Bottom Line Up Front: Excellent product! I think it is much better than the other popular yokes at/around this price point though it's slightly more expensive. I've owned this yoke now for over 5 months and I've used it often. No issues at this point in terms of reliability.
Discussion:
I've been flight sim guy for off / on 10+ years. There are 4 fairly popular flight yokes that I've seen on the market..CH Products Yoke, Saitek Yoke, Red Bird Yoke and this yoke from Honeycomb--the Alpha. All are good products for flight simulation.
The Redbird Yoke is by far the most expensive and is somewhat in another league in terms of what you get--I know these yokes are used in FAA approved flight simulators around the world and are much more expensive than the other 3...but given the FAA credentials may be worth it if you are looking for this.
I own the other 3 yokes--hands down the Alpha Yoke is by far the best of these. The Saitek yoke is a good looking yoke and the material feel is good (better quality plastic than CH Yoke). Also, it has more buttons and extra functions like timer, etc....which are useful and handy. However, it has a critical flaw in that there is a detent at center making smooth flight control very difficult for me. The control of sim felt very unnatural compared to flying real airplanes (I started to notice it more when I began taking real world flight lessons--I could not use the Saitek anymore). I then purchased the only other option at the time--the CH Yoke. The CH Yoke feels has a better control feel -- smoother inputs...no annoying detent making it easier to control the sim and better represent real world flying to me. However, the plastics are very cheap feeling texture which does detract from the experience. That said, I used the CH because it did not suffer from the detent issue like I felt in the Saitek which made flying simulator much better for me.
Once Alpha yoke came to market, I decided to give it a chance because of reviews from other flight sim users. The Alpha costs ~$100 more than both the CH and Saitek but it is well worth it in my opinion because there is no compromise. It represents the best of both worlds in smooth flight control feel as well as very good construction, very good quality plastics and the price--though higher than CH and Saitek--is worth the no compromise in my opinion and at a price point which is very fair considering what you get. Also the Alpha has greater range of motion (180 degrees vs the other 2 that don't have this). It's just better yoke in all areas over the other two I own.
other notes: The mounting is easy but it can be hard to get off desk (depending on your desk material) if installed for a long time due to the sticky material on base of the yoke. However, sticking base is easy thing to prevent (keep the thin piece of plastic protector which comes to protect it on the base and this has helped me prevent to sticking when I want to remove it). All and all this is an excellent product.
Honeycomb Aeronautical Alpha Flight Controls Yoke & Switch Panel
4.8 | 882 ratings
Price: 279.99
Last update: 11-01-2024
About this item
The Honeycomb Alpha Flight Controls Yoke & Switch Panel is the most advanced flight simulation system available to simmers, flight students, and pilots. The yoke has a realistic full 180° yoke rotation and a solid steel shaft with dual linear ball bearings that provide smooth control
The yoke features a dampened, self-centering mechanism with no center detent or minimal to no dead zone. The base includes a Switch Panel with master, alternator, avionics, and light switches, as well as a 5-position ignition switch
The left and right handles feature one 8-way hat switch, two vertical and two horizontal 2-way rocker switches, three buttons, and a push to talk button
The Dual Mounting Solution allows for full use with or without clamps. The yoke comes with two steel heavy-duty clamps, which you can attach firmly and secure the yoke. For thicker tabletops, a large 3M Micro-Suction Pad that produces 40lbs of tensile strength can be used for a clamp-free solution
The Honeycomb Alpha Flight Controls Yoke & Switch Panel was designed and developed in California by pilots and aerospace engineers to ensure the most realistic flight simulation experience possible
The yoke features a dampened, self-centering mechanism with no center detent or minimal to no dead zone. The base includes a Switch Panel with master, alternator, avionics, and light switches, as well as a 5-position ignition switch
The left and right handles feature one 8-way hat switch, two vertical and two horizontal 2-way rocker switches, three buttons, and a push to talk button
The Dual Mounting Solution allows for full use with or without clamps. The yoke comes with two steel heavy-duty clamps, which you can attach firmly and secure the yoke. For thicker tabletops, a large 3M Micro-Suction Pad that produces 40lbs of tensile strength can be used for a clamp-free solution
The Honeycomb Alpha Flight Controls Yoke & Switch Panel was designed and developed in California by pilots and aerospace engineers to ensure the most realistic flight simulation experience possible
Product information
| ASIN | B07SH2SFLW |
|---|---|
| Release date | December 6, 2019 |
| Customer Reviews |
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars
882 ratings
4.7 out of 5 stars |
| Best Sellers Rank | #5,694 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games) #30 in PC Game Flight Controls #281 in Mac Games & Accessories |
| Product Dimensions | 18.5 x 13.3 x 10.1 inches; 6.61 Pounds |
| Type of item | Accessory |
| Language | English |
| Item model number | AER-HONEY |
| Item Weight | 6.61 pounds |
| Manufacturer | Honeycomb Aeronautical |
| Date First Available | June 17, 2019 |
Top reviews from the United States
John F.
Best Yoke ~ or under $250
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2020Nickolas Williamson
Sim Hardware has Come a Long Way!
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2024SM
Well worth the price
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2020Neb
Even better than the real thing
Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024