// TOM'S HARDWARE US — HARDWARE & GADGET
Thrustmaster Airbus Add-On Grip with AVA Joystick Base Review: A First-Class Flight Experience
The Thrustmaster AVA Base paired with the Airbus Add-On Grip delivers almost everything we expect from a high-end flight stick, but the wobble in its standard configuration is unfortunate and requires dampers to fix, and its high cost may put it out of reach for many people.
Very similar ergonomically to the real Airbus sidestick
Stick wobbles due to lack of damping out of the box
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The past few years have been an exciting time for flight simulation hardware. Established brands and newcomers alike have introduced a wide range of new products, making it easier and more affordable than ever to build a capable home cockpit.
Thrustmaster has long been one of the leading names in flight simulation hardware. Its HOTAS Warthog has been a staple in home cockpits since its release, earning a reputation for its robust construction. In 2024, Thrustmaster introduced the AVA Joystick Base, bringing several notable improvements over the Warthog base. Until recently, however, there wasn't a dedicated Airbus grip compatible with the AVA base.
In this review, we'll be taking a look at the recently released Thrustmaster Airbus Add-On Grip paired with the AVA Joystick Base. We will put both the grip and the base to the test using the Fenix A320 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
The Airbus Add-on Grip contains the grip itself, the A400M module, and a button cover.
The AVA Base contains the joystick base, two sets of two cams (Aero and Jet), three sets of two springs (Soft, Medium, and Strong), three masks (Small, Medium, and XL), two Allen keys, and one detachable USB-C cable.
Thrustmaster also sent us an AVA Base Plate for easier desktop mounting, along with AVA Dual Pitch Cam. The Dual Pitch Cam contains two FBW (fly-by-wire) cams which are meant to simulate the sensation of a fly-by-wire aircraft.