Thoughts on Winwing products?

[karm]

I was looking into purchasing one of the Winwing Orion2 HOTAS combos, either the F-16EX or F-18 (MAX) throttle base, now that my current HOTAS (an X56, clown on me please ) is starting to ghost like crazy and the throttle feeling like it'll rip off any second. My main takeaway is that I don't really have a great surface area to mount other stick and throttle systems onto, as where other competitors really emphasize it.

What are y'all's opinion(s) on the Orion2 or winwing in general? Any other alternatives to look into instead at its similar price points?

[®~V3T~©™]

good package, what i'm aiming for after the new year

[Gunfreak]

I think I can say with some authority here.
I have the F18 Taurus thorttle, F18 Super libra on extender, the combat and take off panels and the F16 Orion HOTAS.

All great stuff. Expecting the Orion 2 base with force sensing tomorrow for my F16 stick.
If you plan on flying several multiple engine planes, or flying ww2 planes the F18 split thorttle is the best option. The two thorttles makes controlling RPM and Boost/MP in warbirds easy.
I recommend getting proper table mounts from monstertech.

[trn3r]

If you love the Viper, you will love the Winwing 16EX as well.

Just some things to consider: even though it's a modular system, you really don't want to flip F16 and F18 throttle grips on the Orion 2 base often. It simply takes too much time to replace them.

Also you should know it is a very light-weight throttle base. So it is better to have it mounted, at least on some metal plate to get more weight. Otherwise it can easily tilt left and right all the time.

I don't regret having bought the F16EX, the only real critic I have is the MAN RNG knob. On the real Viper throttle it's just a cylinder. Winwing OTOH meant it too good by making it a thin wheel and on top a four directional button. They should have not. Because that made the MAN RNG knob a bit tricky to rotate. You get used to it, but it's not perfect.

[Undead Rufus]

I have the Orion 2 with the F-18 handle. At this point, I guess I've had it 8 or 9 months, using it maybe two or three times per week, and it still feels brand new. Sturdy, tons of buttons and switches, nice quality.

My only complaint so far is that I have to switch the unit to 4x32 mode in WinWing's SimAppPro software, in order to have it work in IL-2, and then switch it back again for DCS. That's an IL-2 problem, not a WinWing problem, but it's still an annoying extra step when I'm getting ready to fly.

I also second what Gunfreak wrote above. Unless you're planning on flying nothing but the F-16, the F-18 handle is usually the better option.

Two thumbs up for WW products.

[Gunfreak]

Originally posted by Undead Rufus:

I have the Orion 2 with the F-18 handle. At this point, I guess I've had it 8 or 9 months, using it maybe two or three times per week, and it still feels brand new. Sturdy, tons of buttons and switches, nice quality.

My only complaint so far is that I have to switch the unit to 4x32 mode in WinWing's SimAppPro software, in order to have it work in IL-2, and then switch it back again for DCS. That's an IL-2 problem, not a WinWing problem, but it's still an annoying extra step when I'm getting ready to fly.

I also second what Gunfreak wrote above. Unless you're planning on flying nothing but the F-16, the F-18 handle is usually the better option.

Two thumbs up for WW products.

I've tried to swich the unit, but it still dosn't work in IL2 for me, I have to use random axis to trim the plane as the trim hat dosn't work, my 3 position swiches on my take off panel dosn't work(panel dosn't have 4x32 mode.