In the beginning, I had a horrible stick that felt awful, and made my flight experience horrible. Then I used this one and haven't gone back.Likes:Precision: The joystick works well out of the box and is really precise. The most important axes for precision aiming in flight are pitch and yaw. Rolling is less important, but I am glad the roll axis works great as well. Before this stick, I thought we had entered an era where manufacturers were purposely making products to irritate internet pilot enthusiasts.The Layout: The design of this stick closely follows that of the A-10 and F-16, and it works pretty well for whatever sticking functions you want to put on it. I map firing, targeting, and weapon selection on this stick. When not in VR, I use the 8-way pov to look around and the red button on top to reset my look. The throttle wheel on the left side of the base is a nice dial for scanning frequencies, or adjusting radar range. If you don't have a throttle, it could do that too.Drivers: You don't need any. Configure the stick in-game. It just works.Dislikes:CH Control Manager software is no longer supported for windows 10 and has unfortunately begun to malfunction if installed on a Windows 10 machine, but that has nothing to do with the quality of this stick. Just don't install Control Manager--seriously.There is a considerable amount of jitter at different parts of the throttle wheel and could be really irritating if you were actually using it to control speed. The main stick does not seem to be effected by this, and thankfully so.The nature of potentiometer hardware: Jitter increases over time as the pot begins to wear out. Unfortunately, you will eventually see the stick pots wear out, but I doubt that will happen for at least a decade or so of use. I have had this one for six years and it works fine. Also, if you are tech savvy, you can replace or clean the pots for pretty cheap, if you know what you are doing.Conclusion:Even though the software does not work, and potentiometers can have jitter and wear out. This stick works really well and does not have much drift or jitter to the sticking side of things. As far as the throttle, well, I wouldn't use it as a throttle anyway. Overall, want a precision stick? Tired of using crappy products that cost three times as much or more? Buy this stick, or the Fighterstick, and you won't regret it. It will definitely improve your experience.

I looked for about 6 months for a good stick and couldn't be happier! I'm writing this review as a first time CH product user.I searched, searched....and searched for a good quality joystick/throttle/HOTAS set up. I usually like to keep it professional and not knock other brands out there - but I looked at the Saitek X52 Pro, Saitek X55 Rhino, Logitech G940, and the Thrustmaster's Warthog. Every single one had some good reviews, and more mixed to bad reviews, some more than others. I was not able to find one that had a almost perfect and overall good review. I was sick and tired of seeing bad reviews on cheap parts, quality control issues, bad quality in general, compatibility, customer service; and yes even the pricey Warthog was not without faults based on it's reviews. I found this unacceptable and aggravating given the prices of some of these HOTAS, shame on them! Ironically, I kept skipping over the CH Joystick/Throttle due to it's outdated appearance, it looks like a blast to 1980s gaming. Desperation led me to check it out and read forums and reviews on it. To my surprise, it had the some of the best. It ranked best (in user reviews) in terms of price, customer service, quality, functionality, durability, and customization. It was difficult to find a bad review; so I bought one. I'm not disappointed!PROS:+Super smooth tension - very light on the touch for very precise movements!+Joystick is VERY accurate and detects even the slightest movement+High quality THICK plastic+Buttons feel thick and high quality (does not feel like they would wear or break)+Scroll wheels on the base to quickly and easily adjust trim+Programming software it comes with cannot be beat! You can make any button do what you want it to do+Can easily adjust it's X-Y sensitivity with the software+You can write scripts in the software (i.e. "At 100% throttle = press button "32" (Close Airbrakes) (Note: This is not a copy/past script, just an example to show functionality)+Thick single 7ft USB plug in (Don't have to connect it to a throttle to work like some other HOTAS)+Does not require drivers, simply plug-n-play+Decent weight+Has a pinky button to act as a "S***" button to double all button functionality. However, you can change this to ANY button you want if you desire+Easily combined with any other Throttles/Joysticks without conflict due to it's own single USB plug-n-play (i.e you could use 2+ joysticks/throttles on a single game and have each do what you want)I am SO glad I decided to go with this joystick and not the others that seem to be just plastic cheap eyecandy with lights, ready to break. That said, being this is a review, I'll provide my negatives - although in no-way do I feel these to be a deal-breakerCONS:-Joystick is large and seems to be made for larger hands. I have to awkwardly move my hand from the base upwards to reach the top left red button on the face of the stick.-The weight almost seems on the borderline of too light and just right. I know I mentioned this as a pro, however depending upon where your using the stick, it may be too light, and in other positions it may be just fine. However, take this con with a grain of salt, it's got weight but I would've like to see just a wee bit more.-The deadzone of the stick is "catchy". In other words, if you're pulling 5% pitch or roll and you're moving through the 0% (deadzone) to advance to -5%, there's a "catch" in the middle deadzone in which acts as a middle-point stopper for the deadzone. However, it's very light and was very easy to get used to to. My other joystick (a cheap Logitech 3D pro) would fluently move from +5% roll/pitch, through the deadzone to a -5% roll/pitch, without you ever feeling the middle deadzone of the stick. Ironically, this can also be a PRO being it allows you to easily detect the center of the stick being this one is much more sensitive than my ol' Logitech 3D pro.OVERALL:For anyone out there looking for a good, high quality, durable, customizable, and affordable stick look no further! You've found it! Get past the 1980s look and buy it! I initially thought this thing was out-dated due to it's looks. I was wrong. I later learned the company CH Products makes joysticks and controls for a variety of professional industries, thus; you can expect high quality from this stick. The reason it's not "flashy" and "high-tech" is because the company makes functional and reliable products - they don't care about it's looks. They care about it's functionality...and they hit bulls-eye!

As a licensed pilot, I never got used to the unnatural motion of joysticks that use a twist handle for rudder functions in flight sims. When I finally gave in to the purchase of a set of CH-Pro rudder pedals, and had to replace my twitchy and inaccurate joystick, I re-visited the CH product line of joysticks and ended up purchasing the 568 Combat Stick. This is a smooth, rock-solid product with enough handle functions to satisfy most who fly propeller sims. Well-built. A quality feel. No centering issues. Having two axis-trim-wheels built into the base is a plus. Those with very small hands might feel they have to stretch to reach all the buttons on the large handle. If you elect to use the suggested CH Control Manager software that many pilots use with this product, expect a challenge, though there is plenty of online help available. Not flashy looking like many of its competitors, but a rock-solid and smoothly operating product that feels like it can go the distance.