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 home flight simulator for real-world flying goals requires a dedicated gaming PC and a large, high-refresh-rate monitor or TV for optimal immersion.
Key hardware recommendations include a robust flight yoke (e.g., Honeycomb Alpha), a versatile throttle quadrant (e.g., Honeycomb Bravo), rudder pedals, and the essential Octavi IFR-1 controller for simplified avionics management.
Choose flight simulation software like Microsoft Flight Simulator or X-Plane based on your preferred aircraft, and dedicate initial hours to familiarizing yourself with controls, camera views, and using real-world checklists for effective practice.

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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.