CH products has enjoyed a reputation for solid full featured joysticks. the newest addition to their line, the Jane's F-16 Combatstick, is no exception ! Should we owners of the original Combatstick trade up to the new and improved model? That's what I set out to discover.

The original Flightstick Pro was a great joystick that combined the features of a 4 way HAT, 4 buttons, and a throttle slider all in one affordable unit. The drawbacks echoed by many was the lack of the multiple button press ( slewing the HAT and firing at the same time being a prime example ) along with the unauthentic look to the stick. The release of the F-16 Combatstick addressed the latter issue with a beautiful design with excellent grip along with the addition of a second 4-way HAT and two extra buttons. CH did their homework to make one of the best non-programmable standalone joysticks on the market today. This is a great package with the base throttle wheel that allowed for the addition of rudder pedals and a separate throttle system. The multiple button press was still absent however. CH went on to release the fully programmable Fighterstick along with the companion throttle systems ( base and Pro ) to compliment both these excellent sticks.

Enter the Jane's F-16 Combatstick. Packaged with the ATF Gold version of the popular game, the stick itself has been reworked. Recently I had the opportunity to test both versions of the Combatstick side by side with both the original Flightstick Pro and the latest F-16 Fighterstick along with for comparison. The results, though predictable, showed what minor change can do. The easiest way to sum up the Jane's version is to combine the original Combatstick handle on the base of the Fighterstick optimized for use with the Pro-Throttle. That says it all !

Along with the larger base of the Fighterstick with the larger throttle wheel, stronger springs and tougher gimbals, you get a small base switch specifically for use with the Pro-Throttle. This allows the use of the multiple button press, effectively solving the original drawback ( minor in my opinion ) of the lack of this feature. The Jane's stick is optimized for use with the throttle. Though it is an excellent standalone stick like the earlier version, your maximum performance boost comes from this combination. Unlike the Fighterstick/Pro-Throttle combination, you will not get as many programmable functions yet the amount of these should satisfy even the most demanding simmer.

CH has told me they will continue to offer the Jane's Combatstick alongside the existing Combatstick in their marketing line up. Should you move up to the new Jane's version if you already have the Combatstick ? In my opinion, no. There is not enough variation to warrant the purchase of this stick if you already own one. Should you choose the Janes variant if you are looking for a new stick and have the chance to purchase either ? That depends. If the cost difference is minimal, by all means purchase the new Jane's stick over the original F-16 Combatstick. If your goal is to add the Pro-Throttle, again go for the new Jane's stick. If you have no desire to add a separate throttle, and you have ATF Gold, the choice is clear: choose the original F-16 Combatstick.

These are excellent joysticks for either the beginner or advanced flight sim enthusiast. They will give you excellent service and are backed by a great company. The choice is yours to make !

CH Products Inc, hardware for virtual pilots

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Last Updated August 30th, 1997