I believe Virpil’s setup is that their manufacturing is in Belarus in a special economic zone where they don’t need to pay taxes to Luka’s government (which is not that bad compared to Made in PRC, really). They then have their EU logistics centre in Lithuania.
Good to know. Thanks.
Not tried Virpil (although have heard they are very good), but I use these rudders which seem good to me (albeit not that cheap at euro 215):
They do great joysticks too
The Thrustmaster pedals look gorgeous. But I just don’t want anything that big under my desk. I can move the Virpil pedals aside and the don’t bother me when not in use. That and the heel on floor or heal on pedal options offer flexibility I want. I’d love to try the Thrustmaster pedals, they look great. I was less impressed by the TM Warthog throttle. The Warthog stick felt good, solid. but there are reports of them not wearing poorly. Returned the Warthog HOTAS. I got a great deal on a Virpil stick and throttle used, perfect condition and absolutely love them, the Virpil throttle is much better built than the TM throttle. So, I use the Virpils for HOTAS and the HC for yoke aircraft.
I hear good things, but I need full pedal pads. But if you want a simpler setup with the bar type pedals, the VKBs look well crafted.
No problem, the other plus for me is that the VKB move vertically, which works much better with a wheelie office chair!
I have those too and love them. Rock solid on laminate floor, just as long as you keep dust away, no need for mounting. Won’t push office chair around in use even if you don’t get locks for the wheels, since the motion is almost up-down. Very small profile and light weight despite the metal construction, easy to set aside. Smooth and precise, though I have had occasional need to recalibrate them. On down side, no physical toe brakes, short range of movement, no option for damper from manufacturer yet (last which in particular is a shame for helicopter pedals).
I wouldn’t consider them expensive. They are comparatively cheap, the competition below them is the mediocre trio of budget pedals and the competition (with toe brakes) above them costs 150-200€ more. Note that VKB’s EU retailer includes VAT, unlike Virpil’s and MFG’s webstores.
For differential brakes I have the OEM’s T-Link software’s virtual brake function set always on via virtual button. That means the virtual toe brake axes the pedals come pre-programmed with are set to constant 100%, except when I’m depressing either pedal in which case the opposite brake gets proportionally released (fully released on the opposite side at 100% rudder deflection). I then have both the virtual brake axes on the pedals merged with a brake lever axis on my other controllers, minimum method merge (highest input discarded) with Joystick Gremlin. In essence, my braking comes from the brake lever, except if I’m depressing either pedal in which case the minimum from the virtual toe brake takes over.
It’s bit clunky and I’d wish the OEM would offer better software support for the virtual toe brakes (currently they only work nice out of box if you couple them with Gunfighter with MCG grip), but ultimately it works and in the end it basically does all what toe brakes are supposed to do: gives you fine enough brake control to stop your aircraft nosing over when you brake and provides steering assistance when the rudder isn’t effective or enough.
That being said I have ultimately become toe brake jealous again and I’m kinda considering new pedals, hopefully with larger range of movement on top. I already dismissed the TPRs and Crosswinds since I don’t want to bother with a mounting. So it seems I’m down to Charlie, the Virpil heel-in-floor types and Slaw Device. On the other hand I’d rather want a OEM fitting for motorcycle steering damper which is only provided by MFG and Slaw Device. So it seems I’m narrowing my choice down to the hand crafted, extravagant Slaws. Hm.
Thanks for that information. I was considering those TM Warthog items. Just got the NEW Honeycomb XPC Flight Yoke and it seems very nice. I’ve got 10 minutes of flight time on it.
My Logitech Rudder Pedals are bulky in the floor and are mounted to a stand. So I’m upgrading but not in a hurry. My Honeycomb Alpha will be on Craigslist soon.
Damping the Virpil ACE pedals is a whole topic for a thread!!! So I made one:
I saw a new HC Yoke was on the way just after receiving my Alpha/Bravo bundle. But while mildly peeved I didn’t get the newest fancy thing, the new one wasn’t actually available and I wanted them without delay and got my bundle below list price. But reading about the new one, I didn’t see anything that looked really important to me. Sure better sensors with 4 times the precision is nice, but I have zero complaints about the precision or feel of the yoke I got?? The restyled grill is nicer, but not a big difference. Sounds like maybe they added Xbox support, and I think that may have required an adapter before? Irrelevant to me, I don’t own any consoles. Did you have any more than minor complaints with the original Alpha that had you get this new yoke, or just wanted the newest, best yoke?
