Have been flying now without a proper set of rudder pedals and I'm certainly not doing myself any favors putting off the purchase and using my G29 Racing wheel pedal set as a scab for the real thing. For fixed wing, I've done most of the flying with my feet on the ground so to speak, very little need for coordinated turning I find. 95% of the pedal use is for taxi and breaking.

This is not the case for Helicopters however, as the rudder seems to be entirely necessary and incredibly important; I don't want to learn with assists for rotation or translation, so I need to get used to using the pedals. I have a T-Flight Hotas from a decade ago, which I also need to replace as the throttle has that mid-point indent which is bad for fine collective control and the stick itself is not great. But I think the pedals might be more important, since I at least have a stick, even if its inferior.

So my questions for the crowd are:

What is more important for helicopter controls, a good set of rudder pedals or a proper stick? Is the stick extension worth it?

Thrustmaster makes an entry lever rudder set in that 200$ range that looks similar to the Saitek/Logitech one. They also have an 800$ set. I assume the difference is FFB - is FFB on the rudders worth the extra 600$? Definitely seems like the cheaper set is meant for planes only. Shame there's few options. I've read that without FFB you only have visual feedback to make minor corrections for hovering and taxi, and sometimes that visual feedback just isn't enough?

Comparing the actual flight sim rudder pedals to the automotive sim pedals, how are the axis different? I've never found a set in the wild to try out for feel, but looking online it seems the main difference is that the axis on the flight rudder set are connected - you push right and the left pedal comes forward. Is that correct? The 3-pack does not do this obviously and this is my main gripe with using it for helicopter flying, there's a constant pressure where the pedals want to return to the un-pressed position. I've been flying with both clutch and accelerator held at roughly half pressure, that way it feels more like the left-right movement of a proper rudder set - but that is very fatiguing on the legs.

Bonus Question: They make a 70-80$ USB lever action handbrake for racing sims - does anyone here think that would work as a collective (spring removed ofc)?

I think the Winwing Sim Orion rudder pedals are about the best out there, although I don't fly helicopters. They are adjustable, all metal and have an option to include a damper which I find very helpful.

I don't think Thrustmaster have FFB rudder.

The cheap end TFRP I recently using is not really good, the rail is not smooth especially under pressure, although it can be improved by apply some damping grease (see: https://www.avsim.com/forums/topic/581852-improving-your-hotas-setup-with-nyogel-767a-damping-grease/ )

Someone flying helicopter by rotate the TFRP 180 and push his feet against the tip of pedal... didn't try that myself, but with the same energy I fly helos with my throttle set rotated 90 degrees act as a collective...

Now I finally upgraded the pedal and I feel worth it, when I try to find the one for upgrade most of my friends online recommended SN-2 (maybe SN-1 if only for helos), however as my desk space is too narrow, the only one can fit in ended up be Turtle Beach V1

On 5/29/2026 at 7:24 AM, Kristofski said:

Have been flying now without a proper set of rudder pedals and I'm certainly not doing myself any favors putting off the purchase and using my G29 Racing wheel pedal set as a scab for the real thing. For fixed wing, I've done most of the flying with my feet on the ground so to speak, very little need for coordinated turning I find. 95% of the pedal use is for taxi and breaking.

This is not the case for Helicopters however, as the rudder seems to be entirely necessary and incredibly important; I don't want to learn with assists for rotation or translation, so I need to get used to using the pedals. I have a T-Flight Hotas from a decade ago, which I also need to replace as the throttle has that mid-point indent which is bad for fine collective control and the stick itself is not great. But I think the pedals might be more important, since I at least have a stick, even if its inferior.

So my questions for the crowd are:

What is more important for helicopter controls, a good set of rudder pedals or a proper stick? Is the stick extension worth it?

Thrustmaster makes an entry lever rudder set in that 200$ range that looks similar to the Saitek/Logitech one. They also have an 800$ set. I assume the difference is FFB - is FFB on the rudders worth the extra 600$? Definitely seems like the cheaper set is meant for planes only. Shame there's few options. I've read that without FFB you only have visual feedback to make minor corrections for hovering and taxi, and sometimes that visual feedback just isn't enough?

