Flight Simulator Accessories – Improve your Flight Experience With These Controllers:
Many of us are addicted to using a Flight Simulator. There is nothing quite like driving a plane and feeling in control. Ever since the Microsoft Flight Simulator made a return in 2020, people have been glued to the experience. They find it to be deeply immersive and gorgeous to look at. It features true-to-life representations and high-end visuals of a variety of intricately detailed airports, aircraft, and landscapes. Although the game provides an authentic, real-world flying experience, there are certain accessories that you can use to improve your experience. This is where this post comes into place. It takes a close look at some of the top Flight Simulator accessories for PC. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get started.
1. A Flight Joysticks:
**Please note: This post contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associates I earn from qualifying purchases.
One of the best Flight Simulator accessories for PC that you need to get your hands on is a flight joystick. You can easily purchase a joystick to upgrade your Flight Simulator experience. It offers immediate three-axis control using a single hand. Forget about having to use a mouse and keyword in tandem, as it will help free up your other hand and provide greater control. Moreover, you can count on the joystick to provide analogue control which allows for nuanced inputs for roll, pitch, and yaw. Thus, you can expect to benefit from more subtle control over the plane. A great entry-level joystick that you should consider getting is the Logitech Extreme 3D Pro. It has 12 programmable buttons that allow you to manage just about everything.
2. An Amazing Headset
For the best Flight Simulator experience, you need an amazing headset. It should allow you to listen to the ground control stations with ease. This is why you cannot go wrong with one. There is just so much that you can expect from the sound produced by your PC. Hence, your best option is to get a quality headset that allows you to listen to the beautiful sounds of the game. It will ensure that you appreciate the gorgeous work of the Flight Simulator. From the rattle of takeoffs to the sound of aircraft engines igniting, you simply cannot go wrong with a quality headset. It will even let you listen to the sound of the rain against the windscreen of the aircraft and the orders you receive from communication stations. A beloved gaming headset that is known for excellent virtual sound is the Steel Series Arctis 5.
3. A Beautiful Monitor
If you truly want to enjoy your flight simulator gaming experience, you need to get a beautiful monitor for your PC. No matter which Flight Simulator program you use, you will need a good monitor for the best graphics. If you are using a small screen that has a low resolution, you will be unable to enjoy the game to the fullest. In fact, the details of the game would simply not stand without one. Hence, you should consider getting the MSI Optix G27C4. It is a 27-inch gaming monitor which provides an immersive feel thanks to its high refresh rate of 165Hz.
4. HOTAS (Hands-On-Throttle-and-Stick)
For a robust throttle system, a hands-on throttle-and-stick is possibly the best option. It offers greater control than that offered by a standard joystick. It comes with its own switches and buttons for additional customization. There is bound to be a HOTAS device that you will like. However, the Thrustmaster T.16000M Hotas Flight Stick and Throttle is an amazing option. It offers four-axis control along with precise linear control. Gamers will benefit from its ability to fine-tune speed to achieve a smoother experience. The ergonomic design is both supportive and comfortable. Thus, you will be able to enjoy long haul flights.
5. Flight Yoke System
A Flight Yoke is also an absolute must. It provides dual-hand control for fine-tuning manoeuvres regardless of who flies and also provides top-tier options, including secure mounting points for ensuring a robust flight experience. A Flight Yoke that you should get is the Logitech G Flight Yoke System. It is built with stainless steel and precision bearings to provide smooth operation no matter how roughly you handle the planes. Besides, its 25-programmable buttons give immediate access to a ton of functions. Its built-in stopwatch is something that other yokes ignore. Thus, you will have an easier time managing takeoff, and you would be fully immersed while flying an aircraft.
6. Flight Rudder Pedals
Many Flight Simulator fans forget about rudder pedals. However, they are essential as they provide aircraft control. What makes them worth getting is the fact that they add an extra layer of immersion to the experience. You can rely on them to take control of the taxing of the plane while on the runway. In fact, you get to use both your feet without yaw dampening. The Logitech G Pro Flight Rudder Pedals are simply amazing. They will complement the throttle and yoke. The best thing about the pedals is that they are fully adjustable. They also offer additional support thanks to their tension adjustment wheel.
