Unpacking the Warthog

The Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog arrived today.

The package as received

Outer wrapping paper removed. 

The 'core' is packed very nicely in 'big bubble' bubble packing paper

Bubble wrapping paper removed.

Outer box of the Warthog. 

The box is labeled for delivery in India, of a product manufactured in China, sold to me by a US company. 

The 'Inner Box'

I'm already excited.

Two inner boxes containing the throttle and stick

Inner cartons unpacked

Unpacking the 'Stick' carton

Opening the 'Throttle Carton'

Oouch! 

The throttle thermocole-foam packing is damaged 

(I repaired the damage with transparent scotch tape before repacking the throttle)

Throttle unpacked and unwrapped.

The build quality is stupendous. Feel of buttons is just 'awesome'.

Driving the Hornet on boat is going to be fun. I know that already.

Hotas Warthog

The 'Stick' unpacked but not unwrapped. 

I am going to leave unwrapping to when I install the stick in my pit. 

For the time being, my Saitek X-52 Pro will stay on duty.

More images, just so that I remember to repack the stick when I will have to move house, which I inevitably will have to. Soon.

Measuring dimensions for cutouts in the pit panels.

New Stick

This was something, that had been in my "thoughts" for a long long time.

I have had a 'Saitek X-52 Pro' flight control system with Saitek Pro Rudder Pedals. Been using the X-52 for more than four years now and the rudder pedals for a little over an year. 

Though, I'm more than happy with the existing stick, but it is beginning to show age. I have to be careful with the connectors (the weakest link of X52). The stick has two 'detents' (idle and afterburner). Due to prolonged use and fair wear and tear, the afterburner detent has now withered away.

I had been considering a new stick for my pit for quite some time. Most pit builders have used Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog for their builds. 

The stick was released commercially sometime in 2010 and had been a 'must have' item on my list since then. I didn't consider this earlier, since it wasn't readily available in India. 

Found an Indian website today, that had this stick in stock. It was almost an 'impulse' decision, and I decided to buy it. 

"Warthog" is the best commercially available flight control system as on date. It's officially licensed by USAF. The immersion this stick provides can't get any better.