Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack Review

What is it?

The Thrustmaster Viper TQS Throttle offers F-16 Viper enthusiasts a detailed replica, while the Mission Pack version enhances functionality with additional buttons, knobs, and gear retract and extension controls, making it a compelling add-on for fans of the F-16.

Key Features

• 1:1 scale replica metal handle of the real F16 Viper Throttle
• Officially licensed by the U.S Air Force
• 64 action buttons, 6 axes
• Plug and Play in DCS World

Unboxing

Thrustmaster’s Viper TQS Mission Pack arrives in a stylishly designed box showcasing the product. While it may not feature high-end packaging materials like the AVA F-18 Flight Stick, the throttle is well-secured in cardboard padding and wrapped in protective plastic.

Removing the plastic protective bag and peeling off the film from the high-gloss panels, you’re ready to admire the craftsmanship of this unique throttle system.

While well protected, mine did seem to suffer a minor scuff on the throttle handle either during transit or during the manufacturing process 

Manual

A basic pamphlet covers essential information, with additional material available on the support section of the website. There, you’ll find instructions for cockpit mounting, use of the TM Flying Clamp, and other important details.

Construction and Materials

Measuring 22 cm wide (including the throttle extending over the base), just over 30 cm long, and 26 cm high, this unit is a substantial addition to any setup.

The throttle is constructed from a mix of materials, with prominent use of plastic, but a brushed aluminium plate adds a refined touch. Parts subjected to heavy use are reinforced with metal along with the main throttle handle also being made of metal.

The bottom backlit panel has a gloss like finish that’s more than happy to receive fingerprint marks, all switches are metal with each of the knobs out of hard plastic.  

The throttle’s movement is guided by a die-cast archway behind it. Its metal handle, durable plastic buttons, plastic knobs, and metal switches on the base demonstrate a thoughtful choice of materials. 

Setup and Configuration

Setting up the Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack was refreshingly simple. Driver installation was straightforward: I went to the Thrustmaster website, downloaded the necessary drivers, and plugged in the device. The control panel properties display button states, axis positions, and access to the firmware update tool. No firmware update was available at the time of this review.

Before starting DCS, I enabled Virtual Buttons in the software to add extra button functionality (buttons 54 to 64). Normally, in a 3-position switch (down, middle, up), only the down and up positions register. With Virtual Buttons enabled, however, the middle position registers as a separate input. For example, without Virtual Buttons, the down position might be button 50 and the up button 51, with no input for the middle. Enabling Virtual Buttons lets the middle position register as input 63, making each position independently assignable in the simulator.

With Virtual Buttons enabled, a quick axis check, and firmware verified, I was ready to jump into DCS and fire up the F-16 Viper. Typically, I prepare for the marathon of manually assigning controls, but to my surprise, everything was auto-mapped as soon as I entered DCS! If things didn’t show up right away, a quick reset of the category resolved it.

My initial setup and testing was done at my desk, a desk typical of many others with a melamine top and like other Thrustmaster products gripped it well with the use of rubber feat conveniently placed in each corner.

For cockpit mounting, I faced some difficulty securing it to my Trak Racer TR160S Flight Cockpit throttle plate. Despite being compatible with top brands, the Viper TQS was a snug fit and ended up slightly askew. However, I secured it well with two bolts instead of the usual four.

How does it feel?

For this review I did not receive the TM Flying Clamp or TM Flying Desk Mount used to secure the throttles for desk use. Instead, when testing for desktop flying, I sat the throttles on top of my table. The rubberized feet provided great sideways lateral movement protection. However, I found that given the twist/lift and slide motion required for certain actions such as engine start or going to afterburner, I often would raise the right side of the throttle base off the table. I imagine this wouldn’t be a problem with the TM Flying clamp and wasn’t a problem once the unit was bolted down into the cockpit for further testing.

