Been there, done that. Makes no difference to me.
As for staying on topic in this thread, the question asked about ambition level. VR is a perfectly valid suggestion considering how much a cockpit builder could spend on GFX cards and monitors.
I’ll agree with you when augmented reality becomes a truly viable option.
So much hate for VR. All things being equal, VR is a valid suggestion for someone with no background in flight simming. Many forum members have VR cockpit builds. A couple even have swappable panels to fly different aircraft. Immersion comes in different forms. Nothing wrong with sharing one’s personal experience and preferences. The OP might groove on it. He won’t know if he’s not exposed to the possibilities out there.
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So, from here on out we’ll all check with you on topic relevance prior to posting. Got it.
You don’t know how relevant it’ll be until the OP says so . He doesn’t know the options available and VR may suit him or not.
Just because you think VR has a minor user base, which I disagree, 10-15% is not minor at all, still represents more than 100k people…
And for all of you who don’t do VR, you may know it’s possible to have a cockpit build and fly it in VR. I’ve done it and others too…
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Lol, stop being a victim, no one is attacking you …
Every option is valid, the OP has the right to know what’s out there. He’ll make a better choice knowing what’s out there…
So quick update; took delivery on a suitable PC today and got to borrow the Logitech Yoke and Quadrant. Yoke feels great, Quadrant so-so. Tomorrow should see some great flying. As a few pointed out above, available space and type of flying will dictate next steps, but for now I need some stick time.
Thanks all!
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Folks, just a reminder to keep your posts on-topic. Any posts that are deemed to be off-topic will be flagged, and you will receive a formal warning.
happy travels! Enjoy your new setup.
And so it has begun. Welcome to the word of simming. Sounds like you want to experiment with different aircraft instead of just settling into one. There are many low-cost touch control monitor solutions that would allow you to easily configure for each aircraft; to gain an idea of what physical controls you may want to invest in. It is also possible to easily configure button boxes that can be used for different aircraft as well. When you’re up for a DIY project let us know. We love helping.
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Here’s a very inexpensive mod I performed on my Logitech quadrants to increase the friction:
I used the fuzzy (not the pointy) side of an adhesive-backed Velcro strip, cut to the length of the throw of each axis. It overhangs the gap just a few mm, and lightly touches the lever along its throw, which is enough to add friction, but not completely stop it or throw it off the potentiometer below. The adhesive will expose itself a little bit and it might feel sticky until it wears in a bit, but within several days of use it feels like a solid quadrant.
This has allowed me to use several third-party knobs, some of them relatively heavy, without them falling to idle all the time, and allows me very precise control and feel of the throttles.
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That’s a great idea! I’m gonna have to do that 
Similar to idea I had in another thread of how to make a physical notch higher up the travel for reverse range on a single axis for turboprops. Perhaps these 2 ideas could be combined!
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Many thanks for this. So spent a few hours going through the available excercies, and scrolled through roughly half of the thread “show your cockpit build”. Indeed what I am zoomin in on, inline with your comment, is to get 2 touchscreens and get a few physical controls.
On that topic I got myself a Logitech switch panel to get the landing gear and immedialtely ran into issues. Reading up here I installed 3 drivers and had some luck until I started to have issues with the Logitech quadrant, throttle stopped working. Some users seems to have added a powered USB hub that have claimed to help.
My idea was to get the switch panel and multi panel to quickly get going, and later build custom interfaces alongside teh 2 touch screens. Question; are the Logitech panels generally considered stable and well working? My first experience was not good (have not yet tried a powered hub though) If people are having issues with them that is a path I will avoid.
Again thanks everyone for the support!
Ah, yes, I use a powered hub (several, actually), and it made all the difference with that and several other peripherals.
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Never had any issues with mine out of the box using the default driver you can download for them off the Logi site. Work great. I use a powered hub.
Only thing to watch is if MSFS bombs, you need to go into Task Manager and end process on the LogiSomethingorother controller otherwise it complains that it’s already running and won’t work correctly on the next boot if you didn’t restart the whole PC.
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A “VR + those things requiring muscles to operate” setup is the way to go. As a real life pilot with a LOOOOOONG history of cockpit building, I am now of the opinion that you really only NEED:
- VR goggles
- A yoke
- Pedals
- A throttle quadrant
- A trim wheel (if so equipped)
- And a mouse
I once built a physical panel FOR V.R. (Pic below) and frankly, it’s overkill.
When I switched from Cessnas IRL to an Arrow (with drastically different avionics) I really stressed about building the next panel to match… but after making do with only a mouse, I find it quite natural, and I can push & turn every secondary, random button and knob in the plane.
Back to my original assessment, I will get a throttle quadrant (with the blue lever LOL), move my trim wheel beside my seat, and use my mouse for EVERYTHING else.
(O.k., maybe I’ll try to fashion a Johnson-bar type flap lever, because that thing is rad!)
IF, However you enjoy building such things, by all means, GO FOR IT! 
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If you successfully make/find one, please share deets! That is a big want for my rig as well.
I’m planning to repurpose my three-position flaps switch by mounting it down low & pointing the switch toward the panel, then adding an 18" long shaft to it. I may have to build a wooden exoskeleton to have a couple indents & to make it generally more robust, but I probably won’t go to the effort of adding a thumb release.
Probably… 
I’d really like to get a used johnson bar and add a four-position rotary switch to it. I just don’t have the time or engineering wherewithal to blaze that particular trail right now.
What about using an old vehicular parking brake handle? That would give you the feel of the johnson bar, and have the pushbutton for the release? Just a thought…
Also, between VR and a cockpit build, IMHO its a matter of taste. like others on this thread I use VR and find it very immersive, HOWEVER; like others have mentioned it misses in a number of areas, such as it can finicky to setup for a flight. It doesn’t have the haptic feel of flight, both nobs, switches, movement, etc.
I also use 2D for flying, especially when practising navigation, and conducting VatSim flights. There are some things you just cannot do in VR, and there are somethings you cannot do in 2D. If I wasn’t pursuing a realworld pilots licence, I would love to build a full motion cockpit based on… Thats the real question… since I fly airliners, warbirds, and GA (both single and twin) would a single cockpit work for me? maybe? maybe not.
Its all a matter of taste, and what experience you are actually looking for.
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