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Hardware Unboxing : Honeycomb Bravo Throttle Sadly we don't do a lot of hardware reviews on X-PlaneReviews. The reason is we don't have a lot changing in that world to cover the new equipment, but I do admit, we should do more gear reviews. But our tools that we use are important, as they are our interaction with the Simulator on a physical level. The last review was when I bought the Saitek Pro Flight x56 Rhino HOTAS package of a Joystick and throttle, this was back late April 2017, or seven and a half years ago. That system replaced a Saitek x52 Pro Flight H.O.T.A.S. System which broke, the x56 Pro Flight is now quite worn. On the face of it, you can't really complain about seven and a half years of heavy review work before starting to feel the pressure of consistent wear and tear, but from the start, the x56 as noted in the above review was plagued with the same problems that the x52 was also known for, as the metal disk would drag badly up and down the centre shaft no matter what you did. I used (a lot) of petroleum jelly or vaseline to keep it lubricated. the x56 has EXACTLY the same problem, but worse in that the centre shaft here is plastic and not metal, I thought the different springs would help, but the shaft still drags (sticks) badly even on the lightest spring, it works better with no springs, but then the stick flops around all over the place, in times of desperation (mostly for Helicopter Reviews) I will take the spring off to fly the aircraft. But the consistent annoyance has been the x56 throttle hardware. Yes I love the solid metal switches, and why I kept it for so long. But a few years ago, it started to have USB issues, first with bad ghosting, then losing the data from the right side throttle lever. If you removed the USB and reinserted it, it worked, until it didn't again, even putting the USB on the most powerful USB port, even then buying a powered USB board, but it just consistently failed. The throttle levers were also not very effective in being draggy and heavy, even with the adjustment knob set in the lowest setting, so your adjustment inputs were not very clean, messing you up trying to fly (again) Helicopters that required fine collective adjustments, or the non-required fine approach power adjustments that drove me to swear words. When the first lever started to do what the second lever did a year or so ago, it was time to replace the system, enough was enough, I didn't want another full year swearing at it all the time. The Honeycomb Bravo Throttle system is not cheap, it is $300 American Dollars, that is just the throttle alone. Honeycomb Alpha Flight Controls Yoke & Switch Panel is another US$300 for the full system, but quality comes with a price as we shall see. Another point is that if you buy the Alpha and Beta combination set together, they are very, very large units, and they take up an immense amount of desk space, unless you build a frame for them, space is also required as you still need the use of a keyboard for access to the simulator. This size issue was a consideration of why I was reluctant to buy the Bravo earlier, high price aside. I don't think I would buy the Alpha for this space use alone, I love the idea and the quality of the Yoke (if going by the Bravo) as it is very high, so would probably stay with the Joystick arrangement, if a new one later in the year. So let us look at the Bravo Throttle... It came in a very big, BIG cardboard box? That unboxed to another very BIG box at 46.2cm x 32.7 cm x 25.5cm at 5.5 kg I love the quality of the packaging, it feels and looks very professional... the outer cover slipped off to reveal, yes another box... when opened, it was full of more little boxes! The two boxes are labeled "General Aviation" and "Commercial". Lift them out and remove the foam cover to reveal the huge Throttle Assembly below. Also inside is a large connection plate and a Manual. Lower in the box are two desk clamps and a USB Cable. The Throttle Assembly is massive and quite heavy, but all the components and boxes are of very high quality, very well made and again heavy in feel (plate/clamps). You certainly get a lot of components for your money, if it hurt at the checkout, you certainly won't feel that way with what you are delivered. Now lets look at my old Saitek layout, the x56 Joystick and Throttle, if anything it was a very nice setup, one that I liked a lot, it didn't get in the way either when you were not flying, as the Throttle component could be pushed back and out of the way between the two keyboards. The plate is positioned and held in position via the two clamps, very easy to do, and the clamps will take in a fair depth of the bench if you have a homemade bench. You can also use