Since using my Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback Pro back in the late 1990s — yes, I am that old — I couldn’t get enough of fighting the stick and feeling the resistance, the lumps and bumps of the runway, and the shudders when getting a weapon off. When I retired my Sidewinder, it felt like my simulation experience had taken a step back, with no alternatives on the market at that time.
Sure, there have been some products that have come close to recreating that feedback — like Butt Kickers — and the immersion that VR brings has certainly revolutionised simulation. But there has always been something missing. While a few force feedback peripherals have entered the hardware market, such as the Brunner and Flitesim.com yokes, there is still a significant gap when it comes to more affordable force feedback flight controls.
Enter MOZA — a company that began many years ago producing professional camera gimbals and peripherals, before branching out into the racing simulation market with highly popular force feedback wheels and other controls.
In June 2024 at FSExpo, I experienced what felt like the missing piece of the simulation puzzle with MOZA’s beta force feedback flight products. I was pleasantly surprised and genuinely excited to feel the fight of the controls again. That same excitement came flooding back.
Fast forward to now, and MOZA has supplied me with their AB9 Base and MA3X Side Stick. Was that excitement for force feedback just a fleeting moment, or are the newest kids on the block here to stay — ready to challenge the current players and household names of flight hardware? I endeavour to find out.
What’s In The Box?
Upon arrival at my doorstep, I was greeted with three large and heavy boxes, smartly designed and well packaged. The largest — and by far the heaviest — was the AB9 Base, which, when opened, was shrouded in a quality branded black dust cover. Lifting the roughly five-kilogram (11 lbs for our American friends) base out of the dust cover, it was clear that MOZA had opted for high-quality materials. The AB9 is built to be robust, with a black ‘aviation grade aluminium’ casing protecting the mechanical internals, a stitched leather dust cover reminiscent of a luxury car’s gear selector, and brushed steel fixings for stick mounting. The branding is tastefully applied, with a few MOZA decals giving it a refined, understated look — albeit on the larger side.
The next item to unbox was the stick. The MA3X, while not as heavy as the base, still has a substantial weight in the hand, again suggesting a premium construction. The stick is made from solid, high-gloss black plastic and styled after an instantly recognisable “European aircraft manufacturer” sidestick. It includes a few additions compared to its real-world counterpart, such as an eight-direction hat switch with a centre button, a two-way slider (ideal for trim or zoom functionality in the sim), and the traditional trigger and red button commonly found on airliners.
This stick is MOZA’s second flight controller, following the fighter-jet-inspired MH16 Flight Stick. The MA3X feels satisfying to hold, with an ergonomic shape and responsive, tactile buttons. The trigger offers smooth action and a clean recoil, further reinforcing its quality construction. Mounting the stick to the base is simple: insert the small 5 pin-style cable (which looks like the older PS2 connections and a nostalgic throwback for anyone who used a Sidewinder), align the steel grooves, and tighten the central screw by hand. For an even firmer fit, one of the provided Hex keys can be used for additional leverage.
The third box — again notably weighty — contained the desk mounting bracket designed to secure the AB9 base. This ‘L-shaped’ bracket allows for a flexible installation, either clamped under the desk or mounted on top. Given the base is already quite tall at 20 cm, and the stick adds even more height, most users will likely opt to hang it off the desk. The mount is adjustable to different heights, suiting various setups and flying styles. As my desk sits quite high, I mounted the stick as low as possible to sit comfortably alongside my desk chair.
The AB9 Base uses a six-pin power cable with a large transformer. Once plugged in, a backlight in the shape of the MOZA logo illuminates — a handy touch, especially when navigating the tangle of cables beneath a desk. A push button next to the power port powers the unit, triggering a full initial movement check where the stick centres itself once complete. The base connects to the PC via a USB-A to USB-B cable — the kind often used with printers.
Notably, the AB9 Base also features four RJ ports labelled ‘Dev’, which MOZA indicates can be used to connect upcoming peripherals in their expanding hardware ecosystem. Once connected, the base and stick are managed through the MOZA Cockpit software, which can be downloaded directly from the MOZA website.
MOZA Cockpit
MOZA Cockpit is one of the most comprehensive hardware interface platforms I have ever used. This is not just a tool for installing and updating drivers, calibrating devices, or checking their status. MOZA Cockpit serves as the gateway to customising the operation of your peripherals with an impressive level of control and fine-tuning.
On initial startup, MOZA Cockpit automatically installs and updates any required drivers for connected peripherals. Once complete, calibration is next — a largely automatic process where the stick performs a self-test, running through its full range of motion and sensor checks. This is also the first time you experience the raw power of the AB9 Base in action, as it vibrates and settles into place.
