I've recently started to get into the helicopter side of MSFS. Until now, I've been happy with Honeycomb Alpha, Bravo, and Thrustmaster TPR pedals for GA & commercial flying. What would the forum suggest as controller(s) to buy for helicopters - if looking for a similar quality/price point to what I already have? Grateful for any thoughts!

This is beyond the Honeycomb budget level, but I recommend the Virpil setup...

Flight Stick Base...

Virpil's base come with several springs, tension adjustment and cams with no center detent. With no center detent, you have a smooth and consistent travel around the center that helps with fine movements for hovering, landing  etc.

If your controller has a center detent, you are hindering your ability to make small fluid movements around the center as you have to increase pressure to get through the detent.

Flight Stick...

Virpil offers several sticks to choose from, however the extension (I have the 20mm extension) helps with leverage and small / nudging movements for precise Heli control.

https://virpil-controls.eu/vpc-flightstick-extension-200mm.html

Collective / Throttle...

Virpil also has Heli collective options. I have their jet throttle controller because I also use my controllers for GA "sitck" planes.

https://virpil-controls.eu/shop/collectives/collective-grips.html

https://virpil-controls.eu/shop/collectives/collective-bases.html

Pedals...

You got that covered. I wanted the TPRs, but at the time, they were too biog for my flight sim rig. So I went with Virpil pedals as well.

....

So again, Virpil is up there in price, but they made a big difference (especially the stick and extension) in my flight sim experience, especially with Helis and small precise movements (landing, hovering etc).

Edited December 18, 20223 yr by OverTheEDJ

3 hours ago, OverTheEDJ said:

https://virpil-controls.eu/shop/collectives/collective-bases.html

 

Do you happen to know what chairs are compatible with the Virpil collectives?  Or any resource related to that?

That's the only thing that makes me go "hmm..." about their collectives.  I'm sure they're great.

I have the Warthog HOTAS and MFG pedals which are OK.

The double throttle allows to differentiate the collective and the throttle. The joystick that I installed between my legs is a little stiff but useable. Its POV button is well placed for the trim. 

The main problem is between the chair and the controllers.

 

I have the Thrustmaster Warthog Hotas as my helicopter setup. I find it easier to controll the helicopter with a 10 cm extender to the stick and I´ve also recently bought two desktop clamps to quickly switch to the Honecomb Alpha and Bravo setup when needed. I´ve also removed the springs in the TPR pedals when flying the helicopter.

 

Edited December 18, 20223 yr by Cloudpiercing
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The versatility, price, and local availability of the Warthog HOTAS is very tempting. Might go with that as an initial purchase, and think about Virpil later if I really want an upgrade. Thanks all!

9 hours ago, Mace said:

Do you happen to know what chairs are compatible with the Virpil collectives?  Or any resource related to that?

That's the only thing that makes me go "hmm..." about their collectives.  I'm sure they're great.

The short answer is no.... I have not looked, but I imagine that their forum site may have some conversations around that question.

For me, I initially looked into rigs with multiple attachment points etc like https://www.gtomega.com/products/prime-cockpit

...but that turned out to be an expensive route given the money I was already shelling out for the 3 Virpil controllers. I fought the alternative for a while, but then settled on modifying my Obutto chair with some wood planks that I could drill and attach to my rig.

I am not sure what you are starting out with rig-wise, but there might be an opportunity to modify what you have. At least for me, a drill, wood, screws and paint went a long way towards building something custom for a fraction of the costs involved with getting another rig.

 

7 hours ago, MWJ81 said:

The versatility, price, and local availability of the Warthog HOTAS is very tempting. Might go with that as an initial purchase, and think about Virpil later if I really want an upgrade. Thanks all!

I would recommend you just go with Virpil and or VKB and skip the WH.

Both had a black friday sale, and may again around Christmas.

For anti-torque (rudder) pedals, mind that return-to-centre is much  less desirable for helis. 

Yes you could use a hotas throttle as 'collective'; maybe you could see how much you like helis first, and add a collective later.

Virpil has a generic collective chair attachment available, Monstertech has more options.

Prices for purpose built heli controls go up from there. See PFT Puma, Maxflighttech and Komodo.

go with this thrustmaster setup https://eshop.thrustmaster.com/en_us/t-flight-hotas-one.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAkfucBhBBEiwAFjbkrxc348eXicFK4r_H1rB0m4KXzu43KiUqPlYhvs37couXVksBuELiRhoC_YEQAvD_BwE

simple, small footprint, flexible, etc.

yeah, I got the others listed here, their up on my closet shelf.

Previous thread.

Virpil is having a Christmas sale right now.