Hello Captains and welcome back. I recently received an email from JP who is looking to add a few hardware add-ons to his simulator setup. Let’s review his email and dive right in with my opinions.
Hello Jerry, I’m an avid reader of your blog and find your content to be honest. I started flight sim just a few years ago with MSFS 2020 and absolutely love it. For the first year I exclusively used an XBox controller but would love to add some additional hardware peripherals to enhance my experience. When I upgraded from the XBox controller I ordered an inexpensive joystick and found that to be a better experience, but I know more immersion. I mainly fly the Fenix Airbus, but also own the PMDG 737. I would like to make sure that anything I might purchase today will also be able to work with MSFS 2024 as I might upgrade to that after the holidays. I’d love to give my wife a few ideas for Christmas presents. Thank you for your help and thank you for spending time posting to your blog and being so helpful to others. JP
Well, Ho Ho Ho….I think I can certainly help provide you some ideas to share with your wife. Also, thank you for the kind words. Writing content on my blog site is a passion I’ve held for many years and I’m always happy to help others as best I can.
The first recommendation I would have to suggest, and since you stated that you mainly fly the Fenix Airbus would be the Thrustmaster Airbus Captain’s Pack. I own this and it works very well with the Fenix and works in all simulator platforms including MSFS 2020 and 2024. The pack includes a joystick, throttle quadrant and attachable controls for flaps, parking break, gear lever and speed breaks. The great thing about the joystick is it does feature a twisting action which can be programmed (and by default it already is) to control rudder functions. While this is branded as Airbus, there would certainly be no harm in also using this setup for the PMDG 737 pending you don’t mind the lack of immersion to a certain degree.
Depending on your Christmas budget and/or the generosity of your wife, there is also a Thrustmaster Boeing pack that includes a yoke and throttle controls. But as you primarily stated you fly Airbus, I would suggest you start with the Airbus pack.
If you wanted to add even more immersion to your flying, adding a set of rudder pedals will certainly do the trick. Unfortunately I don’t have any experience with the new models available today. I’m still using an almost 15 year old set of CH Products pedals that still work as well today as they did when I first unboxed them. I’m sort of set in my ways where I don’t typically replace something if it still works and has life in it. But if I were to be in the market for a new set of pedals, I think I would go with Honeycomb Charlie pedals or perhaps throw a bit more money out for the Winwing Orion metal pedals. These seem to have great reviews.
Down the road, you could also further enhance your Airbus flying with the Winwing FCU external panel. I’ve had mine for over a year and it works very well and provides better immersion when flying the Fenix Airbus.
Well there you go. These are the recommendations I have for external hardware peripherals for MSFS geared toward the Fenix Airbus Pilot. If you’re an Amazon shopper, there could always be a chance some of these might be included in their Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales. Best of luck.
Until next time…
Happy Flying!!!
Jerry