Despite the throttle handle catching a bit of airtime and lifting the right side of the unit like it’s about to take off itself, the throttle movement is impressively smooth and linear, gliding you from shutdown all the way to afterburner like butter. Now, there’s a sneaky little metal wheel inside the throttle that only makes contact with the metal archway once you lift it over the gate into afterburner mode. At that point, the smooth glide turns into a slightly textured feel, like the throttle just swapped from a silk robe to sandpaper pyjamas. Nothing game-breaking or negative—just an interesting observation. I’m still not sure if it’s by design or just the throttle’s way of saying, “Buckle up, we’re about to go even faster!”

Adjusting the throttle tension is straightforward, using a grub screw on the back of the throttle. A hidden Allen key conveniently slides into place when not in use. I tend to loosen the tension for desktop flying but increase it once mounted in the cockpit. Be careful not to over-tighten though, as it could damage the bolt.

The throttle features a plastic lift gate lever designed to simulate real-world throttle mechanics. To get into or out of engine shutdown, you’ll need to pull this lever with your pinky—because obviously, your pinky was just sitting there with nothing to do. And while it’s made of plastic, don’t let that fool you; it feels rugged enough to handle countless mission restarts, and if you’re anything like me this is mainly thanks to your consistent habit of finding new and creative ways to get shot down.

Pinky promise! Even my pinky finger gets a workout

Additionally, there is a small metal paddle on the underside of the throttle grip providing an additional button however I found that for tasks like gripping the throttle handle to move out of shutdown or into afterburners would result in my accidentally pressing the paddle. There is sufficient room for you to position a finger under the paddle however I found I would constantly press it each time I grabbed the throttle handle. It wasn’t until many hours had passed and I made a conscious effort that I would start to grip the throttle handle in the correct position as to not activate the paddle each time I went to burners or engine start/stop.

Get out of the way little fella!

Taking a deeper look into the switches and buttons, it all feels like familiar territory here. Similar to Thrustmaster products of years past, the buttons and switches feel sturdy with a deliberate, reassuring feel to them. There is almost what I would call a satisfying resistance to these buttons and switches. One that will ignore perhaps a minor accidental bump but require dedicated force to action or activate. It’s a similar case when you look at those located on the throttle handle itself. The two twist knobs for Manual range and Antenna elevation have notable center detents although had a little bit of free play in them before coming out of the detent.

Only a little jiggle…

Across the bottom panel, the switches and knobs are well arranged, with backlit text that’s easy to read without leaning in. The rotary slider, typically used for zoom, has a firm, smooth motion with a soft center detent, as expected. Overall, everything on the lower panel works well, though the gear handle feels less sturdy. Its pullout-and-move mechanism can catch if not pulled straight, which isn’t an issue when the throttle is bolted down but can shift the unit slightly on a desk.

The iconic black CHAFF/FLARE button, located on the top wall of the device, is easy to reach and fun to smash with the side of your hand during intense moments. It does have a somewhat hollow, echo-like click—likely due to its placement in a plastic shell all by itself at the top of the unit. Despite this, it performs flawlessly and reliably, adding a satisfying tactile element to those high-stakes moments.

As seen in other Thrustmaster products, there is a well-placed 3 position rotating switch for extra functionality for the virtual battlefield. I always welcome unintrusive additional buttons to compliment the main product that don’t detract from the authentic feel and it’s the same case here.

Finally, the radar cursor thumb knob is an axis of both X and Y and is assigned as such in DCS. Soft feel to move but with a solid centre detent works well. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Thrustmaster Viper TQS Mission Pack brings an impressive level of realism and functionality to F-16 enthusiasts and flight sim fans alike. With its 1:1 scale metal handle, additional buttons and switches, and sturdy build quality, it captures the essence of the real F-16 throttle while adding practical enhancements for a smooth experience in DCS and other simulators. Although the setup may require minor adjustments depending on your cockpit or desk setup, the Viper TQS’s intuitive plug-and-play functionality, combined with Virtual Buttons for added control, makes it a highly adaptable choice for any setup. For the serious flight sim enthusiast, this throttle pack is a significant investment but one that truly elevates immersion and control in virtual skies.

Score 8/10