the sticky contact patch on the rear of the plate if you don't want to use the clamps, but once used (attached) then the contact patch can't be used again? note on how much the screw knobs hang down, and you can easily glaze a knee or two if you are not careful. The Throttle Assembly is then attached to the plate via the central pin, and tightened down via two scroll wheels at the rear, once tight the unit is very locked in and solid. To note that if you want your desk space back, then you can just disconnect the cable, then loosen the rear scroll wheels and slip the Throttle assembly back off the plate, it is only a very short disconnect and removable operation. I put it safe in a wardrobe if not required. Another small note... it gets very dusty, and the Bravo is very hard to clean with the slots, so when not being used it needs to be covered. The USB cable is then connected via the rear of the assembly to your computer. My Windows Computer is not positioned that very far away, only down the side of the desk on the floor. But the USB cable is only a meter long? very, very short for these sort of setups, it reached, but it is stretched tight across the desk, a two meter or longer cable is really required here, I don't like extension cables as they can come loose or do not connect correctly, so I found this short cable a bit odd. It is a USB-type C (to USB Type A) so a longer cable should be easy to replace. So here is the complete Throttle Assembly set up, and those two boxes have the sets (GA and Commercial) levers inside, this is a really nice bit of kit, it looks incredible in quality and detail. Top row on the facia are two knobs each end, left; ALT (Altitude), VS (Vertical Speed), HDG (Heading), CRS (Course) and IAS (Speed), right side is; DECR (Decrease) and INCR (Increase). Center are the seven selection rubber buttons; HDG, NAV, APR (Approach), ALT, VS and IAS. Far right is the AUTO PILOT button. lower is left the Landing Gear Toggle with three (Red/Green) lights, and lower far right is the Flap switch There are Seven Multi-Use switches centre, and lower a very nice 14 light Annunciator panel, with; Master Warning, Engine Fire, Low Oil Pressure, Low Fuel Pressure, Anti-Ice, APU, Master Caution, Vacuum, Low Hyd Pressure, Aux Fuel Pump, Parking Brake, Low Volts and Door. For over the lever slots you are provided with six rubber covers, that slot in to keep out the dust and to protect the contacts. Left of the lever slots is a very nice Trim Wheel, right is a lever tensioner knob. You have six levers, some have internal contacts, a few don't. These levers can be selected with the comprehensive range of levers provided in the "General Aviation" and "Commercial" boxes. Quality of the levers are simply outstanding, in both categories. You just push the levers on to connect. But they can be tight to come back off, but here are also new. Standard layout on Commercial is Speedbrake lever left, Four Throttles and the Flap Lever right. Note the excellent pop-up reverse thrust levers. There is an indent to stop you going into reverse mode, but as a lot of users have complained, it's not a heavy indent, so it is quite easy to flip over it, while you are only setting the throttles back to idle, like most I wish it was a tougher stronger stop gap The combinations are endless. Mostly with commercial you will use only two throttle levers (A320/B737/A350/B777), so you blank out the other two slots. Honeycomb recommend using the left two slots, but I hated that layout, and wanted the two levers in the centre of the pedestal, but in this position the TOGO (TakeOff - GoAround) red button on lever 1 doesn't work, but a guess says it just needs setting up, as the contacts are on the stub. Note on the third lever, you can rotate the handle to show either the number 2 or 3, just to work in this two lever arrangement as you are using lever slot 3, very clever. We have the four lever arrangement (B747/A340/Concorde) above, but you can also set up a three throttle lever set for the TriJets (MD11F/MD11P), and this is a brilliant set up. So this shows how versatile the system is. The Bravo can also be used with 3rd party throttle kits. Admittedly they are not cheap, as some kits cost more than the Bravo itself, but hunt around and there are cheaper options. Boeing 737 and Boeing 777 sets are excellent with gated flap runners... and Airbus A320/A380 also comes with pop-up Arming Speedbrakes. You can get a PC12 set, and even a Dash 8. But you would need to be a seriously rich Simmer to use these custom kits, me, I'd like all of them! The General Aviation set gives you six levers, Two Throttle, Two PROP and Two Mixture. These can be positioned to cover Single or Twin engined aircraft. If required you can set just the single Throttle