How to Build the Perfect Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Cockpit

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will arrive on November 19th, aiming to blur the line between simulation and reality. Many gamers interested in flight simulators find assembling an adequate setup intimidating. PC joysticks are one of the more familiar components essential in any flight sim title. However, when confronted with other gear, like throttles and pedals, what to add to a sim cockpit first is not always clear.

Microsoft’s upcoming sim requires a capable gaming PC, stretching budgets before buying peripherals. Fortunately, affordable options dramatically enhance the immersiveness of Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. What equipment is most essential to a cockpit, and how much space does a complete setup occupy?

Joysticks, Yokes, and Throttles

The most basic Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 cockpits should begin with a joystick or yoke. Depending on the Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 version purchased, the sim has an unmatched number of planes, jets, and helicopters. Consequently, replicating how all the aircraft is controlled with one peripheral is difficult. A joystick is the most sensible choice for players exploring many different career types and aircraft. On the other hand, most civilian planes and jets in the sim use yokes and rudder pedals. Yokes are like wheels that can be turned, pushed, and pulled to control roll and pitch angles.

As one exception, Airbus makes passenger jets that rely on side-sticks, and this is visually represented in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. One of the most popular Microsoft-approved joysticks is the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Edition. Even with aircraft that use yokes, a joystick allows for much finer control than a keyboard, mouse, or gaming controller.

The TCA Sidestick’s controls are instantly recognized in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, which will likely remain the case in the newest version. This reduces the often frustrating task of assigning dozens of commands before being able to fly. The TCA Sidestick takes advantage of Hall Effect technology for smooth and reliable inputs, while also avoiding stick drift. There are 17 buttons, and buyers can swap stick heads on both sides with alternate components, including autopilot buttons. With the Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus X Edition, Xbox gamers aren’t left out either.

Like most joysticks, the TCA Sidestick is relatively compact and doesn’t have a huge footprint. Pilots can also purchase hardware that mounts the joystick underneath desks, preserving more workspace. As budgets and setups grow, owners of the TCA Sidestick are able to pair it with add-ons like matching throttles.

A yoke is an obvious target for flight sim fans who strive for a higher degree of realism. Yokes are appropriate whether a player is piloting a single-engine fixed-wing aircraft like the Cessna 172 or the much larger Boeing 737 MAX jet. If assembling a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 cockpit for the first time, the Logitech G Pro Flight Yoke System is a practical choice. While most of the gear is plastic, the shaft the yoke pivots on is reinforced with steel. The TCA Sidestick joystick has a small throttle slider, but Logitech’s yoke ships with a separate component with levers to control engine power and flaps more accurately. With the buttons on the yoke and the Throttle Quadrant, the system includes a switch that activates up to 75 different commands.

Many enthusiasts also praise the Honeycomb Alpha Yoke. Considerably more expensive than the Logitech G Pro Flight, the Alpha boasts better overall build quality and a larger range of motion. Logitech’s solution is a practical starting point for a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 setup, but many players eventually upgrade to pricier yokes.

Throttles are another critical component in a flight sim cockpit. The Logitech Throttle Quadrant is a very economical solution, but gamers often prefer throttles with single, larger levers. Even more appealing is the Thrustmaster Hotas Warthog, a dual throttle system ideal for multiple-engine aircraft. The Warthog peripherals are pricey but allow for extremely sensitive adjustments and are built to survive thousands of flight hours.

The best HOTAS systems bundle a joystick and a throttle. With the Thrustmaster T16000M FCS HOTAS, buyers receive a joystick similar to the TCA Sidestick. The throttle is a vast improvement over using the joystick’s small slider, but some flight sim fans find it either becomes too sensitive or sticks over time.

Rudder pedals are an accessory often overlooked in cockpits. Instead of accelerating or braking like in racing sim cockpits, the left and right rudder pedals control yaw in an aircraft. This is beneficial when turning to keep a plane level or to make small adjustments when landing. Joysticks simulate these movements with twisting motions, which makes rudder pedals more of a necessity with yokes. Logitech and Thrustmaster sell rudder pedals that integrate seamlessly with their joysticks, throttles, and yokes.

The Ideal Captain’s Chair

Many Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 players are content with using comfortable ergonomic gaming chairs. They adjust sufficiently to most setups and don’t require any additional equipment to enjoy playing the sim. Even so, most real-world pilot chairs remain in a fixed position to avoid any chance of interfering with controls. Buyers can replace their chair’s wheels with locking casters to accomplish the same effect. If desk space is at a premium, companies like MonsterTech sell mounts for joysticks, throttles, and more that attach to most gaming and office chairs.

Next Level Racing has several ways to escape the confines of crowded gaming desks. Their Flight Simulator Cockpit: Boeing Commercial Edition accepts every peripheral imaginable, including joysticks, yokes, rudder pedals, and keyboards. Highly modular, the company also has a collection of add-on parts that adapt to evolving setups. The chair itself is made from a familiar blend of foam and PU leather and reclines and slides back and forth. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 pilots who spend most of their time in large Boeing passenger jets will also appreciate the realistic accents and faux wool chair covering.

