Thrustmaster Warthog — Center Flight Stick Lower Mount Bracket Kit

Overview

The SimFab / OpenWheeler Center Flight Stick Lower Mount Bracket, Configuration #6, exists to move your flight stick off the desk and down between your legs — the center-stick position of a real cockpit. Put bluntly: this is for people who have already decided desk clamping is not enough.

It ships with mounting plates pre-drilled for Thrustmaster Warthog, F-16C Viper HOTAS, F/A-18 grips, VirPil, VKB, and WinWing bases, and sets the stick base plate anywhere from 140-420 mm above the floor.

It sits in the mid-to-high-end tier of sim accessories. Where a generic clamp just aims to hold the stick still, this bracket aims to define your flying posture.

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Why Center-Mount at All

A desk-mounted stick always ends up beside your body. That is correct for side-stick aircraft like the A-10C or F-16, but the F/A-18, F-15, most warbirds, and most GA aircraft use a center stick.

Moving the stick to the centerline changes the relationship between your elbow pivot and wrist rotation, making roll and pitch inputs easier to separate. This matters most with a grip extension fitted, where a desk mount often pushes the grip so high that your shoulder rides up.

The span is 140-420 mm. The low end suits a reclined racing-seat position; the high end suits an ordinary office chair or an extension-equipped grip.

The correct setting depends on seat height, leg length, and grip length, so expect some trial and error after it arrives.

Compatibility Guide

The plates are pre-drilled to each brand's bolt pattern, so no measuring or drilling is normally required. The bracket works with or without a grip extension, and vertical position can be retuned later.

Two constraints matter more than the brand list. First, this is a lower bracket meant to attach to a SimFab / OpenWheeler frame. The manufacturer states plainly that it is not compatible with similar products from other brands, so if your rig is from another vendor, assume slot width and bolt pitch will not line up.

Second, the throttle side needs add-on configuration #1 or #2, sold separately. Config #6 solves one half of a HOTAS setup.

Ordering it alone leaves your throttle unmounted, so budget for both.

Product Info

At 2.27 kg and a 250 mm package, this is a normal size for a metal lower mount — light enough that one person can lift and reposition it.

That weight does not by itself guarantee a rock-solid stick, though: rigidity comes mainly from the frame it bolts to. On a flexing rig, the bracket's own stiffness is wasted.

Check the retailer's page for the latest price. Both are point-in-time figures that move with stock, exchange rates, and sales — roughly ¥300 of drift in three months shows how sensitive imported accessories in this bracket are.

Check the current price on the product page before ordering.

Alternatives Compared

A desk clamp is the cheapest way to hold a stick still — minutes to fit, an order of magnitude cheaper, and physically incapable of a center position. This bracket is the tier above: rig-dependent, but bolted down with plates that already match your stick.

That also defines who should not buy it. Without a rig — and without plans to get one — this is not the right answer yet.

Run a clamp or a universal stand first; move up when the stick's position, not its stability, becomes the thing you keep fighting.

Best Use Cases

• Existing SimFab / OpenWheeler rig owners — the mounting target is native, so there is no fit guesswork. If this is you, it is the first candidate.
• Owners of supported sticks — Warthog, VirPil, VKB, and WinWing bases have pre-drilled plates, so no fabrication is needed.
• Grip-extension users — an extension raises the grip, which makes the ability to drop height at the base far more valuable.
• Households sharing one rig — the 140-420 mm range lets users of different heights reset the position.

Before You Buy

It does not complete a HOTAS on its own. The throttle side requires add-on config #1 or #2.

Configuration numbers are the manufacturer's own scheme, so cross-check the config table on the product page against your specific rig and stick before ordering — return shipping on a 2.27 kg metal part is not cheap.

If your rig is from another vendor, confirm fitment first. The bracket is designed exclusively for the SimFab / OpenWheeler ecosystem, and compatibility with generic aluminum extrusion frames is not claimed.

Ask the seller before buying.

"Height adjustable" does not necessarily mean infinitely variable. Brackets of this type commonly adjust in steps via hole positions or clamps, and there is no source data confirming stepless positioning here.

Treat 140-420 mm as the range, and check the product photos for the adjustment mechanism.

You give up floor space and walking room. A stick between your legs is a stick you straddle every time you stand up.

In a living room, or on a chair you also work from, daily convenience drops noticeably. Whether you have a dedicated permanent space matters more than compatibility does.

**The review sample is small.

Listing metadata can be wrong. Manufacturer and part-number fields on retail pages are sometimes auto-populated and occasionally disagree with the actual item.

Confirm the product image, title, and the configuration number (#6) match what you intend to buy.

FAQ

Q. Does this mount both the stick and the throttle? A.

No. Config #6 is the center stick lower mount; the throttle needs add-on config #1 or #2, sold separately.

Q. Will a Logitech X56 or X52 fit? A.

The documented brands are Thrustmaster Warthog / F-16C Viper HOTAS / F/A-18 grip, VirPil, VKB, and WinWing. Other brands are not covered by the available data — check the product page.

Q. Can I bolt it to a third-party sim rig? A.

It is stated to be designed exclusively for the SimFab / OpenWheeler ecosystem and not compatible with similar products from other brands. Do not plan around cross-vendor use.

Q. Does it work with a grip extension installed? A.

Yes. It works with or without an extension, and vertical adjustment lets you dial the height back in.

Q. How much height adjustment is there?
A. 140-420 mm from the floor to the stick base plate.

Q. How heavy is it?
A. 2.27 kg, shipped in a 254 x 127 x 127 mm package — manageable for one person when repositioning.