Flight sim games are one of those experiences you look at gameplay of and think, "how on earth is it possible to play this with just a controller?" It's a fair question, too. Although flight sim games have always been pretty in-depth, they're now designed more and more for people who have invested in a full yoke and throttle setup. But enjoying these games shouldn't mean abandoning the conventional PC controller you know and love, right?
Honeycomb, a veteran brand in the flight sim controller space, has come up with a novel solution for people who want a bit more intuitive control over their flight sim games, but who don't want to turn their setup into a cockpit with a yoke and throttle that take up their whole desk.
The Echo Aviation controller was first announced in November, but it's now available to purchase, shipping directly from Honeycomb.
It seems as though the product engineers at Honeycomb HQ have designed this controller for "flight simmers on the move", but I think it could serve a whole new market of people who can't afford to invest in this brand's more conclusive gear, or even one of the best joysticks. Unfortunately, there's no official licensing for either Xbox or PlayStation, so this will be one for PC gamers at the moment. Maybe a PS5 or Xbox version could come later?
The Echo Aviation controller comes with a handy carrying case and connects to a PC with a wireless USB dongle. For such a compact and portable option, Honeycomb seems to have fit a lot of features into its Echo Aviation controller. It may look a little Frankenstinian, but bear with me here.
On the left, you have a standard thumbstick and face buttons, as well as a secondary thumbstick that lets you access some key controls. On the right, you have four dedicated throttle panels that have removable tops so that you can customize them according to the type of aircraft you're flying (or failing to fly) through the virtual skies.
On the bottom, lie three dedicated levers for flaps, landing gear, and parking brake, and a handy trim slider on the far right will help keep your aircraft on the right course. The Echo Aviation controller trades back buttons found on most pro gamepads today for a set of Hall effect rudder pedals will give you yaw control.
Again, I wouldn't buy this if you're also looking for a controller to help up your KD ratio in Battlefield 6. I'm not so sure those throttle levers would do much to help you in a gunfight, but then again, you can pilot a jet in that game, so who knows. The entire controller is programmable to suit your needs, so there's scope here to make it your own.
Right now, the Honeycomb Echo Aviation controller is only available directly from Honeycomb's website, but like the rest of this brand's gear, it likely won't be long until you can get it from other e-tailers like Amazon. In fact, there is a US listing at Amazon, with no stock available yet, so maybe this is coming soon.
I remember reviewing Honeycomb's Alpha XPC and Bravo flight sim controllers, and although I was hopeless at using them, they did offer a mind-boggling amount of customization and premium feel. As a self-proclaimed best damn pilot in the galaxy, but someone who really has no idea about flight sims, I'd likely feel much more at home with a controller like the Echo.
- Honeycomb Echo Aviation controller: $149.99 at Honeycomb
- Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight Stick: $109.99 at Amazon
- Thrustmaster Viper TQS: $597 at Amazon
If you're happy to stick with more conventional controllers for now, check out the best PS5 controllers, the best Xbox Series X controllers, and the best Nintendo Switch 2 controllers.
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