The Saitek X36F is a high-end PC flight stick released in 1999. It stands out immediately for its aggressive, futuristic design, a tall yoke rising from a wide base, topped with a miniature console of buttons, hat switches, and a flip-switch "launch" button that looks like it belongs in an attack spacecraft. Saitek built the X36F around a gameport plus keyboard pass-through connection, requiring a dual gameport and a 5-pin DIN keyboard (PS/2 adapters are supported). The stick uses metal bars for weight and includes suction cups for extra stability. Construction is solid, four long hex screws and multiple Philips screws hold the assembly together, and some internal wiring is reinforced with hot glue. The yoke tension is notably heavy, delivered by two surprisingly small springs through a pincer linkage. Trim controls are tied directly to the main potentiometers. The unit ships with a 3.5-inch floppy disk for the Windows-only programming software; no bundled games or applications are included. System requirements are modest: a 486-66 or better, Windows 3.1 or 95, and a serial mouse port is optional for use with the companion throttle. The X36F carries a one-year limited warranty.