Honeycomb Bravo Flight Sim Throttle – F/A-18 Super Hornet Configuration (be your own Top Gun!)

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The Honeycomb Bravo is a realistic and flexible hardware option for flight simmers looking for the ultimate throttle quadrant. Follow Sporty’s own Chris McGonegle as he walks us through the steps for configuring the Honeycomb Bravo with the commercial two engine levers for the F/A-18 Super Hornet in Microsoft Flight Simulator. Coverage includes throttles, afterburners, spoilers, flaps, and the continuously challenging parking brake. With a few settings, you can be your own Maverick – kick the tires and light the fires!

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Top Gun Carrier Landing Challenge – How To Fly Like Maverick in Microsoft Flight Simulator

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Enjoy a review of the carrier landing challenge on Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, released just in time for Top Gun: Maverick to hit theaters. This new challenge will test your ability to “call the ball” and hit the third wire. Sporty’s own Chris McGonegle flew this challenge with the Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog Stick plus Extender along with the TPR Pedals. Enjoy this review and have fun digitally flying!

What are the best flight simulator yokes and rudder pedals?

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Since being reintroduced in 2020, Microsoft Flight Simulator has reinvented the flight simulator world. With stunning graphics, live weather, and incredibly life-like cockpits, the latest generation of this storied franchise is winning thousands of new fans every week. To make it more than a game, though, you’ll need the right hardware. Here are our top picks for yokes and rudder pedals, any of which can transform MSFS into a valuable training tool. All of these work with X-Plane as well as Microsoft, and they can be mixed and matched to create the perfect system.

Top Flight Sim Yokes

Best overall: Honeycomb Alpha

This model has quickly become the top-selling yoke on the market. It features a solid metal yoke shaft and a full 180 degrees of rotation, so it offers the most realistic feel of all the yokes. There is no dead zone in the middle, or misleading spring pressure. The Honeycomb Alpha includes a switch panel for magnetos, master, etc., but note that there is no throttle. You can mix and match to add another throttle, including the impressive Honeycomb Bravo.

$249.99 – Shop Now >>

Honeycomb Alpha

Best value: Logitech G

A popular option for years, this flexible model includes a stainless steel yoke shaft and a detachable throttle quadrant for more precise power management. It strikes a good balance between performance and price, but is also easily expanded. Logitech offers add-on panels for switches/gear, avionics, autopilot, and additional throttle quadrants. This means you can build your own system one piece at a time.

$179.99 – Shop Now >>

Logitech G Saitek Flight Yoke

Best Xbox yoke: Turtle Beach VelocityOne

For an all-in-one solution that works with both computers and Microsoft Flight Simulator on Xbox, the VelocityOne is hard to beat. Includes yoke, throttle/prop/mixture controls plus interchangeable quadrant heads to move from GA piston to airline jet configuration. Also features an integrated screen on the yoke.

$379.95 – Shop Now >>

Turtle Beach VelocityOne

Professional grade: Redbird Alloy

This premium yoke is made of solid metal, so it will stand up to abuse. A good option for flight schools and serious sim pilots, the Redbird Alloy has a realistic feel that rivals the Honeycomb Alpha, with a full 180 degrees of rotation and an authentic Cessna-style yoke. Remember to add a throttle quadrant, because it’s not built in. Redbird yokes are made in America and backed by excellent support.

$799 – Shop Now >>

Redbird Alloy yoke

Sticks

Sometimes a yoke is more than you need. If you’re looking for something more realistic than a mouse but less expensive than a full yoke, a simple flight stick is a good option. Here are our two favorites.

Best value: Logitech Flight Sim Joystick

This is the basic option, but it’s well made and easy to use. Includes a throttle lever and the stick can even be twisted for rudder control, making it a fairly complete system. For under $50, it’s a great way to get started with simulator flying.

$39.95 – Shop Now >>

Logitech Flight Stick

All-in-one kit: Thrustmaster HOTAS One

If you want to feel like a fighter pilot, this two-in-one system is the best option. Includes five axes, fourteen action buttons, a rapid-fire trigger and a multidirectional hat swtich. The throttle gives you the fighter jet feel, and is detachable. It also works with Flight Simulator on Xbox.

