Ever wanted a fully kitted-out home cockpit for your flight sims? With the right hardware, you can take to the virtual skies like never before.
While all good PC games provide fun and immersion, flight simulators demand something a little extra. Only a high-end gaming computer and aviation-grade peripherals can help you feel like you’re living out a dream piloting career, rather than just playing it. As such, we have compiled a list of all the hardware you need for the best flight simulation experience.
What are Flight Simulators?
Flight simulators are more than just video games. Appreciating this first will help you understand why specialist hardware is needed.
Put simply, a flight simulator aims to replicate an authentic flying experience without leaving your home. It’s fun to be an armchair aviator, but it’s also quite an intellectual hobby.
Today, modern flight sims are so convincing that real pilots will play games like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 to enjoy the thrills of flying without IRL pressure. Obviously, they have more advanced simulators to utilise for their formal training. But programmes like MSFS can be a casual inspiration and starting point for many up-and-comers, too. The game is even a jumping-off point for Boeing, announcing in November 2025 that they’d be using MSFS tech to develop the Virtual Airplane Procedures Trainer (VAPT), a professional tool for trainee pilots to practice cockpit workflows.
All of this to say, flight simulators have impressive credentials and immense potential. Every penny you spend on enhancing your own experience with them will be a sound investment!
Want to know more about Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024? We have an essential guide to help you over here.
Flight Simulator Hardware
Flight simulators don’t always have you flying a plane alone above the clouds. That scene alone would be easier to render…
Instead, this software often features sprawling cities and bustling airports that have been faithfully modelled after their real-life counterparts. Additionally, the aeroplane models need to look pristine and flawlessly represent the engineering and innovation of their manufacturers.
As such, flight simulators are always streaming data, rendering environments as fast as a plane can fly, and delivering visuals with pinpoint accuracy. That means processor speeds, memory capacity, and GPU architecture are of great importance when it comes to your gaming PC. You can’t really wing that side of things (pun intended)!
Then there are all the peripherals you need to account for, as well. From flightsticks to rudder pedals, they each make you feel less like a gamer and more like a pilot. You’ll find that many of these components are licensed by aeroplane manufacturers, like Boeing, for that extra layer of authenticity.
So, without further ado, here’s our list of flight simulator hardware that will make every session feel closer to the real thing.
Flight Simulator Gaming PC
We’re taking off with the gaming PC. The build you choose should be tailor-made for flight simulation games. It will have a mid-to-high-end CPU boasting high core counts, an impressive cache, and advanced architecture, like the AMD Ryzen 7 9800X3D or the Intel Core Ultra 7 265K CPUs. Flight simulators are notoriously taxing on the CPU, so a processor of this calibre can achieve smooth performance under heavy loads.
The GPU similarly needs to be high-end. This will ensure all visuals in the flight sim are true to life. NVIDIA, AMD, and Intel graphics cards are all suitable, with the NVIDIA RTX 50 Series, Intel ARC B580, and AMD Radeon 9000 Series all ensuring optimal performance. The extra uptick in performance comes from features like AI-enhanced DLSS technology, AMD FSR, and XeSS, delivering smooth and enhanced frames for seamless, stunning simulated flights.
32GB of DDR5 memory is considered the baseline for flight sims and will keep your simulations stable when factoring in high-resolution textures, third-party add-ons, and the demands of complex scenery. Meanwhile, 2TB NVMe SSD storage ensures fast load times and avoids any storage-related bottlenecks that could annoyingly delay your flight.
OcUK Gaming Ultraviolet – GeForce RTX 5090 Pre-Built Gaming PC
FS-1UV-EP
£7999.99 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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OcUK Gaming Indigo – GeForce RTX 5080 Pre-Built Gaming PC
FS-1DN-EP
£3199.99 GBP
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OcUK Gaming Khopesh – AMD Ryzen 7 7700X, RTX 5070 Ti Gaming PC
FS-124-OG
£2799.98 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETFlight Simulator Monitor
Pilots require enhanced awareness, and a suitable monitor can help you with that in a flight sim. Ideally, the monitor should be an ultra-wide variant, measuring 49” to give you that sense of breadth and scope you’d find sitting in a pilot’s seat. For optimal immersion, an 1800R curve will make it feel like the controls are around you rather than strictly flat out ahead of you. In addition to this, you’ll need the best resolution and refresh rates, as you would with a standard gaming set-up. Ballpark figures of DQHD (5120×1440) and 144Hz are worth aiming for, ensuring your flight sims look as vivid and lifelike as possible.
