Best Flight Stick and HOTAS for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024

Our three picks

• Best value · for most simmers

  

  VelocityOne Flightstick II

  • $100–200
  • Best for Xbox & PC

  Nearly everything the top pick does for a lot less that Amazon can ship now: Hall-effect sensors, a throttle built into the base and a twist rudder, on PC and Xbox.

  MSFS 2024 score: 86.8/100

  Check price on Amazon

• Best overall

  

  VelocityOne H.O.T.A.S.

  • $200–300
  • Best for All-rounder

  The highest-scoring stick here: Hall-effect sensors, its own throttle and a twist rudder, on PC and Xbox.

  MSFS 2024 score: 89.1/100

  Check price on Amazon

• Best budget

  

  Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS

  • Under $100
  • Best for First stick

  The least expensive stick here with Hall-effect sensors, so it won't drift: Hall-effect sensors, a throttle slider and a twist rudder.

  MSFS 2024 score: 71.1/100

  Check price on Amazon

Pick by how you fly

Airbus pilot, console simmer or fighter jock? Start here.

• Best for Airbus

  

  Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus

  Under $100 · PC

  A licensed 1:1 A320 sidestick with a throttle axis in the base. On Xbox, get the Thrustmaster TCA Captain Pack X Airbus.

  Check price

• Best for Xbox

  

  Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One

  $100–200 · PC · Xbox

  The least expensive way to fly with a stick on Xbox Series X|S: standard sensors, its own throttle and a twist rudder. Works on PC too.

  Check price

• Best for PS5

  

  Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas 5

  $100–200 · PC · PS5

  One of the few sticks Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 supports on PS5: Hall-effect sensors, its own throttle and a twist rudder. Works on PC too.

  Amazon isn't shipping it right now; the button shows when it will.

  Check availability

• Best for fighter jets

  

  Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog MKII

  Over $300 · PC

  All-metal replicas of a fighter stick and a dual throttle, built to sit next to rudder pedals.

  Check price

• Best all-in-one kit

  

  Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS Flight Pack

  $200–300 · PC

  Stick, throttle and rudder pedals in one box, so you never have to match brands later.

  Check price

All 12 flight sticks side by side

Every flight stick side by side, with the MSFS 2024 score

Flight stick	Works on	Sensors	Throttle	Rudder	Best for	Score	Price
1 VelocityOne H.O.T.A.S. Best overall · $200–300	PC · Xbox	Hall effect contactless, no drift	Own throttle	Twist grip either hand	All-rounder	89.1	Check price
2 VelocityOne Flightstick II Best value · $100–200	PC · Xbox	Hall effect contactless, no drift	On the base	Twist grip either hand	Xbox & PC	86.8	Check price
3 Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas 5 $100–200	PC · PS5	Hall effect contactless, no drift	Own throttle	Twist grip right hand	PS5	86.5	Check stock
4 Thrustmaster TCA Captain Pack X Airbus $200–300	PC · Xbox	Hall effect contactless, no drift	Own throttle Airbus quadrant	Twist grip either hand	Airbus airliners	86.1	Check price
5 Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog MKII Over $300	PC only	Hall effect contactless, no drift	Own throttle	Pedals needed right hand	Fighter jets	79.5	Check price
6 Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS Flight Pack $200–300	PC only	Hall effect contactless, no drift	Own throttle pedals included	Twist grip either hand	Complete PC kit	78.6	Check price
7 Thrustmaster TCA Officer Pack Airbus $100–200	PC only	Hall effect contactless, no drift	Own throttle Airbus quadrant	Twist grip either hand	Airbus airliners	78.6	Check price
8 Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus Under $100	PC only	Hall effect contactless, no drift	On the base	Twist grip either hand	Airbus on a budget	76.3	Check price
9 Logitech X52 Pro $100–200	PC only	Hall effect contactless, no drift	Own throttle	Twist grip right hand	PC HOTAS	76.0	Check price
10 Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS Best budget · Under $100	PC only	Hall effect contactless, no drift	Small slider	Twist grip either hand	First stick	71.1	Check price
11 Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One $100–200	PC · Xbox	Sensors not stated no Hall-effect claim	Own throttle	Twist grip right hand	First Xbox stick	68.5	Check price
12 Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X Under $100	PC only	Sensors not stated no Hall-effect claim	Own throttle	Twist grip right hand	Tightest budget	61.0	Check price

