How to Build Your First Home Flight Simulator

Here are some essential equipment recommendations for real-word pilots and enthusiasts.

Sean Siff

Monday, May 11, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

A home sim allows access to ‘study-level’ cockpits, like this Beechcraft Duke (MSFS). [Credit: Sean Siff/MSFS2024]

Key Takeaways:

Building a first home flight simulator requires a dedicated gaming PC with a strong graphics card, a large 4K monitor (55-inch, 120Hz refresh rate recommended for immersion), and a secondary screen for accessory software.
Essential hardware includes a flight yoke (e.g., Honeycomb Alpha), a versatile throttle quadrant (Honeycomb Bravo highly recommended), rudder pedals, a gaming headset, and the crucial Octavi IFR-1 USB controller for streamlined avionics control.
Choose between Microsoft Flight Simulator (MSFS) for superior graphics or X-Plane for realistic flight models, selecting the software and aircraft that best align with your real-world flying goals.
Initial setup involves familiarizing yourself with controls, practicing with real-world checklists, and seeking support from resources like FlightSimCoach.com for technical assistance or in-sim flight lessons.

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Are you interested in building your first home flight simulator? Before beginning, I assume you have a sturdy desk or table dedicated to flight simulation so that you don’t have to disassemble the components after each flight. I also assume you are approaching the use of your home setup as a tool to assist you in the pursuit of your real-world flying goals.

You can always build a flight sim for exploration and fun, but my equipment recommendations are focused on products that, when assembled, will allow you to complement your real-world
flying. In addition, my product recommendations focus on equipment that I have actually used in my home flight simulator.