Once calibrated, an interactive image of the base appears in the software, opening the door to a world of customisation. Entering the Base’s settings reveals an array of sliders and options — from general Force Feedback Intensity and Friction levels to more specific features like Buffeting Frequency during a stall. By adjusting these settings, users can fine-tune the experience to mimic nearly any aircraft type. While not all simulators natively support force feedback, MOZA Cockpit interprets simulator data and converts it into predicted force feedback. Thankfully, more platforms are beginning to support force feedback natively as hardware adoption increases.
For those eager to dive straight into their simulator, MOZA Cockpit includes quick-start options for MSFS 2020/2024, X-Plane 12, DCS, IL2, Star Citizen, and even FSX. You can even launch the sim directly from within the application. To save time, MOZA has included a library of 22 ready-made profiles for various aircraft and simulators. These span light aircraft, helicopters, fast jets, and even third-party addons, with more added through regular updates.
These predefined profiles can be loaded manually or triggered using the auto preset matching function, which automatically switches to the correct profile when you load a supported aircraft. While this feature is incredibly useful, it won’t work for aircraft not on the list. In such cases, choosing the closest match — like using the MSFS FENIX A320 profile for the ToLiss A320Neo in X-Plane — is a good workaround.
Depending on your simulator, additional setup for the AB9 Base might be required. In MSFS, the base is recognised like any other peripheral, and only basic calibration is needed — a simple and quick process. DCS offers a similarly seamless experience: the base is detected with all inputs available, and users simply need to bind their preferred controls.
X-Plane, however, presents a bit more of a challenge. The simulator does not natively recognise the MOZA base in the same way as it does other hardware. Within the input drop-down menu, duplicate devices may appear. If, like me, you found yourself unable to calibrate or assign functions, chances are you selected the incorrect input. Once the correct item is chosen, a quick calibration and control binding session is all that’s needed to get flying.
MOZA AB9 Base and Force feedback
Although force feedback is controlled heavily by the MOZA Cockpit digital software, the mechanism itself is a tough beast. With all the resistance you could ever need, coupled with the ability to turn it off completely, the MOZA AB9 Base is one versatile product. Using the predefined profiles selected in MOZA Cockpit, the stick either shocks into life with 100% resistance and feedback (as with the F-16 profile) or falls limply to the side, such as when selecting a helicopter profile.
Sticking with the helicopter profile for now, I jumped into MSFS cold and dark. Setting up the helicopter, I was excited to see what the feel of the stick would be like during startup. Clicking the starter switch to the “on” position, I held the stick. As the engine fired up and the rotors began to turn, small vibrations and rumbles could be felt through the stick. As the RPM grew, so did the vibration. The feedback from the rumble of the engine and rotor added a new layer of realism — and as a pilot, this kind of tactile input can tell you as much, if not more, than your gauges.
I pulled slowly back on the collective. As I did, the vibrations increased, but the control through the cyclic remained precise, even with the vibrations moving the stick. As the collective moved further, the vibrations settled as the helicopter lifted off the ground. Keeping a stable hover — something I’ve always struggled to do with other peripherals — was surprisingly easy with the AB9.
Flying over London and following the Thames, I wanted to push the experience further. Pulling hard toward me, the sound intensified and the stick’s vibration turned into a pulsing knock, pushing back against my hand. It built in strength until I eased the stick forward to a more comfortable position — with the biggest grin on my face. The forces felt through the stick were incredible. After putting my poor helicopter through enough stress, I returned to land at the London Helipad, pulling off one of the best helicopter landings I’ve ever made.
From hover and hold to supersonic strike, I next selected the F-16 preset. Instantly, the stick turned rigid as I started up DCS. Beginning already in the air, I wanted to put the aircraft through its paces. I was surprised by how little input was required to operate the aircraft — and how much force it took to move the stick. It took some getting used to. Research revealed that this mirrors the real F-16, where pilots apply pressure rather than actual movement to the stick, thanks to its Fly-By-Wire system.
MOZA has done an excellent job replicating this pressure-based input. Once accustomed to it, I began executing tight turns at high speed. As I pulled hard on the stick, the aircraft shuddered with aerodynamic stress, and the stick’s resistance increased. I could feel the plane fighting back — almost as if asking me to ease off — and I couldn’t stop grinning.
