the best and funniest part of the HOTAS to use, the switches have a great tactile and audio feedback; at the standard friction setting the throttles offer little resistance while still delivering great precision in power control.
The only “bad” thing is that the base lights up in green when plugged in and there is no direct lighting control on the unit itself, it must be set via software.
PCL detail. 1: COM switch; 2: airbrake rocker switch; 3: "boat" switch; 4: "china" switch; 5: slew switch; 6: "mouse emulator" 7: pinky button 8: throttle decoupling lever; 9: pinky switch
Base without the two throttles. The five white dots are customizable LEDs; the topmost dial is to adjust PCL friction.
Hand resting on both throttles: thumb can reach the "boat" switch; hand resting on the left throttle: thumb can operate the "china" switch too.
The Control Column is a more standard affair.
The trigger is a two stage design with a rather long run between the two stages: the first is triggered with a light press, the second requires a full depression. On the opposite side there is a normal button, a 8 way trim switch and two 4 way switches. Below this group, on the left side there's an additional four way switch.
The base of the Control Column has an other button (operated by the little finger). The last button is positioned on the front side of the Control Column and can be depressed by operating on a metal lever. This button is intended to emulate the autopilot switch on many other HOTAS and when in a A-10C can be used as a shift button.
A small but comfortable hand rest is modeled onto the Column's bottom part, just above the miniDIN connector.
When grabbing the Control Column all buttons are within reach of the designated finger. All buttons and switches near the trim and the lateral 4 way switch can be accessed with the thumb; the trigger and the Master Mode button with the index; the little finger operates the bottom buttons.
The Control Column is attached to a self-centering base constrained with a proprietary 5 coil spring system: this new mechanism is wonderfully precise and the stick never fails to return in its neutral position even after the hardest movements.
Control Column handling
Upper quadrant detail. 1:weapon release button; 2: trim switch (LWD and RWD stand for Left Wing Down and Right Wing Down respectively); 3: Target Management Switch; 4: Data Management Switch.
Trigger stages: standing by; first stage; second stage
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