and Mixture levers. You now realise on how very clever X-Plane as a product it really is. The Settings for the Honeycomb Bravo is via the "Joystick" Menu. Here you can assign any lever, button or switch. The "Joystick" menu moves and selects the correct format for you, selecting five different categories to choose from; Switches and AutoPilot, GA Throttles, Commercial 4 Engine Throttles, Commercial 2 Engine Throttles and Other Controls. Note, just because it says "Switches and AutoPilot", it doesn't mean that simply selecting from the XP menu that the Bravo unit will automatically work, as we shall see, it doesn't completely work that way? But command assignments can be made for buttons, switches, reverse selections and lever lower positions in the X-Plane menu. The work here is creating all the different lever layouts for the universal selection of aircraft. So you will at first create "User Profiles" for default settings, say "GA Single" and "GA Dual", or "4 Engine" or "2 Engine". These profiles can then be assigned to the different aircraft layouts, then refined for that particular aircraft. It is time consuming stuff, it can take days to do, to get the right profiles, then each set to be assigned to an aircraft. Note if you want the Twin throttle levers in the centre position, then you to set them up via the 4 Engine setup, to access the central 3 lever. But even after doing this profile assignments, the Bravo system is still not completely working? You also have to use something called a "HB Configurator Tool" (Config Tool). Were as the hardware throttle connects to your X-Plane settings, the Config Tool does the opposite in allowing X-Plane to talk to the throttle, in Annunciators and using the Autopilot switches and knobs. Thankfully when you start the HB Config Tool, it has a load of defaults that cover the basic default settings. You can download the HB Config Tool from both HoneyComb Aeronautical (Don't Google HB Config Tool, as you won't find it there?), or use Aerosoft, this option is better for configured profiles. Once you have downloaded the software, you then run the .exe file to install the software. (Options for a MAC install is included). When installed you have the "Honeycomb Configurator" Application available to open. Running the application, allows you to make "Profiles"... with a "Profile Editor" . First is "Actions"... Here you can; Create (a new profile), Activate (a current profile), Delete (a Current Profile), Change Selected Device, Open X-Plane Variable List, Download Profiles, Open Settings and Exit (Configurator) You can select a certain button or switch and create a "Press-Event" in two modes, Buttons/Switches or LED (lighting) selections. The Config Tool is complicated to use?? with coding skills required, however there are videos to learn how to create and insert these profiles - How to use Datarefs and Commands, this is a good one as well in Configuring for X-Plane. With the Config download, you do also get a default XP11 profile (works with XP12), so basically the system will now work, and the system is now active with RED/Green Gear Indicators, Red Annunciators and bright white Autopilot lighting. It is VERY nice! As noted you can download "Custom Profiles" and import them into the Config via the "Actions/Settings". These can be seen and selected in the "Profiles" Tab (also need to be made active via the settings menu). You can also "create" a new Profile if required. Lower Config panel is noted the current loaded profile : Default-Throttle. When you start up X-Plane, the Config will show the currently selected Profile for about 10 secs So here is the Honeycomb Bravo layout, it is very different than earlier, and notice on how far outwards the Bravo levers are compared to the x56 layout. To a point I am twisting in my chair to reach back to the levers, I quickly changed my stance to hold the levers underneath, than trying to operate them from the rear, and it actually felt more cockpit realistic to do it the way real life pilots do the throttle actions the same way. But the layout does take some getting used to I will admit. So some user notes. Oddly my biggest complaint is not with the hardware, or even the software? Honeycomb Aeronautical have done a brilliant job in creating a very high quality product. But seriously lacking is Documentation. There is a Manual (14 pages) repeated in English, German and French. This covers basically the Installation and Setup, which is pretty straightforward anyway. There is nothing on installing or using the HB Configurator Tool? The Honeycomb Aeronautical website is not much better. Your basically on your own to set up and configure the system yourself. Where Honeycomb could help you, they still fail badly. One, there are a series