Hardware
Honeycomb Aeronautical's Alpha Flight Controls XPC Now Shipping After Two-Year Delay
By Sheyla Brill · · 2 min read
Honeycomb Aeronautical has begun shipping its Alpha Flight Controls XPC yoke, a redesigned version of the original Alpha with hall-effect sensors, a revised trim wheel, and native X-Plane 12 and MSFS 2024 support. The Bravo Throttle Quadrant XPC is slated for Q1 2027.
After a two-year delay marked by supply chain disruptions and a corporate restructuring, Honeycomb Aeronautical has confirmed that the Alpha Flight Controls XPC is now shipping to pre-order customers in North America and Europe. The XPC is a ground-up revision of the original Alpha yoke, retaining the 180-degree pitch and roll travel but replacing the potentiometer-based axes with hall-effect sensors for improved linearity and longevity.
The trim wheel has been reworked with a higher-resolution encoder and a firmer detent, addressing a common complaint from the original unit. Honeycomb has also revised the internal wiring harness and added a metal mounting plate for improved rigidity on desk clamps and cockpit rigs. Native driver support is provided for both X-Plane 12 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024, with default profiles mapping pitch trim, aileron trim, and the standard six-button GA layout.
The XPC retains the original Alpha's switch panel — magneto/starter, battery, alternator, avionics master, and light switches — which remains one of the better GA-focused control layouts at this price point. Honeycomb says the Bravo Throttle Quadrant XPC, which will add a six-lever quadrant with reverser detents and an autopilot panel, is targeting Q1 2027.
For simmers building a GA cockpit around a Honeycomb stack, the XPC is the logical centerpiece. The delay has cost Honeycomb significant goodwill, but early reports suggest the hardware quality justifies the wait. Thrustmaster and Winctrl remain the primary alternatives, though neither matches the Alpha's GA-specific switch layout.
Tags: Honeycomb Aeronautical, Alpha XPC, Yoke, X-Plane 12, MSFS 2024