Want to get started with IL2 for PC.....

[Letum]

Stick choice is a little limited at the moment. There are many low quality sticks about.
Many sticks, even the expensive ones, suffer from sensor problems after a while. These
kind of issues are rampant in Logitech sticks.

For that money you might (if you are lucky) get a "Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2".
They don't make them anymore, but they are still one of the best until the new generation
of FFB joysticks arrive this winter. Any USB microsoft stick is likely to be problem free, but
avoid the old gameport sticks.

The X52 (and X52 pro) is a popular non-FFB stick, but it too has been know to suffer from
sensor problems in some cases after a year or less of use. It's narrow base may be a
problem for some as well, but it does have a nice throttle unit.
Be sure to buy a twist/z-axis stick if you don't want to buy rudder pedals.

It might not be a bad idea to buy a cheep stick and wait until after winter to see if you want one of the new FFB sticks.

[Factor]

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

Ideally i would want a good one, as well as compatible for a PS3.

Is there such a thing?

[fuzzychickens]

For a stick and throttle, I can only recommend the CH fighter stick USB on their throttle unit. I prefer the fighter stick over other sticks because the X and Y axis are on SEPRATE physical gimbals - so it is easy to avoid unintended X or Y axis input. Make precision flying easier.

It is also accurate, reliable, and programmable.

As for rudder pedals - they ALL suck except for a german unit that runs around 200 dollars. Everything else has either quality or ergonomics issues. The german simpeds can be found here.

http://www.dhs-electronic.de/index2.php?id=211&lng=en

You can get these with or without toe brakes and also in f16 style - all are available in usb version (which is what you want). They all use a hall sensor and have quick adjust exponential/linear response settings.

[Letum]

The CH Fighter stick doesn't ahve a high volume of reported problems, but you
will need to buy rudder pedals with it and that will throw you way over budget.

I have no idea about PS3 compatibility.
If I where you I wouldn't buy a poor stick just because of cross compatibility.