Hello i have a question i have been doing reading and researching and I will find out eventually but anyways. I have ordered the Honeycomb XPC Alpha Flight Yoke and Bravo Throttle Quadrant. As a lot of you know the Charlie Rudder pedals aren’t Going to Be out until October. So my question is. Just like Turtle Beach and stuff when i has first got that and they had no rudder peddles i used my Thrustmaster ones. Does anyone know who flies with the Honeycomb if or what Rudder Pedals Work and Plug into it. I have red The Logitech and Thrustmaster because those are basically the only ones people have said it works but I would appreciate if anyone who flies with that and uses peddles could tell me what ones i have the Thrustmaster ones but before it arrives next week i just wanted to know if i need to buy different rudder peddles until my pre order ships or if we have to wait for the Charlie. Thanks guys. Respectfully Chris I also got the Xbox Hub to just wondering about the peddles since were still waiting for em.
I agree that pedals are overpriced. I have a pair of Saitek Combat Pedals that I bought for $125. I upgraded the “slidey” parts with bearings and they are smooth as silk.
I remember a time before “charging what the market can bear” attitude became standard.
I wanted a helio collective, but the lowest price thing I could find was $600. Built my own and put it on thingiverse. That’ll teach them…
You have to have the Honeycomb Xbox Hub but Logitech pedals work
Been waiting for the Charlie for close to year now I think . And then last week, I saw Turtle Beach announced these VelocityOne Rudder Pedals For Flight & Racing Simulation | Turtle Beach – Turtle Beach® . Haven’t used Turtle Beach products before, but I am intrigued. Anyone thinking of getting these instead?
I’d consider them once the reviews start coming out. When I first heard of Turtle Beach making pedals I though they’d be going for something costing less than 200 still using pots (at least for the brakes), but with bearings and contactless sensors seems like they are going bit more upscale and not just with the price.
The page is tad confusing on whether the pedals work standalone with Xbox. It says the same USB-A to C connector works for both PC and Xbox, but also says the pedals must be re-routed through V1 with USB C to C cable. Actually working standalone would be an interesting competitive advantage (and I think it would indeed be an advantage when no-one else does it) but I guess they actually do need the V1.
Adjustable width sounds interesting, it’s actually a rather rare quality (MFG Crosswind has it, maybe Slaw Device?). On the other hand, only weirdos like foot-in style footrests the the heel-in-floor footrests look awkwardly angled, and nothing is said on that’s adjustability.
It does sound more upscale and I am liking the configurability, still not sure about the build quality and what parts are made of metal. Should be better than my TFRP though .
Yeah it is confusing, what I understood was that to use with with XBox you need the V1.
So has anyone seen definite statement on what kind of sensors Charlie will have? Given the price point (they are about as expensive as boutique pedals with all metal construction and all contactless sensors), the large range of movement of the rudder axis and the longevity advantage of contactless sensors for all-axis controller I though it would be basically given that they’d have Hall effect or similar.
But I can’t seem to find any statement on the sensors. Honeycomb’s blurb on their website says nothing of them. And one thing I have noticed is that if a piece of hardware has contactless sensors the OEM will make a marketing point of them and be sure to mention it, to the degree of not saying anything on them suggests potentiometers.
I have the Alpha and Bravo. I will get the Charlie when it comes out. Their customer service needs some help though.
*I work on a service desk for a technology consulting services company, so I feel I’m qualified to comment on that. That being said, once you DO get in touch with them they are great.
The especially interesting aspect in them is their heavy weight combined with massive floorprint which suggests excellent stability. However if they do have pots there’s no way I’d choose them. I expect we’ll hear on the sensors when they start shipping.
I remember waiting for Charlies in 2021, then finally getting tired and picking up TPRs for a good price a year ago. Best decision ever lol.
I do hope they’re good when they finally come out!