Samsung 49″ Odyssey LS49FG910EUXXU 5120×1440 VA 144Hz 1ms FreeSync Curved Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
MON-SAM-05297
£898.99 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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MSI MPG 491CQPX QD-OLED 49″ 5120×1440 240Hz 0.03ms A-Sync Curved HDMI 2.1 Ultrawide Gaming Monitor
MON-MSI-05475
£998.99 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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ADD TO BASKETStandard Peripherals for Flight Simulators
In the rush of excitement to buy specialist hardware, you might forget that you still need a mouse and keyboard for a flight simulation set-up. While not many people use these peripherals to fly (it can even be detrimental to your in-game performance in some sims), they are still necessary for getting your system booted up, inputting search terms, and navigating more intricate menu interfaces. While any gaming keyboard or mouse will get the job done, we still recommend peripherals that provide sharp tactile feedback and smooth tracking. These features make your typing and cursor movements more crisp and controlled.
What’s a pilot without a good headset? Equipped with your own, you can relax to the soothing hum of your engines, stay sharp with cockpit alerts, or work on your pilot voice with fellow aviators through Discord. It all adds to the immersion!
Endgame Gear XM2w 4k Optical Wireless Gaming Mouse – Black (EGG-XM2W-4K-BLK)
PER-EGG-02600
£84.95 GBP £ 39.95 GBP
-52.97%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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Ducky One 3 Classic 65 USB RGB Mechanical Gaming Keyboard Cherry Silver – Black UK Layout
KB-2AQ-DK
£86.99 GBP £ 69.68 GBP
-19.9%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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Razer BlackShark V3 Wireless Gaming Headset, Hyperspeed Gen-2, TriForce Driver – Black
PER-RZR-07450
£149.99 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETFlight Simulator Cockpits
Aviators need to feel comfortable for hours and like they are meant to be in the pilot’s seat. A flight simulator cockpit will give you that same sense of belonging. While select cockpits can work with standard gaming chairs, some come with their own specially made seats. These usually have a metal framework, able to withstand all the demands of intense flight sim sessions. Plus, the seats are padded with high-density foam for greater comfort, along with luxurious touches like leather and suede upholstery. You can even adjust the seat position depending on your flight configuration and secure your posture with four-point harnesses.
Next Level Racing Flight Stand Pro (NLR-S032)
GC-06M-NR
£498.95 GBP £ 448.99 GBP
-10.01%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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ADD TO BASKETFlight Simulator Yokes
The yoke is the control unit for piloting your plane, complete with axes and switches. Select models can even include a dedicated throttle module. They are authentically designed, with flight kinetics and travel range modelled after real civilian-class aircraft. The axes often use magnetic technology, which reduces friction, improves longevity, and makes steering through the skies as smooth and accurate as possible. Plus, they feature a range of action buttons, refining your control over various flight systems. Ultimately, the right yoke can feel like an all-in-one tool for your flight simulator, streamlining your experience into one utility.
Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Pack Boeing Edition Pendular Yoke + Throttle Quadrant (4460210 PC,Xbox)
GC-084-TH
£429.95 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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MOZA Racing MFY YOKE For Flying Simulators
GAM-MOZ-04700
£128.99 GBP
(incl. VAT)
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Thrustmaster TCA Yoke Boeing Edition (4460209, PC/XBOX SX/XBOX ONE)
GC-087-TH
£348.95 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
in stock
ADD TO BASKETSimulator Flightsticks
If you prefer a military or space flight sim, a flightstick lets you control the pitch and roll, steering, and throttle power of your aircraft from one unit, and sometimes a dedicated throttle is bundled in, too. In addition to an ergonomic design, this peripheral delivers authentic and satisfying feedback as you move it. A 16-bit resolution provides precise in-game tracking, while dedicated buttons cover a range of flight functions. Select flight simulator joysticks will also have removable grips and palm supports, supporting both left and right-handed users.