7. Flight Switch Panel
Tapping real buttons and flicking switches is always more fun than playing a digital game that lacks a tactile feel. When it comes to a Flight Simulator, you will find a flight switch panel to be the ultimate accessory. You can use these real-world switches for toggling and turning on everything. Since the new Microsoft Flight Simulator provides little support for switch panels, you should consider getting the Logitech Flight Switch Panel as it is a class apart. It includes built-in lights, a five-position magneto dial, a gear up and down a level, and 13 customizable switches. You get to use the magneto dial for controlling the magnetos of various engines.
Other Useful Accessories:
Head Tracking:
Real-time flying sims allow you to pilot a vehicle like a jet fighter as you navigate around your ship and along the radar grid. Given that you’re so often sitting or crouching in-game, trying to figure out what the planes you’re flying across are seeing on the screen can be a frustrating affair. Head tracking, or seeing your entire field of view of your avatar on your headset, is a particularly effective option.
Check out TrackIr 5 Premium Head Tracking, a head tracking designed for flight sims. The hand controllers are motorized, allowing you to adjust their sensitivity according to your skill level.
V.R. Headsets:
With so much choice in the headsets market, which should you pick? While you’re likely to spend the majority of your time using your PlayStation V.R. headset, other platforms offer an abundance of different hardware options for a better experience.
Of course, the easiest way to get in on the game would be to download and install their headsets and software and jump right in. However, there are a number of benefits to sticking with those purchasing a P.C. V.R. kit (P.C. vs. PS4). The biggest of which is the ability to run as many titles as you wish, whether they’re high-end releases or even emulated demos. Another thing to consider is the wide variety of local multiplayer titles, which you can’t enjoy when you’re strapped into your seat and using a pair of traditional PlayStation Move controllers.
Here’re Best V.R. Headsets For Flight Simulator 2020:
Pimax Vision 5K Super VR Headset
Valve Index VR Full Kit
Meta Quest 2
Conclusion:
Once you have finished reading the post, you will know the top Flight Simulator accessories for PC. Each accessory has something to offer. Hence, you should consider adding them all to your wish list. They will take your Flight Simulator gaming experience to the next level.
I have been trying to make up my mind about what pedal to buy. However, I have already made my choice. Unlike the potentiometers used in cheaper models, which operate based on pedal position, Thrustmaster pedal load cell works on pressure applied, like an actual brake pedal. That in itself is awesome.
I believe the Logitech flight rudder pedals is good because you can adjust it based on your feet size. However that is up to you.
Hi Mohamed,
Wow, I had no idea all the accessories you could get to go along with a flight simulator program to make it so much more of a real set up in your own home. With the various items you are really able to create the ultimate flying experience. I like how you’ve provided different options so one can choose the best set up for ones home.
Thanks for sharing!
L, Sammy
You are welcome. Using one of the accessories will give you more control and experience.
Hello there! This is an informative post! For some reason, whenever I think of flight games, I automatically thinking of using the keyboard and mouse. But after reading your post and now that I think about it, it would make more sense to have certain gadgets like pedals and joystick. This would definitely create a much more realistic flight simulation experience. Might be too expensive for me to invest in at the moment but maybe at a later time. Thanks for this!
Thanks for the great comment. When you get used to one of the accessories you will not need to use the keyboard much.
WOW! I literally had no idea that this sector of gaming existed!! If someone were to tell me that they experienced a flight simulation game, I would literally think of those giant damn near cardboard boxes that they used o have at the fair and at themeparks. I think there was a really good star wars one at great America in san Jose ca but that was a long time ago. thank you for your post, I’m interested in delving deeper!
You are welcome. Of course you need a cardboard to built Flight Simulator panel.
Hi, MElamin!
Never thought it would be possible to access a flight simulator at home… but I would certainly like to try it! It’s a bit expensive though. I still dream of the day I could really steer a plane on my own.
As a huge fan of every and each thing related to flight, I really enjoyed your review!
Thanks a lot for sharing and keep safe!
Thanks for the feedback.
This actually looks really interesting does this Flight simulator. I’m just wondering though what level this simulator is on and with what intention it has been created. Would you say that this is made as a computer game or is it made as an actual flight simulator that you could train to be a pilot on?
It is made for game and actual pilot.
Hi, Mohamed. This is a really cool article. I never looked at flight simulation like this before, but with all the accessories you mentioned I could spend a long time in front of the computer. A question I would ask is how close is a simulator like this to the real thing simulator. What I’m asking is will spending time on this make me a better pilot or is it just for entertainment. Thanks for the post. I’ll be checking this out.
