Flight Simulator - Yoke or Joystick?

When you first start using a flight simulator software package, most people will start controlling the plane with a keyboard and possibly the mouse. After getting the hang of the flying and controlling the aircraft, you may be looking to add more realism to the experience. An easy way to do that is to add flight controls such as a yoke or joystick. Read on to find out which one is the right choice for you.

The central control in most, but not all aircraft is the yoke, also known as the control column or control wheel. Traditionally aircraft have been controlled with a yoke. The yoke controls the ailerons and the elevators. There is an aileron on each wing and turning the yoke to the left or right will cause one aileron to go up while the other goes down, resulting in the aircraft banking. The yoke also controls the elevators. The elevators are located at the rear of the aircraft, and pushing the yoke forward or pulling it back will move the elevator up or down changing the pitch of the aircraft.

You may think that a joystick is just for games and connecting a yoke to your flight simulator will be the preferred option as that is the real control that is in most aircraft. Most planes do have a yoke in the cockpit but not all. Fighter jets, aerobatic planes and even the airbus use a joystick. In fact modern aircraft like the airbus are increasingly flown by stick, one reason being they are flown by 'wire' instead of using mechanical systems that are actually connected to the control surfaces.

So it actually depends on the aircraft you intend to train on and fly as to whether a joystick or yoke is the better option for you. Some people actually have a personal preference for the feeling of controlling the aircraft with one or the other. Most aircraft including the Cessna and Boeing still use a yoke, so you should check the controls in the plane you are planning to fly.

For more information on finding the best flight simulator yoke for you, head on to http://www.flightsimulatoryoke.org/ for the latest news, information and tips on adding a flight simulator yoke to your cockpit.

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