MOZA Racing MH16 FLIGHTSTICK For AB9 Flying Simulator Controls (AS002)
GAM-MOZ-03641
£138.95 GBP
(incl. VAT)
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VIRPIL Constellation ALPHA-L Prime For Flight Sim
GAM-VPL-06874
£279.95 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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Thrustmaster SOL-R1 Space Sim Joystick Game Controller (2960920)
GAM-THR-05344
£159.95 GBP £ 158.99 GBP
-0.6%(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
out of stock
ADD TO BASKETFlight Simulator Throttle
To control your engine power, you’ll need a dedicated flight simulator throttle. These can be bundled with flightsticks and yokes, or bought separately. Either way, throttles will help you refine your speed, altitude, and the grace of your take-off and landing procedures. The ideal throttle will have an ergonomic design for smooth motions. Certain throttles may have slide rails for making sleek adjustments, and select models enable you to refine the throttle’s friction level by tightening the screws. Plus, they’ll include action buttons and 8-way PoV switches within easy reach, to give you more control over your aeroplane mid-flight.
Thrustmaster TPR Pendular Rudder Pedals For Flight Simulators (PC 2960809)
GC-07U-TH
£469.99 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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VIRPIL MongoosT-50CM3 Throttle For Flight Sim
GAM-VPL-06886
£369.95 GBP
(incl. VAT)
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MOZA Racing MTP Throttle Panel For Flying Simulators (AS008)
GAM-MOZ-04701
£288.95 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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ADD TO BASKETRudder Pedals
Giving you more control over the axis of your digital aircraft are the rudder pedals. They assist with steering on the runway and keep turns feeling well-balanced when used in combination with the yoke. Rudder pedals have smooth action and often feature adjustable positioning so that they can be tailored to your preferred flight style. Plus, they have sturdy metal frames, ensuring the set won’t move even when you’re actioning inputs during more intense flight sessions.
Thrustmaster TPR Pendular Rudder Pedals For Flight Simulators (PC 2960809)
GC-07U-TH
£469.99 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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MOZA Racing MRP Rudder Pedals For Flight Simulators
GAM-MOZ-06855
£328.99 GBP
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VIRPIL R1 Falcon Rudder Pedals For Flight Sim
GAM-VPL-06889
£319.96 GBP
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ADD TO BASKETFlight Simulator Control Panels
Flight simulator control panels cover the systems management side of piloting. They include dials, buttons, and switches for a range of functions, such as controlling landing gears, lighting, and engine starts. Buttons should feel tactile and satisfying to press, with some of them being RGB-lit for better clarity. They may also come with sticker sheets, so that you can appropriately label them and their corresponding functions for better efficiency and immersion. Plus, it’s not uncommon to find that control panels have multiple physical configuration options, so that you can ensure you’re fully optimising your cockpit set-up.
VIRPIL Universal Control Panel #1 For Flight Sim
GAM-VPL-06890
£259.96 GBP
(incl. VAT)
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Logitech G Saitek Pro Flight Switch Panel – PC (PZ55)
GC-048-SK
£74.99 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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MOZA Racing MTLP Take-off Landing Panel For Flight Simulators (AS009)
GAM-MOZ-04702
£148.99 GBP
(incl. VAT)
FREE SHIPPING
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ADD TO BASKETFlight Simulator Mounts
As you can see so far, there is a lot of flight simulator hardware to integrate into your set-up! While cockpits should already include all the mounts you need for your hardware, you can buy additional mounts for extra peripherals or to address compatibility concerns. Plus, if you’re not using a full cockpit (for space or budget reasons), you’ll be able to mount your flightbase, throttle, joysticks, and other peripherals to a desk or tabletop safely and securely. In addition to this, your immersion is deepened, as a real pilot’s controls will be strong, sturdy, and rooted to their position, too. After all, nothing will break the flight sim spell like a wobbly joystick or yoke!
VIRPIL Desk Mount Adapter – CDT-AEROMAX Base For Flight Sim
GAM-VPL-06899
£14.95 GBP
(incl. VAT)
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VIRPIL Desk Mount Adapter – CDT-VMAX Throttle For Flight Sim
GAM-VPL-06900
£34.96 GBP
(incl. VAT)
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VIRPIL Desk Mount Adapter – WarBRD-D Base For Flight Sim
GAM-VPL-06897
£34.96 GBP
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ADD TO BASKETMore Flight Simulation Content
Wheels Up?
Are you going to create your own flight simulation cockpit? What parts will you choose? Let us know all about your set-up in the comments.
- 11 min read
George Moss
Author
George has long enjoyed writing and PC gaming, so working for Overclockers is very exciting! When he's not at the computer, he can be found adventuring with his apricot cockapoo, reading books on seabirds, or being a liability for his Dungeons and Dragons party.
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