Switching it up again, I selected the A320 profile and launched X-Plane. Starting up cold and dark, I went through the usual pre-flight checks. I found myself glancing down at the stick, eager to experience what flying an Airbus might feel like — this may be as close as I’ll ever get. With the pushback operator’s go-ahead, I flicked engine one into life. As the engine spooled up, the stick came alive with subtle, smooth vibrations.
Beginning the taxi to the runway, I selected Flaps 2. As the actuators extended the flaps, I felt corresponding vibrations through the stick — a surprising and welcome touch. Once lined up on the runway, I loosely held the stick during engine spool-up and could feel the vibrations intensify as we accelerated.
As the A320 lifted into the air, the thud of runway lights through the stick disappeared, replaced by the smooth hum of the engines. When I selected gear up, the stick vibrated as though hitting rough air, finishing with a solid thud as the gear tucked into the fuselage — an accurate sensation based on real-world aircraft behaviour.
The same rough air feedback returned when retracting the flaps and was particularly noticeable when extending the speedbrake. Being able to feel what the aircraft is doing and how it’s reacting to the environment brings you one step closer to a truly immersive and realistic simulation experience.
MA3X Stick
Diving a little deeper into my experience with the MA3X stick, I love looking down at the stick and seeing a faithful recreation of a familiar airliner, and I love the way the design feels in the hand. This comes partly due to the construction and materials of the stick, but also the ergonomic nature of the design.
The stick doesn’t feel too tall or large, so you aren’t constantly moving your hand position up and down to reach the desired button, but it’s large enough to increase the controllability of the aircraft you’re flying through smaller inputs. The buttons are easily adaptable for the aircraft or operation you would like to use them for. As most flight simmers know, there is great satisfaction in pressing physical buttons, particularly ones that have a mechanical feel beneath them. That satisfaction certainly comes through when using the MA3X stick.
The gloss black texture is easily cleaned and feels great. MOZA describes the finish as ‘multi-layer spray with a UV treatment to achieve the feel of real aircraft resin materials,’ and this comes through. Having knocked the stick with a box as I was putting it onto my desk, I thought I would have at least marked the gloss finish, but alas, no damage or a scratch to be seen means it’s a durable piece of kit too.
My one scruple with the MA3X is that the stick is made to be used right-handed. I fly 99% of the time from the left-hand seat, and I am also left-handed. Flying with my right hand did take some getting used to, but part of me wishes there was a way of altering the setup to fly from the left-hand seat.
Whilst talking to the FSElite team, it is obvious to me that many people fly with varying setups, but most fly a right-hand setup, but from the left seat. Being a left-handed person, I was a little shocked at but being a minority, I understand why though, as if MOZA had to choose between left-handed and right-handed design, they chose to cater to the masses.
Conclusion
Force feedback is making a huge comeback since the days of the Microsoft Sidewinder Pro. MOZA has taken a significant leap forward with the AB9 base and the MA3X Side Stick, and the advancement in force feedback support from major flight simulator platforms. My words cannot describe how much of a difference it feels when the aircraft reacts rather than just seeing how the aircraft behaves within the simulator on a screen, whether it be 2D on a monitor, or 3D via a VR headset.
Given that the base retails at £549 and the MA3X at £79, I would say that the MOZA products are worth every penny. At first glance, it may seem a little expensive, but for what you get, each product provides great value for money. Using high-quality materials with a great feel and almost silent operation, it is clear that MOZA are focused not only on providing a quality product but one that is feature-rich, customisable, and accessible for flight simmers that require that additional realism.
Frustratingly, the MA3X only comes in right-hand format; it doesn’t take too long to adapt your flying style, and the immersion provided by the force feedback helps you move past the initial frustrations. If you are struggling for space on your desk or playseat, the MOZA AB9 Base isn’t the smallest piece of hardware of the market and can sometimes feel imposing on a desk but dual servos that deliver 12NM of torque needs to be contained somewhere, and that’s a sacrifice that I think would appeal to many in the community.
MOZA’s hidden weapon is the software that drives the hardware. MOZA Cockpit is, by far, the most comprehensive customisation tool I have ever used for a single piece of hardware. Not only does it allow the user to tailor every single aspect of the peripheral to their needs, it takes care of everything from firmware updates to issue logging, customisation, pre-determined profiles and more, all at the click or slide of a mouse.
If the AB9 and MA3X are anything to go by, MOZA stand to challenge and disrupt the status quo of hardware simulation that has been the lay of the land for many years, at an affordable price tag. MOZA has successfully brought force feedback into mainstream flight simulation, making this combo a standout for those wanting more realism in the virtual skies.
