Hardware

Hardware developer VIRPIL Controls has announced their latest product, the VPC MongoosT-50CM3 Throttle. 

The announcement came via a post to VIRPIL’s website forum, which includes some preview images, as well as an in depth look at the features of the new piece of hardware.

According to the post, VPC MongoosT-50CM3 throttle was actually first teased back in August, via a post to the r/hotas Reddit forum titled, “A New Way to Fly.” The Reddit post featured just one shadow covered image of three pieces of unannounced hardware, as well as a brief statement from VIRPIL teasing the new products.

The VPC MongoosT-50CM3 throttle is the newest edition to VIRPIL’s MongoosT-50 series of flight simulation hardware, and was developed based on community feedback from the VPC MongoosT-50CM2.

A brand-new Multi-Functional Button Box from a company called Total Control is currently in a Kickstarter and hopes to help simmers looking to improve their flight simulation hardware experience. The Multi-Function Button Box will give users access to a range of buttons, handles and knobs to help them overcome the need to rely on a keyboard and mouse – particularly important when flying combat simulators.

In a video by Jonas, founder of Total Controls, he talks about the various control functionality the button box has and how it would benefit simmers for all types of simulators. Whilst he does single out fighter aircraft, such as the F/A-18C and the F-16C Viper, the controls can be mapped to your liking. In total, there is 40 buttons and switches, a gear and hook handle, jettison button and other rotary functions for the radio stack. The Multi-Functional Button Box has been designed to be simple to plug-and-play whilst giving users complete control over the input mapping.

The control box weighs a hefty 1.8kg with the unit measuring at 272 mm (10.7″) x 153 mm (6″) x height: 45 mm (1.8″) (excluding buttons).

As mentioned, the TotalControls Multi-Function Button Box is currently on a Kickstarter campaign to raise £65,069 (local currency will vary) and is so far at an impressive £24,026 with 91 backers. With 27-days left of the Kickstarter, there is still plenty of time for simmers to take a look at the offering and decide if this is a project they wish to back. There are various tiers (some of which are already sold out) which include a variety of rewards as a thank you to those who back the product. The video above will also give you a good idea on how the Multi-Function Button Box works and integrates with DCS.

Providing the Kickstarter is successful, Total Controls hopes to start shipping in the middle of 2021.

You can find out more and back the project from Total Controls right now on Kickstarter. They also have a website, Facebook page and an Instagram account you can follow.