Take Flight with the Saitek Aviator

Flightsim fans rejoice: Saitek has announced its Aviator high performance joystick with 3D twist and dual throttles.

If you’re the sort of person who takes flight simulation software very seriously—or the sort of person who wants to shoot down virtual enemies with as much verisimilitude as possible—you’ll be thrilled to learn game and peripheral maker Saitek has announced its new Aviator high-performance joystick for use with games and flight simulation software.

The Aviator sports a rugged, World War II-inspired design incorporating a rapid-response trigger, two fire buttons, an eight-way hat switch, and an illuminated rocket-fire button with safety cover. But the real marquee feature on the Aviator is a dual-throttle design: the throttles can be locked together when simulating a single-engine aircraft, but, unlocked, the dual throttle levers enable independent control of multiple engines when flying (say) a bomber, transport, or a modern multi-jet aircraft. The controls could also be assigned to an engine/flaps combination during takeoff or landing. Other unique features into a a 3D twist for precise rubber control, a front-mounted instrument panel with four toggle switches and a mode selector to quickly reconfigure controls to match specific flying scenarios.

“We are pleased to once again offer a product that was truly designed by gamers to offer maximum flight sim authenticity and control to flight sim enthusiasts in light of new flight sim titles scheduled for upcoming release,” said Mark Starrett, Saitek’s product marketing manager, in a statement. “Saitek’s Aviator represents a new direction in joystick design that is well-suited to the planes being flown on today’s PC Flight sims.”

The Aviator should be price at $39.95 when it hits shelves in the early fourth quarter of 2006.