Comparing the actual flight sim rudder pedals to the automotive sim pedals, how are the axis different? I've never found a set in the wild to try out for feel, but looking online it seems the main difference is that the axis on the flight rudder set are connected - you push right and the left pedal comes forward. Is that correct? The 3-pack does not do this obviously and this is my main gripe with using it for helicopter flying, there's a constant pressure where the pedals want to return to the un-pressed position. I've been flying with both clutch and accelerator held at roughly half pressure, that way it feels more like the left-right movement of a proper rudder set - but that is very fatiguing on the legs.

Bonus Question: They make a 70-80$ USB lever action handbrake for racing sims - does anyone here think that would work as a collective (spring removed ofc)?

( @Kristofski I somehow hit submit before typing anything - apologies!)

If you have none, a set of rudder pedals is of paramount importance.

I have an old Logitech set that I use for flying all types of aircraft in several sims. They still sell the same set, fairly inexpensive.

I fly helos and/or air combat frequently, so the rudder pedals get constant use. No issues in all these years.

For stick and throttle, I’ve had a TM Warthog HOTAS that is also years old. Absolutely vital for flying combat helos and combat jets. Extremely convenient for flying everything else because I always have plenty of buttons available to bind 😁

While it’d be great to have one of the newer control sets, and/or a dedicated helo collective, what I have now works just fine and I don’t feel any compulsion to upgrade.

IMHO, it’s far more important to set up whatever physical controls you have in a manner such that they’re located roughly in the correct spatial relation as they would be in a real cockpit.

So, I have under-desk mounts for my controls that allow me to place the stick between my legs, the throttle to my lower left side, mouse & button box on the lower right, and a chair set at a height that is correct relative to the mounts.

After the rudder/anti-torque pedals, the next best thing you can do is buy a control stick extender. Its not nearly as important as pedals, but it will make a WORLD of difference in how smoothly you can fly just about every aircraft.

Don’t feel ANY need to go down the high end & force feedback route. Yes, they’re a worthwhile Improvement, but only if you’re flush with cash.

E.g., I’ll go for a dedicated collective before I go force feedback or high end pedals

HTH 🤙

Edited Monday at 05:08 PM4 days by UrgentSiesta

17 hours ago, C2615 said:

most of my friends online recommended SN-2

I hadn't seen these before, I don't think they are available in Canada; US amazon had a set though in the 350 USD range. These are proper heli pedals though so no toe breaks - I feel like, for the investment, its better to get a set that can do both.

2 hours ago, UrgentSiesta said:

If you have none, a set of rudder pedals is of paramount importance.

I have an old Logitech set that I use for flying all types of aircraft in several sims. They still sell the same set, fairly inexpensive.

I fly helos and/or air combat frequently, so the rudder pedals get constant use. No issues in all these years.

Assuming the Saitek ones? I have the Logitech Yoke and Throttle Quad, and my Racing wheel is the G29 (Also my mouse and KB are G series) I really do think Logitech makes a solid product, I've had their peripherals for years. Glad to hear about the longevity. The Thrustmaster pedals are in the same price range, but look very plastic. One of the reasons I've been using the G29 racing pedals is how well they are built, and the axis are surprisingly sensitive.

Moza has a nice throttle in the 280$ range; the Moza AFB stick is 550$ and seems like the minimum stick required for Force Trim to work correctly. All the cheaper sticks return to center on springs. I was able to fake it with my T-Flight junk for the past weekend, but man what a struggle. The Indent at the midpoint on the throttle is actually driving me nuts I've heard you can use a dremel and mod it to be smoother maybe. The cable that joins the stick and throttle is too short and makes placement haggard; You can use it center stick though. I MacGyver'd together a center stand for the T-flight stick out of an old guitar floor stand and some velcrotape lol

The real shame is how much I'm actually enjoying the helicopters in MSFS - unlocked the SAR missions over the weekend and there is literally hundreds of missions now (Plane SAR missions would generate 3-4 at a time)

Yep, the rebranded Saitek.

Toe brakes, too 😁

The TM Warthog I use is also centering spring.

I’ve been using it with various helo trim settings for so long that it doesn’t even bother me any longer. Get stable, press the button & hold, let the stick re-center, and…done! 🤙

Again, if you’ve got the extra cash and everything else is there, then yeah - go for it. But I can fly pretty well without FF, so I personally will add other stuff first.