Cockpits & Setups
Flight Sim Panels: Switch and Autopilot Panels
The short answer
Add a dedicated panel once you're tired of clicking switches with a mouse. A Boeing-style MCP panel suits airliner flying; a general-aviation throttle quadrant's built-in panel, like the Honeycomb Bravo's, suits GA setups instead.
Last updated September 2026
| Airliner-style example | GoFlight GF-MCP Pro: modeled on a Boeing 737NG mode control panel, with heading, altitude, speed, and course knobs, USB plug-and-play, per GoFlight's own documentation |
|---|---|
| GA-style example | Honeycomb Bravo Throttle Quadrant's built-in panel: 7 assignable switches and 14 annunciator indicator lights for autopilot and system status, per Honeycomb |
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Flight sim panels put real switches, knobs, and lights in front of you instead of buttons buried in a mouse-driven menu. They're usually the next purchase after a stick or yoke, once you're flying often enough to want faster access to autopilot and system controls.
GoFlight's GF-MCP Pro is one documented example built for airliner flying: per GoFlight's own documentation, it's modeled on a Boeing 737NG mode control panel, with heading, altitude, speed, and course knobs plus a plug-and-play USB connection. It suits autopilot-heavy jets more than light aircraft.
For general-aviation setups, a separate standalone panel isn't always the first buy — Honeycomb's Bravo Throttle Quadrant already includes 7 assignable switches and 14 annunciator lights for autopilot and system status, per Honeycomb's own page, built into the same unit as its GA throttle levers.
GoFlight GF-MCP Pro GoFlight GF-MCP Pro.
Who this is for
Built for someone who already has a stick, yoke, or throttle and wants to know what a dedicated panel adds before buying one.
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FAQ
What does a flight sim panel actually add?
Physical switches and knobs for things you'd otherwise click through with a mouse — autopilot modes, heading and altitude selection, and system status lights. It speeds up in-flight changes and adds realism.
Do I need a panel that matches my exact aircraft?
Not exactly, but matching the general aircraft category helps. An airliner-style MCP panel maps naturally onto autopilot-heavy jets; a GA-focused panel, like the one built into the Honeycomb Bravo, fits single-engine and light twin flying better.