The 12 best flight sticks for MSFS 2024, ranked

1. 
   #1 Best overall

   VelocityOne H.O.T.A.S.

   • $200–300
   • PC · Xbox
   • Hall-effect sensors

   89.1 /100 MSFS 2024 score

   Best for: one setup for props, airliners, jets and helicopters on Xbox or PC

   The VelocityOne H.O.T.A.S. suits simmers who want one setup for props, airliners, jets and helicopters, with a dual throttle you can set for the climb and leave. The catch is that it's brand new, so long-term owner reports are thin, and the build is plastic rather than metal.

   Watch out for

   • Brand new (September 2026), so there aren't many long-term owner reports yet. Turtle Beach's first VelocityOne sticks have been around since 2022.

   Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

   Strengths and trade-offs

   Strengths

   • Hall-effect sensors on the main axes (contactless magnets instead of rubbing parts) hold a steady center, so the nose stays put when you click off the autopilot on short final and hand-fly the last few hundred feet.
   • Most sticks for this kind of money bolt a small throttle lever onto the side of the grip; here the throttle is its own unit with two levers, so you can set climb power on a twin, leave it alone and spend your hands on trim and the flight plan.
   • With 15 axes and 73 programmable inputs, an ambidextrous grip and adjustable spring tension, it fits a heavy Airbus climb, a jet in the overhead, and a helicopter hover where you want a lighter spring — and you can still add rudder pedals later for the fiddly stuff.

   Trade-offs

   • It only arrived in September 2026, so there's no pile of long-term owner feedback yet on how the twist grip and springs hold up after a year of crosswind landings; Turtle Beach's earlier VelocityOne sticks have been out since 2022, but this one hasn't had that time.
   • The body is plastic, not metal, and no rudder pedals come in the box — the next step up in price is where you start seeing metal construction, and proper pedals are still a separate purchase if you want fine centerline control on a gusty day.
2. 
   #2 Best value

   VelocityOne Flightstick II

   • $100–200
   • PC · Xbox
   • Hall-effect sensors

   86.8 /100 MSFS 2024 score

   Best for: one stick for every kind of aircraft on Xbox or PC, without a separate throttle

   The VelocityOne Flightstick II suits simmers who want one unit for airliners, GA and helicopters, with throttle levers on the base so you can set climb power and leave it. The trade-off is twist-grip rudder rather than real pedals, and the body is plastic.

   Watch out for

   • Brand new (September 2026), so there aren't many long-term owner reports yet. Turtle Beach's first VelocityOne sticks have been around since 2022.

   Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

   Strengths and trade-offs

   Strengths

   • Hall-effect sensors on the main axes read the stick with magnets instead of rubbing parts, so the center stays put — click off the autopilot on short final and the nose stays where you left it instead of drifting.
   • Throttle levers are built into the base, which is rare for a single stick at this money — most alternatives leave you shopping for a separate throttle later, while here you can set an Airbus climb power and leave it while you trim.
   • With 8 axes, 38 programmable inputs, adjustable spring tension and an ambidextrous grip you can set for either hand, it covers a jet, a light single and a helicopter hover on one desk — and you can still add rudder pedals later when you want them.