The Flight Simulator is close to real thing when you get multiple monitors and accessories. Building a cockpit at home will make you feel like you are flying a real aircraft. A flight simulator can help you become a pilot because it is almost like flying a real aircraft.
I had no idea flight simulation was so involved, and expensive! But hey, you really should have the best if you want a really true-to-life experience. Thanks for the great recommendations for joysticks. They all look like great options and I cant wait to look further into each of them before making a decision.
The rest of your recommendations are great. Could you give me a specific recommendation for a headset that is lightweight? I would like to find something that feels most like I am wearing nothing at all if you know what I mean.
Sidenote, I had the privilege of going indoor skydiving the other day and they had a virtual reality option that I didn’t get to try. 🙁 How neat would it be to combine flight simulators and an indoor wind tunnel with VR? It would be like you were bailing out of an aircraft you were flying yourself.
So cool! Thanks again and, again, it’s so exciting how true-to-life this equipment is getting.
The Hyper X cloud headset only weight 309 grams or 0.68 pounds and there is Cloud Stinger that weighs 275 grams or 0.6 pounds and both weighs with mics. Yes it is possible to combine flight simulators and indoor wind tunnel.
These types of equipment seem pretty expensive. How much do you think I would spend on average and how long do you think these products will last before I need to replace them again? I will start saving for it now so I am able to afford it closer to my brothers birthday.
The money you spend depend on your budget. There is a link for Logitech stick which is cheaper.
I already have a beautiful monitor and awesome headsets. All the other requisites are covered too. Except for the Flight Joystick. I am excited about this experience. I always wanted to be a pilot. And now that we have this virtual reality experience at our disposal, I will not let it pass.
Yeah with a joystick you can feel like flying a real aircraft. The more accessories you have the better the flying experience. Thanks for the feedback.
I’m just getting started on a flight simulator program. I have been shopping for a new PC, as my son says mine is ancient and won’t do what I want it to do. So there are some items on this list that he says I need. I am going to bookmark this site and have him take a look and see which things I could go ahead and purchase. Thanks for doing part of the work for me!
You are welcome and thanks for the great feedback.
Ever since I tried flying on my Wii (I know that is old software) about 10 years ago, I have been addicted to flying so I was so pleased to read your post about flight simulator accessories. It’s definitely time for me to find myself a beautiful monitor, buy a stick, throttle, pedal accessory, and a headset to immerse myself in this experience.
I might try the yoke (I like flying with two hands). The only time I actually flew an ultralight with a stick it totally freaked me out, it is so hard to keep level. You’ve given me a lot to think about some great accessories to ask for for my birthday presents. Thanks.
Thanks for the feedback. The more accessories you have the greater the flying experience.
Hello MElamin,
The first flight simulator was created by a company called Link Trainer Company which is now called SimuLinx, who developed the first “flight trainer” to help pilots learn how to fly an airplane without actually being in one.
I think that I will need to buy flight simulator accessories for pc because I am not sure if I will be able to get everything that I need from the game itself. My kids will love it too.lol
Many people enjoy flying in a virtual world, but they don’t want to spend the money on the equipment. The best thing about these accessories is that they are not expensive and can be used with any flight simulator game. They are also easy to install and use.
Yes using one of the accessories will make flying experience better. It is easy to install as long as it is compatible with computer.
Which is better between a PC and a Playstation? I want to try out this simulator but I want to try it out on the best console. I will be sure to share this article with my brother because he loves playing games on the PC so I am sure that he will appreciate this article
It is better to play flight simulator using PC.
My son would loveeee this. How cool would it be to feel like you are actually flying a airplane. With everyone out there making video games and people spending hours and hours on something. This is the first I have seen of the product and something I would definitely buy for my son as a gift.
Thanks for visiting my website and the great comment.
A great post!
I love flying objects such as planes or helicopters. I’ve always had either RC helicopter or drones around, there’s something about flight simulators and RC that gives a sense of freedom.
I’ve know took my hobbies into the gaming world and obviously want the best experience so I should add these to me wishlist. Something’s telling me this is going to be better than flying rc’s around!
Thanks for the great comment. Using one of the accessories can make flying experience better. Flight Simulator 2020 currently don’t have helicopter but Flight Simulator X and older version do have helicopters.
