The best first purchase depends on what you fly. If you mostly fly airliners and general aviation, a yoke gives you the arm movement and feel of a real cockpit. If you fly helicopters, fighters or Airbus types, a stick is the more natural choice. Decide on your main aircraft first, then buy for that aircraft rather than for every aircraft.
Step one is primary flight controls: a yoke such as the Honeycomb Alpha or the MOZA MFY, or a stick such as the Thrustmaster T.Flight HOTAS One. Step two is a throttle. A dedicated quadrant like the Honeycomb Bravo or the Thrustmaster TCA Quadrant adds levers, flaps, gear and autopilot buttons, which removes most of your trips to the keyboard.
Step three is rudder pedals. Pedals transform takeoffs, crosswind landings and taxiing, and they are the upgrade most pilots wish they had bought sooner. Step four is avionics and panels, such as RealSimGear GNS and G1000 units, which give your hands real knobs for navigation and approaches.
Budget tip: spend more on the item you touch the most. A solid yoke or stick and pedals will outlast several computer upgrades, while a cheap control with a loose center will frustrate you on every approach. Browse every option on our Flight Gear Products page, grouped by Controls, Panels, Avionics and Accessories.