   Trade-offs

   • It is brand new, so there are very few long-term owner reports yet on how the springs and switches hold up after a few hundred hours of pattern work; Turtle Beach has been making VelocityOne sticks for a while, but this one has no track record.
   • The body is plastic, and rudder comes from twisting the grip. The next step up in price buys metal-bodied gear and a separate throttle unit with a detent — the notch you can feel when you pull back to idle or into reverse thrust on rollout.
3. 
   #3

   Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas 5

   • $100–200
   • PC · PS5
   • Hall-effect sensors

   86.5 /100 MSFS 2024 score

   Best for: MSFS 2024 on PS5, and on PC too

   The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas 5 suits simmers moving up from a gamepad in MSFS 2024, with Hall-effect magnetic sensors that hold a steady center on short final. Rudder comes from twisting the grip, so there are no pedals in the box, and the grip is right-handed only.

   Watch out for

   • Buying for PS5? Make sure the box says Hotas 5 (or the older Hotas 4). The Xbox Hotas One looks almost the same but won't work on PS5.

   Check availability on Amazon Full breakdown →

   Amazon isn't shipping this one right now; the button shows when it will.

   Strengths and trade-offs

   Strengths

   • The main axes use Hall effect sensors, which read your inputs with magnets instead of rubbing parts, so the stick keeps a reliable center and the nose doesn't creep when you click off the autopilot and hand-fly the last mile to the runway.
   • You get a throttle as its own unit rather than a lever bolted beside your thumb, which is rare for what this money usually buys — set climb power on an Airbus departure, let go, and spend both hands on trim and the flight plan.
   • With 5 axes, 14 programmable inputs and adjustable spring tension, it fits both a light trainer and a heavy jet: soften the spring for gentle sightseeing, firm it up for holding a steady bank in turbulence, and add Thrustmaster TFRP pedals later if you want proper feet on the rudder.

   Trade-offs

   • On PS5 you must check the box actually says Hotas 5 (or the older Hotas 4) — the Xbox-licensed Hotas One looks nearly identical but will not be seen by MSFS on a PlayStation, so a careless order means a return instead of a first flight.
   • The base and grip are plastic and the rudder is a twist of the stick, so twisting hard during a gusty crosswind landing can tug your aileron hand slightly; the next step up in price brings metal parts and separate pedals that keep rudder and roll fully independent.
4. 
   #4

   Thrustmaster TCA Captain Pack X Airbus

   • $200–300
   • PC · Xbox
   • Hall-effect sensors

   86.1 /100 MSFS 2024 score

   Best for: flying Airbus jets with the sidestick and the throttle quadrant, on Xbox or PC

   The Thrustmaster TCA Captain Pack X Airbus suits Airbus flyers on PC or Xbox, pairing a 1:1 A320 sidestick replica with its own throttle quadrant you can set for the climb and leave. Spring tension is fixed and no rudder pedals are included, so you steer with the twist grip.

   Watch out for

   • Buying for Xbox? Make sure it's this X version. The TCA Officer Pack (no X) is the same idea but PC only.

   Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

   Strengths and trade-offs

   Strengths

   • The main axes use Hall effect sensors, meaning contactless magnetic sensing with no scraping parts, so the stick returns to a steady center and the nose doesn't drift when you click off the autopilot on short final.
   • The throttle is its own unit rather than a small lever bolted to the stick base, which is rare for what this money usually buys: you can set climb power on the quadrant and leave it there while you trim and watch the speed tape.
   • With 8 axes, 45 programmable inputs and an ambidextrous grip you can set up for the left or right hand, it fits the Airbus seat you prefer, and Thrustmaster TFRP pedals plug straight into it later if you want real rudder.

   Trade-offs

   • If you fly MSFS on Xbox Series X|S, make sure you get this X version: the console only accepts sticks licensed for Xbox, the non-X TCA Officer Pack is PC only, and Xbox Cloud Gaming won't take a flight stick at all.
   • Spring tension is fixed and the construction is plastic, so you can't firm up the centering spring for holding a steady bank in turbulence; adjustable tension and metal parts are what the next step up in price buys.
5. 
   #5

   Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog MKII

   • Over $300
   • PC
   • Hall-effect sensors

   79.5 /100 MSFS 2024 score

   Best for: military jets, with rudder pedals alongside

   The Thrustmaster HOTAS Warthog MKII suits military jet flying in MSFS, with Hall-effect sensors (contactless magnets, no scraping parts) that hold center when you roll out on final. There's no twist rudder and it's right-handed and PC-only, so budget for pedals and a solid desk.