What a great article! I know there are a lot of flight simulator accessories out there. But, I haven’t got the chance to try it all. However, seeing everything you mentioned in this article. It’s so tempting to buy it based on your recommendations. I probably am going to try with the VR headsets first. Thank you for sharing this great article!
Yes flight simulator accessories are recommended to make flying experience better and also good for multiplayers. It is more easy to use the accessories than the keyboard. Thanks for the great feedback.
As a beginner, I would probably start with the VR simulator to get the feel but would graduate to the more hands on experience at a later date. With all the new flight simulator systems coming out, you need to look at what you can afford as well as how the system fits your expectations.
Jerry
You should try the vr headset and see how it feels. It is also recommended to use on the accessories to feel the experience of flying like a real aircraft.
These accessories are great additions to a flight simulator.
My youngest brother is a frustrated pilot. He wanted to go to an aeronautical school but my parents wanted him to take up architecture so he could continue my dad’s firm. He’s the only son so he didn’t want to disappoint our parents.
Imagine his excitement on the return of the Microsoft Flight Simulator after 14 years. He’s crazy about this game that he actually has a complete set. But since his birthday is coming up, I am planning to surprise him with something that he will really appreciate.
I’m thinking of upgrading his monitor with the MSI Optix G27C4. I checked it out on Amazon and it’s a bit pricey but my little brother deserves it.
Thanks!
Thanks for commenting and visiting my website. You should show the website to your young brother because all the information is available about flight simulator.
Wow, I had no idea there were so many add-ons available for a fly simulator program to make your home setup feel much more realistic. This would undoubtedly produce a flight simulation experience that is far more realistic. I appreciate your post and am eager to learn more now that we have this virtual reality experience at our disposal!
Thanks for the feedback and visiting my website.
Wow you can now become a pilot virtually which is something you couldn’t do as safely as this in the past. It is wonderful but pricey at the same time and if only having a limited budget I am going to have to decide which are the most important components to have to get started.
I would think to go for the flight yoke system first then add to that.
Using controllers while flying an aircraft is more fun than using the keyboard. The more controllers you have the better the flying experience. If you are on budget I would suggest buying a Logitech joystick which is cheaper than other controllers.
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of take-off in a flight simulator. But to really get the most out of your experience, you need the right accessories! Here are the best accessories to buy for Flight Simulator 2020.
These are the best accessories to buy for Flight Simulator 2020! They will make your experience even better and more realistic.
Yes I recommend those accessories. Just make sure the accessories are compatible with computer and Flight Simulator.
Thank you for this awesome article about flight simulator accessories, Mohamed! Having been an avid gamer myself, I can definitely testify that the Steel Series Arctis 5 headset is an amazing gaming headset. I’ve never really played flight simulator games, though, but having used many Logitech peripherals in the past, I definitely believe that they’ll produce great flight simulator accessories too.
Thanks for the feedback. The more accessories you have the better the flying experience. You should try Flight Simulator 2020.
Wow, nowadays you don’t even need to get into an aero plane to get the feeling that you are actually on it. For those who love flying these accessories are an ideal way to enjoy your hobby without all the extra expenses, apart from the ones you incur buying the equipment.
I am sure that even as a potential pilot you can get many extra practise hours in.
Yes buying simple accessories can help you take your flight simulator to the next level without having to go to expensive training.
You have outdone yourself again MElamin, on this article covering FLIGHT SIMULATOR ACCESSORIES – IMPROVE YOUR FLIGHT EXPERIENCE WITH THESE CONTROLLERS.
It seems to me as a novice that a joystick controller would be required to experience any “like-like” situations in the simulator. Does it actually feel like you’re flying a plane when you’re are making commands via a keyboard rather than an actual manual control similar to what would be used in an actual cockpit?
A headset and monitor seem just as important as the joystick controller to experience the realistic type simulation these software programs provide.
It is like using the keyboard but it is more enjoyable when using the joystick and other controllers. Using controllers will make you actually more like flying a real aircraft.
Looking at all these flight simulator accessories, I can’t imagine learning how to fly and NOT having them! These are the typical “accessories” that one pictures when you hear “flight simulation”. My nephew is getting into flying and it looks like I will be giving him cash for his birthday because, like any hobby, it’s a pricey venture! They look awesome and high quality, though!
Thanks for the feedback. You should use one of these accessories to make flying experience better.