$99.99 – Shop Now >>

Thrustmaster HOTAS One

Authentic military feel: Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog

This deluxe systems weighs in at nearly 15 pounds, which gives a clue to its rugged construction and realistic feel. It looks like it was just removed from an actual A-10 Warthog, complete with 42 programmable buttons and a tension dial for the throttle for the thottle levers.

$549.99 – Shop Now >>

HOTAS Warthog

For Cirrus pilots

If you fly a Cirrus SR20 or SR22, neither a yoke nor a stick is quite right. What you really want is a side yoke, and fortunately there’s a great option. The Redbird Cirrus Yoke feels just like the real thing, with a centering spring, push to talk button, and smooth travel. All-metal construction is built to last.

$999 – Shop Now >>

YK2

Rudder Pedals

A yoke is the essential first step to building a home simulator—but don’t stop there! A set of rudder pedals is a critical piece of the puzzle, adding the realism of rudder control and toe brakes. It makes a big difference when flying steep turns or practicing landings, and should be considered essential for any kind of serious training.

Best value: Thrustmaster

This simple set is a good companion for any of the yokes above. It’s basic but reliable and easy to set up. It’s also compatible with Flight Simulator on Xbox.

$139.99 – Shop Now >>

Thrustmaster pedals

Good balance of price and performance: Logitech

These rudders offer a realistic feel, with adjustable spring tension and adjustable size pedals. These are our most popular pedals.

$179.99 – Shop Now >>

Logitech Pedals

Best overall: Thrustmaster TPR

These all-metal rudder pedals are the most realistic we’ve ever flown with. The unique suspended mechanism is right out of a Boeing flight deck, providing lifelike feel and five positions for a custom setup.

$589.99 – Shop Now >>

Thrustmaster TPR pedals

Learn more:

Flight Simulators 101 – Tips for Microsoft, X-Plane, Honeycomb, and more (webinar recording)

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Flight simulators have exploded in popularity over the last year. With new software options, impressive flight controls, and EFB app integration, it has never been easier to use a home flight simulator for real training (in addition to fun). In this fast-paced webinar, Chris McGonegle, a commercial pilot and Sporty’s flight simulator expert, will discuss how to use simulators effectively and how to avoid making mistakes that will degrade your flying skills. He also reviews the most popular hardware options for a home flight simulator and discusses the new Microsoft Flight Simulator program. If you’re thinking about buying a flight simulator, but aren’t sure where to start, this webinar is for you.

X-Plane Training Scenarios – Flight simulator lessons from Sporty’s

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When using a simulator as a training device rather than a toy, it’s helpful to have direction on what scenarios or tasks are beneficial to the day’s digital mission. For that reason, the pilots at Sporty’s developed a few lessons to assist the digital pilot in jumping into pre-configured maneuvers that allow the user to practice multiple iterations within a fraction of the time. Each maneuver includes a briefing, a description of the desired results, a control setting prompt, and a quick transition into the maneuver after the digital instructor hands over the flight controls. Scenario 1 – Steep turns Scenario 2 – S-turns Scenario 3 – ILS approach (runway 21L at LUK)

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Take Flight Interactive demo – add a virtual flight instructor to your home flight simulator

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TakeFlight Academy is real, artificial intelligence-based practical flight training, with the same guidance of a human flight instructor. Get unlimited access to self-guided, interactive flight lessons anytime, anywhere. Master flight maneuvers with this structured simulator training application and reduce training hours on the flight deck. Individual 1-year subscription. TakeFlight Academy is an instructional overlay on your simulator (see below for compatibility). The easy-to-use interface and on-simulator curriculum guides you step-by-step. When you select a maneuver, the Virtual Flight Instructor loads the emulator with the aircraft pre-configured, pre-positioned and ready to fly. You can repeat FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS) maneuvers quickly, spending as much time as needed to reach mastery. Each lesson provides a detailed briefing, verbal guidance, and real-time feedback based on your performance, followed by detailed objective scoring. You’ll know exactly how you did, and where to improve. And with unique Training, Evaluation, and challenging scenarios to take engagement to the next level. Whether in the air or on the sim, you’ll become a better, safer pilot with TakeFlight Academy.

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