Flight Stick · X-Plane 12
Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog MKII (Viper Stick + A-10C Dual Throttle)
- High-End
- Hall-effect sensors
- PC
- 36 buttons
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X-Plane 12 Performance Score
- Sensors30% 100
- Throttle & Rudder25% 76
- Build Quality15% 90
- Platforms15% 50
- Adjustability15% 63
Biggest contributor: sensors (30% of the score), rated 100/100. How we score
Verdict for X-Plane 12
The Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog MKII suits X-Plane 12 simmers flying military jets, with Hall-effect contactless sensors on the main axes that hold center when you roll out on the centerline. There's no twist rudder, so you'll need pedals, and the metal set is right-handed and heavy.
Updated October 2026
Pros & Cons for X-Plane 12
Strengths
- Hall-effect sensors (contactless magnetic sensors, so nothing rubs as the stick moves) keep the center steady, so the nose doesn't drift when you click off the autopilot and hand-fly the last mile to the runway.
- It comes with its own dual throttle unit, so you can set climb power and leave it there while you trim and watch the speed tape — at this price point most alternatives give you a small lever on the stick base instead of a separate metal throttle.
- With 36 programmable inputs and swappable grips, it fits simmers who fly fast jets and want flaps, speedbrake, trim and view changes under their thumbs; add rudder pedals and you have a full setup that grows with you.
Trade-offs
- There's no twist rudder, so taxiing the centerline and holding a crosswind landing straight both need rudder pedals — budget for a set, and remember the metal pair weighs about 6.5 kg (14 lb) together, so it wants a solid desk or proper mounts.
- Spring tension is fixed and the grip is right-handed only, so you can't soften the springs for a long hand-flown cruise or firm them up for close formation.
Full Specifications
- Sensors
- Hall effect (contactless)
- Throttle
- Its own throttle unit
- Rudder
- Needs rudder pedals
- Grip
- Right hand
- Spring tension
- Fixed
- Build
- Metal
- Buttons
- 36
- Works on
- PC
- Released
- 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a good Flight Stick for X-Plane 12?
Yes, and it scores 79.5/100 for X-Plane 12, mostly for simmers who spend their time in military jets. It shines when you want steady, contactless Hall-effect sensors on pitch and roll plus a separate throttle you can set and forget during the climb. It shows its limits if you fly light GA or airliners, where a yoke and a throttle quadrant suit the aircraft better, and where the lack of a twist rudder means pedals are not optional.
Is it worth the price for X-Plane 12?
For the money you get metal construction, contactless sensors on the main axes and a full dual throttle in one box, where a lot of sticks at this point are plastic with a lever bolted to the base. If you mainly fly airliners or small GA in X-Plane 12, a simpler stick or a yoke will serve you better, but for jets this is a lot of hardware for one purchase.
Which platforms does it work on?
It works on PC only, which lines up fine with X-Plane 12 since the sim runs on Windows PC and Mac and never came to Xbox or PS5, so console licensing is not a concern here. Plan on a Windows PC for it, and use X-Plane's controller page to assign every axis and button yourself rather than hunting for an official profile.
Do I need rudder pedals with it?
Yes, you need rudder pedals. There's no twist rudder on this stick and no pedals in the box, so there's nothing to lock out, and you'll want a set from day one for taxiing straight, holding the nose on the centerline in a crosswind landing and keeping a jet coordinated in a hard turn.
How should I configure this in X-Plane 12?
In X-Plane 12, open the controller setup first and check that pitch, roll and both throttle levers are assigned the way you expect before you fly. If the stick feels twitchy near center, add a small null zone (a dead zone, where tiny movements do nothing) and soften the response curve on pitch and roll; because the spring tension is fixed, shape the curve rather than fighting the springs, and map the two throttle levers to both engines on a twin or gang them to one throttle on a single.