Thrustmaster Sol-R3 AVA Add-On Space Combat Flight Stick Grip
Bottom line: The Thrustmaster Sol-R3 AVA Add-On Space Combat Flight Stick Grip ($106.44 on Amazon as of 2026-10-06): 21 mappable buttons, 2 triggers, 2 hats, ministick and thumbwheel on one grip; main trade-off: requires a Thrustmaster AVA or Sol-R base, sold separately and not included.
As an Amazon Associate, SpecPicks earns from qualifying purchases. Full disclosure →
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓ 21 mappable buttons, 2 triggers, 2 hats, ministick and thumbwheel on one grip
- ✓ 16-bit Hall-Effect sensors resist drift across thousands of hours of play
- ✓ Two included STAR cams reshape the axis curve to your piloting style
- ✓ Ambidextrous swappable hand and thumb rests for left- or right-handed pilots
- ✓ Backlit ministick styling built for Thrustmaster AVA and Sol-R bases
Cons
- ✗ Requires a Thrustmaster AVA or Sol-R base, sold separately and not included
- ✗ Grip-only add-on, non-functional without a compatible base
- ✗ Niche space-sim layout is overkill for casual or non-flight-sim players
Manufacturer description
The Thrustmaster Sol-R3 AVA Add-On Grip puts 21 fully mappable action buttons at your fingertips, giving you instant command over every system, weapon, and maneuver in your favorite space simulation titles without ever lifting your hand from the stick. Powered by H.E.A.R.T. HallEffect AccuRate Technology with 16 bit magnetic sensors, every axis including the critical Z axis responds with surgical precision and zero drift, so your inputs translate flawlessly into on screen action flight after flight. Two included STAR cams let you reshape the axis curve on your AVA base to match your personal…
SpecPicks Verdict
SpecPicks scored Thrustmaster Sol-R3 AVA Add-On Space Combat Flight Stick Grip using a rating × review-volume × price-fit model applied to published specs and reviews across the flight sim gear category. Compare with similarly-priced alternatives in the flight sim gear category before committing. Judge it on the specification table and the price rather than on sentiment: check the figures that decide your use case, then put it side-by-side with two or three close alternatives in the Compare tool before clicking through.
Common buyer scenarios for flight sim gear of this kind: matching it to an existing build, replacing a failing part, or upgrading from a previous-generation equivalent. Check the spec table below against your current setup — particularly socket / form-factor / power-rating fields — and confirm compatibility on the retailer's listing before purchase. Prices and stock are set by the retailer and may have moved since this page was last updated.
Key Features
- COMMAND EVERY SYSTEM INSTANTLY - With 21 fully mappable action buttons including 2 triggers, 2 hat switches, 1 ministick, and 1 thumbwheel, you have total control over weapons, shields, and navigation without ever breaking your grip during intense space flight sim sessions.
- DRIFT FREE HALL EFFECT PRECISION - H.E.A.R.T. HallEffect AccuRate Technology delivers 16 bit magnetic sensor accuracy across every axis, especially the critical Z axis, ensuring your inputs register with surgical precision that never degrades over thousands of hours of gameplay.
- CUSTOMIZE YOUR FLIGHT RESPONSE - Two included STAR cams let you physically modify the axis curve on your AVA base so you can tailor stick resistance and response to your personal piloting style, giving you the same feel customization pros demand from their flight sim setup.
- AMBIDEXTROUS ERGONOMIC COMFORT - Interchangeable hand and thumb rests adapt to left or right handed pilots, providing fatigue free support during long cockpit sessions so you stay sharp and comfortable whether you are exploring galaxies or locked in heated dogfights.
- ICONIC BACKLIT COCKPIT DESIGN - Optimized for Thrustmaster AVA and Sol R bases sold separately, the striking backlit ministick elevates your flight sim accessories station with a look that matches its performance. This grip is Compatible with PC for seamless plug and play integration.