   Watch out for

   • No twist rudder: you steer on the ground and in crosswinds with rudder pedals, so budget for a set.
   • Heavy: Thrustmaster lists the set at about 6.5 kg (14 lb) of metal, so give it a solid desk or proper mounts.

   Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

   Strengths and trade-offs

   Strengths

   • Hall-effect sensors on the main axes read stick position with magnets instead of rubbing contacts, so the center stays put and the nose doesn't wander when you click off the autopilot on short final.
   • It ships with its own dual throttle unit rather than a small lever on the stick base, so you can set climb power and leave it while you trim, or ride two levers on a twin — at this price point plenty of alternatives still make you buy a throttle separately.
   • Metal construction, swappable grips and 36 programmable inputs suit fast-jet pilots who want gear, flaps, trim and views under the fingers, and it grows neatly once you add rudder pedals and whatever else lives on your desk.

   Trade-offs

   • No twist rudder, so ground steering down the taxiway centerline and holding wings level in a crosswind landing both need a separate set of rudder pedals, and the set weighs about 6.5 kg (14 lb) of metal that wants a sturdy desk or proper mounts.
   • Spring tension is fixed, so you can't soften the center for slow helicopter hovering or firm it up for jet work, and the grip is right-handed only.
6. 
   #6

   Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS Flight Pack

   • $200–300
   • PC
   • Pedals included

   78.6 /100 MSFS 2024 score

   Best for: a stick, throttle and rudder pedals in one box

   The Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS Flight Pack suits simmers who want stick, throttle and rudder pedals in one box, with contactless Hall-effect sensors that hold the center steady on short final. The trade-off is PC only, plastic parts and a fixed spring you can't adjust.

   Watch out for

   • PC only: it won't work on Xbox or PS5, even with an adapter.

   Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

   Strengths and trade-offs

   Strengths

   • The main axes use Hall-effect sensors, which read your input with magnets instead of rubbing contacts, so the center stays put — hold a steady bank in a Cessna or click off the autopilot on final and the nose doesn't drift on its own.
   • You get a separate throttle unit rather than a small lever hanging off the stick, so you can set climb power for an Airbus and leave it there while you trim and work the radios — most of what else sits at this price is a stick on its own.
   • The ambidextrous grip can be set up for the left or right hand, and the rudder pedals in the box mean taxiing and crosswind landings are already covered, so a gamepad simmer gets a full three-piece cockpit in one purchase.

   Trade-offs

   • PC only — it won't work on Xbox Series X|S or PS5, even with an adapter, so if you fly MSFS 2024 on a console this pack is off the table.
   • Spring tension is fixed and the build is plastic, so you can't firm up the stick for heavy-jet hand-flying; the next step up in price is where you find adjustable tension and metal construction.
7. 
   #7

   Thrustmaster TCA Officer Pack Airbus

   • $100–200
   • PC
   • Hall-effect sensors

   78.6 /100 MSFS 2024 score

   Best for: flying Airbus jets with the sidestick and the throttle quadrant

   The Thrustmaster TCA Officer Pack Airbus suits Airbus flyers on PC: a 1:1 A320 sidestick replica with a separate throttle quadrant you can set for the climb and leave. Rudder comes from twisting the grip, spring tension is fixed, and it won't work on Xbox or PS5.

   Watch out for

   • PC only: it won't work on Xbox or PS5, even with an adapter.

   Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

   Strengths and trade-offs

   Strengths

   • Hall-effect sensors on the main axes read the stick with magnets instead of rubbing parts, so the center stays put and the nose doesn't drift when you click off the autopilot on short final.
   • A lot of what else this money buys is a single stick with a small thumb lever; here you get a dedicated throttle quadrant, so you can set climb power on the A320 and leave it alone while you trim and watch the speed.
   • The ambidextrous grip can be set up for the left hand like an A320 captain's sidestick, and with 6 axes and 28 programmable inputs you can map flaps, autopilot and lights without reaching for the keyboard; add rudder pedals later and the twist axis can step aside.

   Trade-offs

   • PC only: it won't work on Xbox Series X|S or PS5, even with an adapter, so console simmers flying MSFS should look elsewhere (PS5 only speaks to a few Thrustmaster controls such as the T.Flight Hotas 4 and 5 and the PS5 TCA Sky Yoke).
   • The next step up in price brings adjustable spring tension and metal construction; this one has fixed tension and a plastic body, and rudder comes from twisting the grip rather than pedals, which is fiddly when you're holding a bank and feeding in yaw on a crosswind landing.
8. 
   #8

   Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus

   • Under $100
   • PC
   • Hall-effect sensors

   76.3 /100 MSFS 2024 score

   Best for: an Airbus sidestick feel with a throttle built into the base

   The Thrustmaster TCA Sidestick Airbus suits PC simmers who fly the A320, with a throttle lever built into the base so you can set climb power and leave it while you trim. The catch: it is PC only, spring tension is fixed, and rudder comes from twisting the grip.

   Watch out for

   • The throttle is an axis on the stick's base. For a real lever quadrant with detents, step up to the Officer Pack, or add the TCA Quadrant later.
   • PC only: it won't work on Xbox or PS5, even with an adapter.

   Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

   Strengths and trade-offs

   Strengths

   • Hall-effect sensors read the stick with magnets instead of rubbing contacts, so the center stays steady and the nose doesn't wander when you click the autopilot off on short final.
   • The throttle lever lives in the stick's base, so you can set climb power and leave it alone while you trim and watch the speed; at this price a lot of what else is sold is a stick and nothing else, with throttle left on the keyboard.
   • It's an officially licensed 1:1 A320 sidestick replica with an ambidextrous grip, so you can set it up on the left like the captain's seat, and its 17 programmable inputs cover flaps, gear, views and autopilot — add rudder pedals later and the setup grows with you.

   Trade-offs

   • The throttle is an axis on the base rather than a lever quadrant with detents (the notches you feel for climb or TOGA power), so Airbus thrust settings mean watching the display instead of feeling a stop; a proper quadrant is a separate purchase later.
   • Spring tension is fixed and the body is plastic, so you can't lighten or stiffen the centering force for a long hand-flown leg — adjustable tension and metal parts are what the next step up in price tends to buy you.
9. 
   #9

   Logitech X52 Pro

   • $100–200
   • PC
   • Hall-effect sensors

   76.0 /100 MSFS 2024 score

   Best for: a full stick and throttle with plenty of buttons on PC

   The Logitech X52 Pro suits PC simmers who want a full stick and throttle, with Hall-effect magnetic sensors that hold center when you click off the autopilot on short final. It's PC only, the stick's spring tension is fixed, and the rudder comes from twisting the grip.

   Watch out for

   • An older design (it launched under the Saitek name in 2007), and the stick's spring tension can't be adjusted, only the throttle's.
   • PC only: it won't work on Xbox or PS5, even with an adapter.

   Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

   Strengths and trade-offs

   Strengths

   • The main axes use Hall effect sensors, meaning contactless magnetic sensing with no scraping parts to wear, so the center stays steady and the nose doesn't drift while you hold a bank round onto base.
   • At this price most options hang a small lever off the stick base; here the throttle is its own unit you can sit where your left hand rests, so you can set climb power and leave it while you trim out an Airbus climb.
   • Right-handed grip with plenty of buttons suits GA and airliner flying on PC, and it grows later if you add rudder pedals and a throttle quadrant alongside it.

