Virpil Controls Overview: There’s a New Challenger in the World of Flying Sticks and Chokes

You can blame Microsoft Flight Simulator for the shortage of flight sticks we are experiencing. Logitech, Thrustmaster and many of the big name manufacturers are out of stock everywhere you look. The small product that is even available – even used equipment – applies to very high prices. Still other manufacturers take pre-orders and then knock out new units as quickly as possible. So, what is a budding flight or space sim enthusiast to do?

My advice, of course, is to give the scalpers a wide berth. If you get stuck Microsoft Flight Simulator – especially the large commercial aircraft – gives Honeycomb Aeronautical a chance. If you’re playing a more hardcore flight simulator, like something from the DCS World portfolio, you probably already know about VKB. The high equipment is currently in stock. But if you want to spend a relatively modest amount of money on a device for more general purposes – something that is possible with earthly and spaceflight – I recommend that you take a look at Virpil Controls, a small European company that does really remarkable work.

And just like everyone else, the terms of Virpil are on a new order as well. Nevertheless, late last year Virpil sent along a selection of his most popular flying outfits. I take it for a test drive on my custom flying tower. So far I have been very impressed.

My favorite set of kit is called the Virpil Constellation Alpha, which, along with a throttle, does a wonderful job of controlling commercial aircraft. It has many hat switches, plus a variety of triggers ideal for games in the IL-2 Sturmovik family or other high-end simulations. It’s also mostly plastic, but in a good way. It feels more robust than the Logitech X-52 and X-56, but lighter than the metal Thrustmaster warthog.

The Virpil Constellation Alpha also comes in a left-handed variant. This means you can easily arrange for a more complicated dual-stick setup. Also known as a HOSAS (hand-on-stick-and-stick) essay, I found that it changes the flying experience in both Star Citizenpersistent universe and Elite dangerous.

It is difficult to explain in words. Previously, I played space simulation games with a single stick and gas valve, known as a hands-on-throttle-and-stick (HOTAS) setup. Swapping the throttle for another stick meant I had to keep the left stick constantly forward to keep the front push. But by pulling back on the stick, I got easy access to the reverse thrust, which makes the delay and change of directions in space much funnier. The right stick still has complete control over the pitch and jaw, while the rudder pedals handle the roll. But now I can use the axes of rotation of the two sticks to handle penalty (right) and up and down (left). Previously, these features sat on a small cap switch on my throttle.

After a few hours of HOSAS practice, I suddenly found myself with more precise and immediate control over my virtual spaceships than ever before. Vectors previously transferred to the keyboard or small hat switches are now integrated into the joysticks themselves. I can hit the gas on the main propeller to accelerate forward, turn my ship in its place, then turn left, while also moving slightly down and sliding to the right. all at the same time. The impact was particularly prominent in Star Citizen, which has much faster ships and much more aggressive battles. HOSAS made me a more difficult target and helped improve my own goal – especially with fixed weapons.

Better yet, the thumb sticks on the side of the Constellation mean you can navigate on foot without ever taking your hands off the joysticks. It has the experience in Star Citizen, who walks surprisingly much, much more pleasantly. It is also likely to have the same impact as Elite Dangerous: Odyssey starts later this year and adds the first person, foot game to the spatial game.

Another highlight for me was Virpil’s Ace Interceptor Rudder Pedals. I’ve had pretty good experience with the Thrustmaster TPR Pendular Rudder Pedals over the last few years, but it hangs on a large central column that takes up a lot of space in my office. Virpil pedals are much, much lower on the floor and offer a wider stance – which I really appreciate as a 6’6 ”man. Ace pedals also have a much better mounting solution in my opinion compared to the TPR pedals. Out of the box, Virpil’s large, gripping rubber feet remain on most surfaces. You can also remove about an inch from the pedals, by pulling off the rubber legs and the entire bottom frame to attach it directly to a custom fly seat.

Although the feeders alone are excellent, Virpil also has a range of surprisingly affordable custom mounting solutions. For about $ 70 you can get the Virpil Desk Mount V3-S. It has a dead simple clamp with an adjustable bite, which allows you to switch to grab and hold the edge of your desk surface. They release quickly, and this makes storage a breeze. They are also beautifully coated with powder and contain all the bolts you need to make the attachment to the Constellation. The V3-S also opens the door to additional customization options, including holders that hang a keyboard, mouse pad, additional button boxes and more of the same emphasis.

Note that you need to mount two V3-S devices on the table for a HOSAS solution using the Virpil Constellation sticks, which brings the price of accessories to $ 140. If you would rather use one of Virpil’s fully customizable gas cabinets with a HOTAS solution, you will need a slightly larger version of the clamp and a special adapter plate. That brings the price of a complete HOTAS mounting solution closer to $ 180.

Overall, I have been bullied with these Virpil controls. They have a good balance between price point and features, and sit comfortably between classics like the Logitech X-52 and the Thrustmaster T16000, and higher end products from Thrustmaster and VKB. They also have just the right amount of charge, and they feel like a significant upgrade over the types of fly rods I’ve used over the past decade.

However, there are some caveats.

First, the documentation on these products ranges from terrible to non-existent. Even a basic compilation drove me to YouTube, where I froze foreign language boxing videos for hours to figure out which screw was going where. Similarly, when it comes to calibration and programming, you’ll have to find your own way with the community of users on YouTube and on message boards, as Virpil offers almost no help getting things square.

Second, know that the current incarnation of the Virpil gas box for most users may simply be too much. It has about twice as many buttons as Microsoft Windows recognizes on a game controller, which means you have to take a little extra time to configure it before jumping into a game. If you are going to HOTAS, I would recommend getting something from Thrustmaster instead.

I also noticed some defective material in the amount of products I received. The non-marking plates on the fastening equipment, for example, started to slip after a few weeks of continuous use. I also had several screw heads broken when I tried to remove them, either because I was made of weak metal or because I stuck too much glue.

With these limitations in mind, I still cannot recommend Virpil. After nearly a decade of modest, incremental improvements in space, it’s nice to see a manufacturer innovate with their flying sticks. There is even a series of collective grips on the way, which will be perfect for the new helicopters heading to DCS World and Microsoft Flight Simulator in the not-too-distant future.