Full Specifications
| Color | White |
|---|---|
| Model Name | R3 AVA Add-on Grip |
| Model Number | 2960941 |
| Compatibility | PC |
| Controller Type | Joystick |
| Item Dimensions | 9.25 x 11.02 x 4.33 inches |
| Hardware Platform | Desktop, Laptop |
| Compatible Devices | PC, Windows |
| Additional Features | Ergonomic |
| Warranty Description | One Year |
| Connectivity Technology | USB |
| Manufacturer Part Number | 2960941 |
| Full listing title | Thrustmaster Sol-R3 AVA Add-On Space Combat Flight Stick Grip - PC | 21 action buttons, 2 triggers, 2 hat switches, ministick, thumbwheel, 16-bit Hall-Effect, 2 STAR cams, ambidextrous grip |
Ready to buy?
Thrustmaster Sol-R3 AVA Add-On Space Combat Flight Stick Grip - PC | 21 action buttons, 2 triggers, 2 hat switches, ministick, thumbwheel, 16-bit Hall-Effect, 2 STAR cams, ambidextrous grip is listed on Amazon. Price, availability, shipping and returns are set by Amazon and its sellers — check the listing for current terms. SpecPicks earns a small commission on qualifying purchases — thank you for supporting independent review work.
*Price sourced from Amazon.com. Last updated 2026-10-06. Price and availability subject to change.
Related Flight Sim Gear
More guides & deep dives from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all articles & guides →- Best 1440p Gaming GPUs in 2026
- Emulation Hardware in 2026: FPGA, Software, and Cart-Reader Ecosystems
- Best Retro Handhelds in 2026 — From $35 to $500
- How to Build a Windows 98 Retro PC in 2026
- Best Budget Gaming PC Build 2026 — ~$1,000 ($800 on Sale)
- RTX 4070 Super vs RX 7800 XT — Which to Buy in 2026
- The Complete Voodoo5 5500 AGP Driver Guide (2026 Edition)
More reviews from the SpecPicks archive
Browse all reviews →- GeForce 3 Ti 500 vs Radeon 8500: The 2001 DirectX 8 GPU Showdown
- Can a Raspberry Pi 4 8GB Run a Local LLM in 2026? Real tok/s and What Fits
- Why You Shouldn't Leave the Default Model on Copilot or Gemini
- AOC U27G4XM 4K 160Hz Review: Speed, Flexibility, Value
- Best Parts for a Budget Ryzen + RTX 3060 Gaming PC Build in 2026
- What Happened to the LLM Training Data Shortage?
- Best Budget FPS Mouse + Pad Combo: G502 Hero & QcK 2026
- Sound Blaster Audigy FX vs Sound BlasterX G6: Picking a Card for Retro and Modern Dual-Boot
- HyperX QuadCast 2 S vs Blue Yeti for Streaming in 2026
- Best Budget GPU for Local LLMs in 2026: The 12GB RTX 3060 Case
- Best Storage Upgrades for Older Gaming PCs in 2026
- Best SATA SSD for Gaming and Console Upgrades in 2026
- Benchmarking Open Models on Custom Tooling: Is It Agentic Enough?
- Open-Source Layer Brings Reflex and Anti-Lag 2 to All GPUs
- WoW Mythic+ 3500 on Steam Deck: Is It Possible?
- Best Raspberry Pi for Local LLMs & Home Lab in 2026: Pi 4 8GB vs Pi Zero
- Best Budget SSD for PC Builds in 2026
- Acer Nitro 65 Review: Solid Gaming, Connectivity Caveats
- Qwen3 Local: RTX 3060 12GB Build vs Mac Mini for Inference
- AMD Ryzen AI Halo vs NVIDIA DGX Spark — or Just an RTX 3060?
- Prime Big Deal Days 2026: 5 Local-AI and Gaming Setup Picks With Price Anchors
- RTX 3060 12GB: Ollama vs llama.cpp vs vLLM Token Speed (2026)
- Best Budget GPU for CNN & Vision Inference 2026: RTX 3060 12GB
- Best Budget Sim Racing Wheel: Logitech G29 vs HORI vs Thrustmaster
Earliest SpecPicks reviews
Browse full archive →- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 8B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 14B (2026)
- Best GPU for Qwen 3 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 70B (2026)
- Best GPU for DeepSeek-R1 32B (2026)
- Best GPU for Llama 3.1 405B (2026)
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 14B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Qwen 3 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 70B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run DeepSeek-R1 32B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090
- How to run Llama 3.1 8B on NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090