   Trade-offs

   • It's an older design that launched under the Saitek name in 2007, and the stick's spring is fixed, so you can't soften it for the small, slow inputs that hovering a helicopter asks for; only the throttle's tension adjusts.
   • The next step up in price buys metal construction and a stick whose tension you can dial in, where this one is plastic with a fixed spring and leans on twist rudder rather than coming with pedals.
10. 
    #10 Best budget

    Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS

    • Under $100
    • PC
    • Hall-effect sensors

    71.1 /100 MSFS 2024 score

    Best for: a first stick that won't drift, for any aircraft on PC

    The Thrustmaster T.16000M FCS suits a first stick buyer in MSFS: Hall-effect magnetic sensors keep the center steady, so a trimmed Cessna holds its bank instead of drifting. The trade-off is the small throttle slider on the base and PC-only support.

    Watch out for

    • The throttle is a small slider on the base. It works, but a separate throttle you can set and leave feels much more like the real thing.
    • PC only: it won't work on Xbox or PS5, even with an adapter.

    Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

    Strengths and trade-offs

    Strengths

    • The main pitch and roll axes use Hall effect sensing, meaning contactless magnetic sensors with nothing rubbing to wear out, so the stick keeps a true center and the nose doesn't wander when you click off the autopilot on short final.
    • The twist grip gives you rudder by twisting the stick, so you can straighten the nose in a crosswind landing with a turn of the wrist instead of adding pedals on day one — and plenty of what this money buys elsewhere still uses contact sensors that drift as they age, where this one is magnetic.
    • With 4 axes, 16 programmable inputs and an ambidextrous grip you can set up for the left or right hand, it fits anyone stepping off a gamepad: bind flaps, gear, trim and a view hat for a Cessna circuit, then add rudder pedals later and move the rudder off the twist.

    Trade-offs

    • The throttle is a small slider on the base, so an Airbus climb means reaching down and nudging a short lever rather than setting climb power on a separate throttle and leaving it there while you trim.
    • The next step up in price buys a separate throttle unit on its own base and adjustable spring tension; here the spring is fixed and the build is plastic, so you can't dial in a heavier feel for long hand-flown legs.
11. 
    #11

    Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One

    • $100–200
    • PC · Xbox

    68.5 /100 MSFS 2024 score

    Best for: a first stick and throttle on Xbox, at the lowest price

    The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas One suits a first stick and throttle on Xbox or PC, with a separate throttle you can set for the climb and leave while you trim. Thrustmaster doesn't state contactless Hall-effect sensors, so some drift is possible and a small dead zone usually fixes it.

    Watch out for

    • Thrustmaster doesn't say this stick uses contactless (Hall-effect) sensors. Sticks without them can get jittery or drift after a lot of flying; a calibration or a small dead zone usually fixes it.
    • On Xbox it needs a Series X|S. Xbox Cloud Gaming (Xbox One, phones, browsers) doesn't support flight sticks, and it won't work on PS5: that's the Hotas 5.

    Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

    Strengths and trade-offs

    Strengths

    • The detachable throttle is its own unit, so you can set cruise power on an Airbus climb and leave your right hand on the stick for the turn onto the departure heading, instead of nudging a gamepad trigger.
    • At this price most options are a stick on its own; here you get a stick, a throttle and a twist grip that acts as your rudder, so you can hold the centerline in a crosswind landing without buying anything else.
    • Adjustable spring tension helps you hold a steady bank in a Cessna, and 5 axes with 14 programmable inputs give you flaps, gear, trim and views on the grip; Thrustmaster TFRP pedals can plug in later on console if you want proper feet.

