In the age where flight simulation is as accessible as it has ever been, the control aspect has been lacking in terms of making it easy to jump in and play. Yes, there are basic sticks out there, and some others have attempted to make controller-style flight controls, but none have provided a good blend of affordability and accessibility. Honeycomb Aeronautical has been talking about trying to bridge that gap for a while, which is why they have introduced the Echo Aviation Controller.
I have already spent plenty of time with the controller at previous events, including early prototypes. Each time I had my hands on it, I came away mostly impressed. There were certainly things that needed improving, and over that course of time, Honeycomb has refined and redesigned to where we are today.
For me personally, a controller like this is something I’ve been keen to use for a while, so I’m pleased Honeycomb Aeronautical has finally delivered the product. But has the wait been worth it? Let’s find out and unbox the new Echo Aviation Controller by Honeycomb.
As you open the box, you won’t immediately see the controller. Instead, you will find a grey Honeycomb Aeronautical carry case with a thick black zip. Inside this is where you will find the controller. Protected in the soft-shelled case, you will find the controller plus the 4ft USB-C to USB-A cable, along with the parts you need to change the style of your controller. The case itself is a neat addition and means you can easily take it away with you if you like to sim on the go.
The ergonomics of the Echo Aviation Controller are excellent. It feels like a typical game controller when held by both hands. My medium-sized hands can easily access all of the controls without having to remove my hand from the device. The grip design on the back adds a nice quality feel, whilst giving you reassurance that after long sessions, you won’t drop the device. Whilst it doesn’t feel as comfortable as an Xbox controller (Microsoft has had years and millions of dollars in research and development to produce one of the best ever video game controllers after all), it certainly never felt a burden to hold after a few hours of flying. My only complaint is that I wish it had a slightly thicker hand-grip with more curvature to naturally curl my fingers around.
I remember my initial impressions of a prototype unit being that it was too lightweight. I’m pleased to report that the controller now feels suitably heavy thanks to its included wireless capability and included chargeable battery. Both of these features are excellent and unique to flight-sim-centric game pads. Whilst I don’t have exact distances measured, I could easily fly with the controller from one end of the room to another with no issues. Your mileage may vary, but standard use would be to plug the dongle into your PC and fly at your desk/chair. If wireless isn’t for you, or the battery needs charging, you can use the included 4ft USB-C cable.
As for the controls, you get quite a lot packed into a small device. On the face of the pad, you have 4 face buttons, two directional sticks (more on those in a second), 4 axis controls, a trim wheel, and a number of option buttons, including a Honeycomb LED indicator so you always know what the status of the controller is.
On the back, you have a ‘rudder’ slider, 4 shoulder buttons on top (2 on each side) and unique for a game pad style controller, you have 3 additional controls sticking out of the front. You have a parking brake, a landing gear toggle and also a flap lever (can be flicked up or down). For such a small device, you get a lot of control options.
If that wasn’t enough, also included is the option to change the style of the controller to be seen as standard or focused on a type of flying or aircraft manufacturer. You can pick GA controls, Airbus or Boeing by simply swapping out the plastic component and replacing it with the included one within the carry case. I will say that it’s more of an aesthetic change than a functional one, but I really enjoyed being able to so casually change the setup without too much bother. I found I did genuinely change them to suit my style of flying, as the plastic pieces are shaped accordingly, and it did add a bit more realism to my experience.
Overall, the build quality is high throughout. The controller itself is sturdy and well-built, while the controls have been built to survive plenty of use. My biggest complaint is the placement and design of the camera stick. It’s a design choice that dates back to the Alpha Flight Controls, with this pyramid-like stick that has a pointy top. I have never been a fan of the design, but on this controller, it is more obtuse than before since it’s so important to the experience. I would also have preferred its placement to be more in line with a standard game pad layout, but I understand there would be some compromises to ensure all of the other functions made the cut.
Set up is really simple. Plug in the dongle, use the Honeycomb Aeronautical button to sync and away you go. I never experienced any issues with it falling out of sync or not connecting. I found I got 10-15 hours of battery, which is in line with Honeycomb’s claim, but found that when I was flying longer flights, having it on charge was also perfectly fine.
Using the controller for regular flight simulation use was really easy. The control stick moved nicely and smoothly, providing really precise controls, whilst using the throttle axis was pretty intuitive. Considering how disappointed I was that the Honeycomb Aeronautical Foxtrot Aviation Stick didn’t have a throttle, this is actually a very welcome inclusion. Using the trim wheel was also helpful during flights, having instant access to it, plus hearing the satisfying click as you rotated the wheel was great feedback.
The rudder control set-up on the rear of the controller is also very useful, but perhaps needs a bit of a longer axis to feel very comfortable. I would often find myself applying far too much rudder due to the lack of distance the rudders could travel. It is still an elegant solution and can see it being developed in the future to make it even better. Other highlights for me was the gear toggle, with a satisfying clunk as you raised or lowered it, and I also liked the inclusion of the parking brake release being a prominent part of the controller.
Perhaps my biggest gripe with the controller comes in the form of navigation. Right now, the controller doesn’t really work with the menus in the simulator. On the one hand, as this is a PC-only product, it isn’t an issue as you will have a keyboard and mouse right next to you, but on the other, it just felt a bit unnatural to swap control types in order to navigate the menu. I’ve been told this will be fixed via a firmware update with the dongle, but Honeycomb Aeronautical were unable to confirm a timeframe, so just keep that in mind.
As for compatibility, you will be able to use the controller across Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020/2024 as well as X-Plane 12. There are a few firmware and profile downloads you will need to take care of before your first use, all of which can be accessed on their website. I would love to see Honeycomb create some kind of desktop app that would recognise what device I had plugged in and then take care of that for me. What is really important to note is that this version of the Echo Aviation Controller is just for PC. An Xbox-specific controller is coming later on in 2026.
But the question is, who is this for? Honestly, it can be for anyone. Let me paint a picture of my setup and how I think it can easily be for both hardcore flight simmers and newcomers. I use my PC desk set-up for both working and simulation. Whilst I have a few bits of equipment ready for flying, such as a HOTAS and an FMS unit, it’s at the edge of my desk. If I want to just casually try out a plane, have a bit of fun with friends online, or do a bit of VFR flying, then using the Echo controller was by far the easiest solution. Does it provide the same level of immersion when flying an airliner? No, but that’s not the point. The Echo controller, in my view, is all about accessibility.
It features everything I need on a single device in my hands to enjoy a few casual flights. It can fit right in my desk drawer, connect wirelessly to my PC and within just minutes, I’m flying without the faff of moving the other bits of equipment. In short, it’s just easy.
For the price of $149.99 USD / €149,99 EUR / approx. £129.99 GBP, you’re getting a great controller with plenty of functionality. It feels premium, has plenty of options, and the added extras like the carrying case and the ability to swap out the axis parts all add up to a fantastic amount of value. It is by far the cheapest of its kind on the market, and in all ways is a better product.
