Flight simulation enthusiasts know that they are nothing without a decent flight simulator yoke. Otherwise, they are just people clicking and tapping at a keyboard and moving around a mouse. A flight simulator yoke is a tool to take simulated flying closer to reality. But what is a flight simulator yoke?

Yoke is a word used to describe what laymen would call the “steering wheel” of a plane. It is the semi-circle or horse-shoe shaped device used by pilots to control the plane. But unlike a steering wheel, it tilts on one axis and twists on another. A good flight simulator yoke brings this tool used by real life pilots to your home computer and allows you to pilot your simulated plane more realistically.

So getting a good flight simulator yoke is a necessary thing for anyone who wants to get the most out of his or her flight simulation. But they tend to be a bit pricey, so you will want to make sure that you get a good one for your money. Things to consider are the simulation program that you use, the operating system your computer runs, number of buttons, and what sort of connection hardware you have.

Some things that all modern flight simulator yokes should have as a bare minimum are as follows: USB connectivity, since every computer nowadays has USB ports, make use of them; sufficient enough throttle sensitivity for an enjoyable flying experience, in general it is wise to go with more sensitivity; a good GUI interface for installation, since no one wants to fiddle with a finicky interface for hours before they can even get off the ground; and, finally, a good length of cable.

Take all of the things that will determine which flight simulator yoke is good for you and hit the shops, whether online and on the street, and see what sort of deals are currently available. With a little luck you'll be able to move your flight to the next level without spending more than 150 dollars. Flight simulator yoke are such an improvement, you will wonder how you ever could use flight simulators before having one.