    Trade-offs

    • Thrustmaster makes no contactless (Hall-effect, meaning no parts rubbing) sensor claim, so after a lot of flying the center can get jittery and the nose may wander when you click off the autopilot on short final; a recalibration or a small dead zone in the control settings normally sorts it.
    • The next step up in price brings metal parts, stated contactless sensors and separate rudder pedals, while this one is plastic, right-handed only and twist-rudder; on Xbox it also needs a Series X|S, since Cloud Gaming on Xbox One, phones and browsers won't take a flight stick and PS5 isn't supported at all.
12. 
    #12

    Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X

    • Under $100
    • PC

    61.0 /100 MSFS 2024 score

    Best for: the least expensive proper stick and throttle on PC

    The Thrustmaster T.Flight Hotas X suits gamepad and keyboard flyers stepping into MSFS, since its own detachable throttle lets you set climb power and leave it while you trim. The trade-off is standard sensors, a plastic build and PC-only support.

    Watch out for

    • Thrustmaster doesn't say this stick uses contactless (Hall-effect) sensors. Sticks without them can get jittery or drift after a lot of flying; a calibration or a small dead zone usually fixes it.
    • PC only: it won't work on Xbox or PS5, even with an adapter.

    Check price on Amazon Full breakdown →

    Strengths and trade-offs

    Strengths

    • The throttle is its own unit, so you can set climb power in a Cessna or an Airbus and leave your left hand there while your right hand flies the stick and trims.
    • You get a stick, a separate throttle and a twist grip for rudder in one box, where a lot of what this money buys is a bare stick with the throttle crammed onto the base and no rudder axis at all.
    • With 5 axes, 12 programmable inputs and adjustable spring tension, it fits light GA flying and casual airliner legs, and it still makes sense later when you add rudder pedals and hand the rudder over to your feet.

    Trade-offs

    • It is PC only, so it will not work on Xbox Series X|S or PS5, and no adapter changes that.
    • Thrustmaster never claims contactless Hall-effect sensors (magnets instead of sliding contacts), so after a lot of flying the stick can drift or twitch and leave the nose wandering on short final; the next step up in price buys those sensors and sturdier parts instead of all plastic.

What to add next

Most simmers grow a setup in this order: stick, then rudder pedals, then a throttle quadrant or a yoke for the airliners. Our cockpit guide shows how it all fits together, and the controller guide checks Xbox and PS5 support.

• Rudder Pedals Ranked for MSFS 2024
• Throttle Quadrant Ranked for MSFS 2024
• Flight Yoke Ranked for MSFS 2024
• VR Headset Ranked for MSFS 2024
• Monitor Ranked for MSFS 2024
• Sim Seat Ranked for MSFS 2024

Frequently asked questions

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Further reading

• The Best Flight Simulators in 2026, RankedThe 8 best flight simulators of 2026, ranked: MSFS 2024, X-Plane 12, DCS World and the best free sims, with what each costs, runs on and needs.
• How to Build a Home Flight Simulator Cockpit: The Complete 2026 GuideEverything a beginner needs to build a home flight simulator: the sim, PC or console, controls, screens, VR and seats, plus three complete setups to copy.
• How to Use the Google Earth Flight Simulator (Web and Earth Pro)Google Earth's free flight simulator now runs in your browser, too. How to open it on the web or in Earth Pro, every control for PC and Mac, and how to land.
• History of Microsoft Flight Simulator: Every Version, 1982–2024Microsoft Flight Simulator came out in 1982, three years before Windows. Every version since, the 40th Anniversary Edition, and what each one needed to run.
• Which Controllers Work With Microsoft Flight Simulator on PC, Xbox and PS5?Check any joystick, yoke or pedals for MSFS 2024 on PC, Xbox or PS5 in seconds. See what works, what needs a hub, and our best picks for each platform.
• X-Plane 12 vs Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024: Which Should You Buy?X-Plane 12 vs Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 (and 2020): flight model, scenery, VR, PC needs and price compared, with a quick quiz to pick yours.

How we rank