Buying a standalone cockpit with a chair depends on whether a player can integrate flight sim gear into existing setups. If space permits, gamers could also purchase a larger desk or an extension for existing furniture. Regardless, cockpits like those manufactured by Next Level Racing also come closer to simulating the feeling of being in an aircraft.

The Best Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Displays

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 promises a host of graphical upgrades like more detailed terrain and ray-tracing support. To make players believe they are seeing a realistic model of Earth, a capable monitor is the centerpiece of any cockpit. It’s difficult to feel immersed during a flight with a single small display. One option is to add monitors to extend a screen, or pin instrument panels in the game to adjacent screens. Most flight sim enthusiasts prefer one ultra-wide monitor that wraps around pilots in a virtual cockpit. Not all games embrace ultra-wide resolutions, but Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 is an exception.

When choosing a display, it’s also crucial to remember that Microsoft’s sim is a very demanding title. While the recommended specs are more reasonable, the ideal Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 PC will have 64 GB of RAM with a high-end CPU and GPU. As a result, a mid-range gaming PC may struggle to maintain fluid framerates at 4K resolutions. The graphics card has the largest impact on performance, and buyers should ensure their GPU can take advantage of any ultra-wide monitor.

If a PC is up to the task, the Samsung 49″ Odyssey OLED G9 makes it easy to recognize famous landmarks during flights. The curved screen means pilots don’t have to strain their necks, but the monitor still needs a deep desk or wall mounting. With a Dual QHD 5120 x 1440 resolution, canyons, oceans, and mountains will look eerily realistic in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Although realizing its maximum 240 Hz refresh rate may be difficult, any rapid turns or descents will seem fluid on the monitor.

The ASUS ROG Strix 34” Curved Gaming Monitor is a more than satisfactory compromise for players with less space. Gamers should still have a fairly beefy GPU to drive visuals on its ultrawide 1440p visuals, but it’s not as challenging as with even higher-resolution displays. The ROG Strix monitor is an IPS panel, allowing superior viewing angles and fast response times. Also, the display is G-Sync compatible with NVIDIA GPUs, reducing screen tearing when panning cameras in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.

Another way to add immersion to a flight is with eye-tracking technology. Tobii and TrackIR are the two leading products that allow in-game viewpoints to shift as heads or eyes move. The Tobii hardware is particularly appealing because it doesn’t require players to wear headgear. Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 works with Tobii and TrackIR, and the upcoming version is expected to be compatible.

Gamers who don’t mind wearing a gadget on their heads should also consider a VR headset. The Meta Quest 3 is a reasonably priced option with several methods to connect to PCs and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Once set up, pilots no longer need to look at a monitor at all, relying on the headset’s 2064 x 2208 resolution and 120 Hz refresh rate. VR goes beyond head or eye tracking since players can completely turn around and gain a 360-degree perspective of an aircraft’s exterior or cabin.

Building a Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 Cockpit

Before Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 releases on November 19th, players have time to assemble an immersive cockpit. When building a setup for any flight sim, gamers should consider factors like budget, available space, and expectations for realism. Generally, the more money and desk or floor space to work with, the more authentic a cockpit becomes.

Joysticks are reasonably affordable ways to control various aircraft more precisely than gaming controllers. However, most dedicated flight sim enthusiasts will soon add a throttle and other components to a desktop. A yoke and rudder pedals are necessary to mirror the cockpits of many small and large passenger planes. With a mix of these peripherals, players can set degrees of pitch, roll, and yaw, much like real-life pilots.

Next, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 players should decide if existing desks can accommodate a cockpit configuration. Finding room for yokes and throttles with keyboards and mice nearby quickly becomes difficult. Desk mounts are available to store gear underneath desktops, but pilots can purchase a flight sim cockpit with a chair for more realism. These cockpits have places to install nearly every accessory while making gamers feel like they are sitting in a Cessna plane or Boeing jet. Manufacturers like Logitech offer working instrument panels that easily integrate into cockpits.

Considering the spectacular level of detail in Microsoft’s upcoming flight sim, a monitor is needed to appreciate these improvements. Ultrawide monitors, with expansive screens and wide viewing angles, are the best displays for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Players can then replicate being in a cockpit using head or eye-tracking technology.

Buyers don’t have to assemble a full cockpit immediately, as most players gradually expand setups. Indications are that Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 will be the most realistic sim title yet, so the demand for equally authentic gear will only grow.

FAQ

Q: How much does a full-flight simulator setup cost?

Budgets for building a flight simulator cockpit can be as small as $50-100 with a lower-end joystick or HOTAS. As players add more equipment like ultrawide monitors, instrument panels, and VR headsets, costs can quickly skyrocket to several thousand dollars.

Q: Is Xbox or PC better for Microsoft Flight Simulator?

Considering its demanding graphics and complexity, many gamers were surprised when Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 was released on the Xbox Series X. While the game performed more than adequately on the console, most flight sim enthusiasts eventually transitioned to a PC. The Windows OS and desktop PCs support a wider range of peripherals and add-on software, making virtual flights seem even more realistic.