Best yokes for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

For those looking to explore the world from the perspective of the clouds or test their skills as a pilot, flight simulators let you do so from the comfort of your home. Microsoft Flight Simulator is one of the greatest in the genre, utilizing in-depth mapping data, artificial intelligence, and innovative cloud technology to accurately simulate the entire globe, weather, flight paths, and much more. The best yokes for Microsoft Flight Simulator can help you get even more out of your experience.

A good flight stick can be awesome in a lot of games (and there are plenty of affordable options), but the best flight yokes offer the most realistic controls for taking to the skies in your flight simulator of choice. I can promise you'll find the best right here, so make sure you have some desk space (or a handy table) because you're flight simulator setup is about to get a lot better. If you'd rather a joystick, you can peruse our guide to the best joysticks and flight sticks for flight simulators.

Zachary Boddy

Zachary Boddy is a Staff Writer for Windows Central, and has provided years of expertise on all things Microsoft, with a special focus on Xbox, Minecraft, and the Forza series of racing games. They also review and analyze a wide variety of hardware products, including flight yokes.

The quick list

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The best overall yoke for flight simulators

Honeycomb Aeronautic is a relatively new arrival to the flight sim hardware scene, but the company has already impressed to a major degree with its excellent, high-quality peripherals. The latest iteration of its Alpha Flight Controls (now under the XPC moniker) includes massive improvements over its predecessor, cementing Honeycomb's place at the top of the very best flight yokes for any flight simulator (but especially for Microsoft Flight Simulator).

Build quality is unbelievably good, with premium materials, industry-leading button actions, and impossibly smooth yoke control making it very obvious that this isn't just another flight yoke. The Alpha Flight Controls feel substantial, and the innovative clamping system for installing your new flight sim setup ensures there will never been any slipping or dislodging (although reinstallations can be frustrating, because the clamping force when using the optional suction pads is just that strong).

When it comes to actually taking to the skies, the Alpha Flight Controls is littered with satisfying, remappable buttons, switches, toggles, and more. Everything is easy to access and feels incredible to use, especially the reinforced steel yoke; here, you're getting full 180-degrees rotation with hall effect sensors for superior precision and long-term durability. It's effortlessly smooth, but I did wish for a little more tension when I reviewed the Honeycomb Aeronautic Alpha Flight Controls XPC. Overall, though, the actual experience of using this flight yoke is first-class.

To get the full experience, though, you'll also need to invest in Honeycomb's other accompanying peripherals, like the Bravo Throttle Quadrant and Charlie Rudder Pedals. If you plan to use the Alpha Flight Controls with these accessories on Xbox consoles (yes, there is full Xbox Series X|S compatibility), you'll need a separate hub to make it happen. It's also worth mentioning that I felt the Bravo Throttle Quadrant didn't impress quite as much as the Alpha Flight Controls when it came to the quality of its levers.

The full setup is incredibly expensive ($350 for the yoke, $280 for the throttle quadrant, etc.), although the sheer quality here is unparalleled at this price point — to find anything nicer, you'd have to spend considerably more. Finding the Honeycomb Aeronautic flight sim setup in stock and at reasonable prices can be difficult, however, so you may be better off checking the Honeycomb Aeronautic website.

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The best mid-range yoke for flight simulators

While delving into yokes isn't as affordable as your traditional entry-level gear, Logitech provides the best balance of price and product with its Logitech G Saitek PRO Flight Yoke System. The full functionality of a yoke and throttle comes bundled in a much less expensive package, providing all you need to take your virtual voyages to that next level. With Saitek, an established manufacturer in the space of flight simulator accessories, now under the Logitech family, you're looking at the go-to for all budding Flight Simulator pilots.

It's no surprise that this yoke is among the most widely used on the market. Logitech's latest yoke boasts sturdy plastic construction, fortified with a premium stainless-steel shaft to control your aircraft's attitude. The set provides over two dozen assignable buttons and switches, with three throttle knobs, delivering the expected granular control of an enthusiast setup. The design also includes a handy LED display, ideal for showing flight timers. Two rubberized screw-in clamps prevent the yoke from drifting across your desk.

While opting for a higher-end yoke may provide a smoother flight experience with added luxuries, Logitech provides an astronomical leap over a simple flight stick. There's a high value on offer when looking to keep costs low without sacrificing reliability and build quality. That proposition has remarkable weight considering its product category is primarily dominated by more expensive, enthusiast-geared alternatives.

