Flight sim hardware maker VIRPIL Controls is celebrating 10-years of operation with a couple of recent discount sales and there have been a few teases of future hardware options including reaching out to the community for feedback. Let’s have a look at how VIRPIL is doing these days.

Ten years of operation and sales

VIRPIL is celebrating ten years of operation and three years of production at their Lithuanian production facility. That makes VIRPIL somewhat unique where their hardware and production all occur within the EU whereas most other manufacturers design in North America or China and build in China. The company has recently opened up virtual storefronts and real world warehouses in the UK and US to make shipping easier – no mean feat given the difficulties associated with trade in recent years. Getting flight sim hardware is a bit more of a challenge than it used to be but, depending on where you are in the world, at least one or two manufacturers is going to offer options for you.

I’ve had the opportunity to chat with a couple of people from VIRPIL over the years and the company has sent me a few pieces of hardware to review as well. Most recently, I’ve looked at their CDT-Aeromax joystick and the MongoosT-50 CM3 HOTAS and both have been excellent pieces of equipment as has some of their other gear that I’ve tested over the years!

The biggest problem that VIRPIL Controls appears to be facing right now is that they aren’t able to make equipment fast enough and nearly their entire product line is typically out of stock and awaiting new inventory. Clearly people are snapping up the equipment as fast as they can make them. That said, my own experience has been that they usually are able to fulfill a back-ordered item within a reasonable amount of time though I know some folks have needed to wait several months in some cases.

To celebrate recent anniversaries, the company has previously had a 10-year anniversary sale and now they have a 3-year EU production sale going on. Enter the code “EUPRODUCTION” to get 10% off your order.

Recent and upcoming gear

Let’s have a look at some recent releases from VIRPIL. The company has been busy developing new hardware across a range of different types of sim users. Helicopters, air combat, civilian operation and even space sims are accommodated by the company.

Some of the highlights include the more mid-market CDT-AEROMAX flighstick and CDT-VMAX Throttle. In the higher end there’s the still relatively new VMAX Prime throttle and FLNKR grip. The company has introduced a yoke system with the Vector Flight Yoke Base and a few different styles of yoke. They have desk mounts, button boxes, and all kinds of other associated gear to customize your setup.

Right now, VIRPIL are reaching out to ask about some updates to the Aeromax with some proposed mockups of different ways that the stick base could be added to.

We’ve been talking about everything that makes the CDT-AEROMAX Flightstick special, and it’s expandability with the CDT-Throttle Module is just a glimpse of the possibilities!

The VIRPIL R&D Team have been putting together ideas for an upcoming series of CDT-AEROMAX Add-On Panels, but we want to hear from you! What modules and functionality do you want to see added to the lineup?

Comments are still open on Facebook and on their forums so if you have ideas you can certainly weigh in.

Meanwhile, an Apache style cyclic has been spotted in a recent image released by the company. VIRPIL has confirmed that it is something they are working on and that more news is coming soon.

Another item that the company has been teasing recently is a force feedback base. While Moza and WINCTRL have already started to offer products or at least show off prototypes, VIRPIL has been a bit quieter about their plans. It does sound like we’ll be seeing a reveal in this calendar year as their social media team have indicated that we’ll learn more about it sooner than later. Should be interesting!

That’s a broad overview of what is going on with VIRPIL these days. If you’re looking for hardware, they are one of a few companies that are definitely worth a look. Check out their website here!

Other hardware makers

I’ve had a chance to review quite a few pieces of hardware over the years from VIRPIL, VKB-Sim, and Thrustmaster. I’m planning to write some updates on what each of these companies has been up to recently so that everyone is up to date on the latest hardware.

I am curious what you’re using for hardware right now. What are you looking to purchase in the future (if anything)? Which company are you most interested in learning about? Let me know in the comments as I start to do a few short articles on hardware.