Honeycomb launches Foxtrot Takeoff Kit for sim pilots

Honeycomb Aeronautical has launched the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit, which combines the Foxtrot Aviation Stick with a separate Throttle Box.

The bundle will be sold through Honeycomb's own store and Sporty's Pilot Shop. Electronics retailer Focus Camera is already selling its own version containing the same products in separate retail packaging.

The launch adds a second purchase option for Honeycomb's existing Foxtrot Aviation Stick, aimed at flight simulation users who want stick and throttle controls in one package. Existing stick owners will also be able to buy the Throttle Box separately.

The kit is designed for PC and Mac users. According to Honeycomb, the stick uses 16-bit Hall Effect sensors and an advanced gimbal system, while the grip includes a twist-axis rudder for yaw control without separate pedals.

The Throttle Box includes four customisable levers for both general aviation and airliner simulation setups, along with reverse-thrust support, an integrated parking brake and a dedicated landing gear lever.

Honeycomb is positioning the product across a broad section of the home simulation market rather than around a single aircraft type. That reflects a wider trend in consumer flight simulation hardware, where buyers increasingly look for flexible controls that can be reconfigured between light aircraft and larger commercial jets.

The stick has an ambidextrous design for left and right-handed users. Honeycomb also said the system includes programmable inputs such as hat switches, buttons and rotary controls, alongside interchangeable lever sets and integrated engine switches on the throttle unit.

Retail strategy

The Foxtrot Takeoff Kit is priced at USD $179.99. Availability will vary by market, pointing to a staggered retail rollout outside the United States.

Focus Camera's offer appears aimed at capturing early demand before the official retail stock keeping unit becomes available through Honeycomb's own channels and Sporty's Pilot Shop. Honeycomb said buyers should note that the retailer version differs only in how the products are bundled and packaged.

The release is one of Honeycomb's latest steps since coming under new management and becoming part of the snakebyte Group. The company says it designs and manufactures flight simulation hardware for home users.

Flight simulation peripherals remain a specialised but resilient segment of the gaming and enthusiast hardware market. Demand has been supported in recent years by the growth of home cockpit setups, stronger consumer interest in simulation titles and a community of users willing to spend on dedicated controls rather than rely on standard gamepads or keyboards.

By bundling stick and throttle controls together, Honeycomb is targeting buyers assembling a full setup for the first time, as well as existing users looking to upgrade from a standalone joystick. Selling the throttle separately also gives the company a way to generate sales from its installed user base.

Product detail

In practical terms, the combination of a primary stick, yaw input and modular throttle controls is meant to cover most of the basic control functions required in civil flight simulation. A built-in yaw axis can reduce the need for extra hardware, while the separate throttle box gives users more direct access to engine and aircraft configuration controls.

The emphasis on customisable levers suggests Honeycomb wants the product to appeal to sim pilots who move between aircraft categories. In the consumer simulation market, that flexibility can be a commercial advantage because many users alternate between slower single-engine aircraft and faster multi-engine airliners within the same software platform.

The launch also shows how accessory makers continue to compete on realism, modularity and value in a category where desktop space and budget remain important constraints. Rather than requiring buyers to commit to a large cockpit build, manufacturers are increasingly offering compact components that can still mimic the layout of more complex aircraft controls.

Honeycomb described the Throttle Box as a standalone expansion for Foxtrot Aviation Stick owners and said the Foxtrot Takeoff Kit would be available either as a complete bundle or as a separate throttle option for existing customers.