You're also looking at a modular setup, with this bundle the gateway into the full Saitek lineup. The manufacturer also sells supplementary throttle quadrants, pedals, and interchangeable components to assemble a custom instrument panel — the Logitech G Aircraft Switch Panel and Instrument Panel being our favorites. While higher-priced alternatives will bolster functionality, what's on offer here impresses, nailing to essentials at its palatable price.

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The best budget yoke for flight simulators

When in the market for an entry-level yoke at the lowest available price, few hit the mark with execution like the CH Products Flight Sim Yoke. The tried and tested design hasn't evolved much in recent years, but it's an affordable, trusty, one-piece package for your flight essentials. The all-plastic design incorporates a yoke, integrated throttle, and even a handful of switches, only just surpassing $100.

Opting for this wallet-friendly peripheral won't provide the full Microsoft Flight Simulator experience. It's basic but not bad. If you pick up a yoke but watch your bank balance, it will cover your journey with steady handling and the fundamental hallmarks.

The design embraces lightweight plastic without the comfort or additional bonuses seen in other options. The yoke includes two rocker switches, four buttons, and an eight-way joystick coupled with two flip switches on the housing. CH Products also engineered integrated throttle, prop, and mixture levers up top, compacting a traditionally separate throttle quadrant into the same unit. And as with any recommended yoke, two clamps keep this tied down to your flight station.

What you see is what you get. It's an ideal buy for the casual buyer headed into Microsoft Flight Simulator or learning the ropes of virtual aviation. There are limitations, and any serious flyers will likely upgrade with time, but it's all you need to make that first leap from a controller or joystick.

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The best Xbox yoke for flight simulators

Microsoft Flight Simulator's expansion to consoles has spawned new Xbox-compatible accessories, including the all-inclusive VelocityOne Flight system from Turtle Beach. While better known for gaming headsets, the manufacturer recently debuted its first Flight Simulator-ready accessory, primed for Xbox consoles and Windows PCs.

The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight Universal Control System, extravagant naming aside, provides a simple but comprehensive setup for either beginners or seasoned pilots. The yoke, accompanying throttle quadrant, and wealth of ancillary switches and inputs each ensure complete control, from critical flight surfaces to lights and landing gear.

The yoke alone demonstrates attention to quality, with firm motions, 180-degree rotation, and responsive control over virtual aircraft. The chosen hall-effect sensor also provides extra confidence in the device's long-term durability. You get rocker switches, joysticks, various assignable buttons, and rear-mounted triggers to emulate rudder pedals. That's topped with the Flight Management Display, an integrated 1.5-inch LCD with quick access to control profiles while relaying some key flight metrics.

The accompanying throttle quadrant throws more inputs in the mix, from throttle levels to vernier controls, plus a dedicated trim wheel. There's also a status panel with various switches and LEDs, all tied to the game. While the throttle doesn't feel as refined as the yoke, it's impeccable in terms of function.

The VelocityOne Flight kit provides everything you need for a complete Flight Simulator experience on consoles or PC. But Xbox compatibility is the standout here, among the few manufacturers catering to console gamers in 2022. It's the only Xbox yoke available right now, and while more brands have pledged future support, it's by far the best way to play Flight Simulator on a console.

The VelocityOne Flight system isn't cheap, especially compared to standard Xbox gamepads. It's an all-in-one system that, while expensive compared to other yokes, comes out more affordable than rivals offering piecemeal components. It's a simple plug-and-play solution, easy to store between sessions, yet still ideal for diving in without limits. Turtle Beach condensed everything you need into one product, and for Xbox owners, there's nothing quite like it.

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Bottom line

Yokes provide the next immersive step beyond the best joysticks for civilian aircraft, with some even at affordable prices. Using a yoke better mirrors a real-world experience from the comfort of your desk, with precise control over altitude, invaluable with more advanced maneuvers.

These represent just the baseline available for Microsoft Flight Simulator, with enthusiast-geared models also available, far surpassing $1,000. But if you're dropping that cash on hyper-specialist hardware of that tier, you likely don't need our input to find which yoke is for you.

But when in the market for new accessories for the latest Microsoft Flight Simulator, the Honeycomb Aeronautic Alpha Flight Controls XPC provides one of the best experiences you will find at that price range. The device costs a small premium over alternatives for substantial quality-of-life adjustments, whether the comfort of its high-quality design or easy handling. But when looking for long-term value from your setup, this yoke guarantees a smooth experience throughout any virtual flight.

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