Special Xbox controller for Microsoft Flight Simulator arrives Nov 20, reservations open

The Echo Aviation Controller XPC now has a price and a release date. Honeycomb will sell the Xbox-compatible version of its compact flight sim controller for $179.99 in the US from November 20. When we first covered it in July, the company had only promised a fall release and wasn’t taking preorders.

That second part has changed too, though not quite into a preorder. US buyers can now reserve a unit through Honeycomb’s website without paying anything upfront. Once stock is ready to ship, Honeycomb emails an invitation to complete the purchase. Buyers then get 48 hours to pay before the unit goes to the next person in line. Reservations only accept US addresses. Other territories are set to follow from November 20 in a gradual rollout; Honeycomb’s EU store already lists the XPC at €179.99.

The controller is officially licensed for Xbox and also works on PC. It condenses the core functions of Honeycomb’s Alpha yoke, Bravo throttle quadrant and Charlie rudder pedals into one handheld unit. Pitch and roll run through a 16-bit TMR thumbstick. That is a change from the PC-only Echo, which uses a 16-bit Hall-effect stick instead. Rudder input still comes from mechanically linked, self-centering Hall-effect paddles at the back.

Four detented sliders take care of throttle, flaps and airbrakes. Their caps are swappable for general aviation or airliner layouts. There’s also a textured trim wheel, a POV hat for camera views, and dedicated levers for flaps, landing gear and the parking brake. The XPC connects over USB or wirelessly, and Honeycomb rates the battery at up to 15 hours with USB-C charging.

The older controller is also listed at €149.99 on the EU store, though it is currently out of stock.

Anubhav Sharma - Senior Tech Writer - 2098 articles published on Notebookcheck since 2024

Most of my time goes into writing - and somehow it hasn’t stopped being fun yet. My work mainly revolves around everyday tech, gaming, watches, DIY modding, and the occasional piece on tech-policy chaos when companies and governments clash. I try to keep things simple and honest, without sounding like a product brochure. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science Engineering and an Associate Degree in English Studies from the College of New Caledonia in British Columbia, Canada. Away from articles and deadlines, life usually shifts to making music, taking photos, or trying to finish games that should have been completed months ago.