of videos on how to use Datarefs and Commands, but it is boring and not very informative, even complicated. There needs to be a section to explain (Video and Manual) on how the code is represented to use the required command. But worse, although Honeycomb do supply default profiles, they are not very good in operation, as a lot of required profile actions are missing, worse they are still labeled "X-Plane 11", and we have moved on a lot since then folks. They made this suite of tools, but can't be actually bothered to help you out with the basics, in reality it should be an easy drop in and use format. I can't state on how the other platforms fair from the default profiles, but default X-Plane is quite woeful. With something as complicated as the profile system, it should be far better organised. Yes I understand that with the various types of aircraft, there are a lot of different combinations of setups, but the default profiles could be far better in setting you up in the very basics. You get the feeling the programmer himself doesn't know how it works, so can't communicate that aspect in detail to you. This tool was released in 2020, and since that period, Honeycomb have done no manual or software updates, I think with equipment of this price range, they need to come to the table, may even garner them a few extra sales, by just making their product easier to access. Functionality So with poor profiles you get random settings. Some aircraft give you a lot of actions in Autopilot Functions, a lot don't. However mostly on the hardware side, like with the Throttles and Levers as connected by the X-Plane settings, then they do tend to work every time, as long as you set the right configuration for that aircraft's layout. A lot of aircraft however with the default and custom profiles will also work. but again expect limitations. When using the Autopilot, the ALT, HDG and IAS (Speed), then these selections will work fine with the adjustment knob, but the VS (Vertical Speed) and CRS (Course) don't work? a few like the IXEG B737 and Rotate MD-11 Series, you will find everything will work, but the odd MD-11 hardware settings have to be correct. All ToLiss aircraft work fine, but a few lose the VS and CRS options, but the button selections in HDG, NAV... so on, actually do work. Almost all the Laminar default aircraft will work with the "Default Profile", as they all use the basic X-Plane datarefs, but important is that you have the correct X-Plane Profile to match that particular aircraft's layout when using it. So time spent setting up the the different X-Plane Profile configurations... Single Engine, Twin Engine, Jet Twin and Jet Four Engine configuration, so you can match them quickly to the aircraft's particular setup is the way to save yourself a lot of frustration and confusion. That said... If the Autopilot functions work, even with only the three ALT, HDG and IAS selections, then your in for a treat. The Honeycomb Bravo is no replacement for a dedicated Autopilot panel, but it is universally very good to cover most aircraft systems. My first flight with the Bravo was the ToLiss A319, and "wow" this was a lot of fun to use the Honeycomb System, as the selection knob, buttons and adjustment knob works, and when it does, it gives you a very realistic Simulation. Not having to consistently move your forward view to adjust the aircraft's altitude, heading and speed, but to do it by touch and twiddling the knob is feeling like a Captain with four epaulets on your shoulders! Also the levers are far, far better with the pressure adjustment than the x56, lovely actually, as you can find that right feel tension pressure in moving them forwards and rearwards, a longer lever travel is also a bonus for taxi speeds and more general throttle (thrust) control. Like noted the reverse gate detent, is just too weak to separate the forward to reverse thrust selections, so I was always notching it back up to the central position. So lever manipulation is very realistic, as noted you put your hand under the throttles to move them up, above down. But the very small reverser handles are hard to use from the side angle, but in most cases you will just push the throttle levers past the detent for full reverse thrust, and then back past the detent to disengage the reversers. Nice gear lever, is again very authentic in feel and use, but the Speedbrake lever is tricky to use in being free flowing. I also set the first switch left as the "Arm" command, as the lever won't jack up (It can on a custom 3rd party Airbus Kits), so you use the X-Plane Command "Speedbrake retract one" or "extend one" on the switch to use that function. I quickly got used to the Flap handle, which like the speedbrake is free moving... a lot of the aircraft you fly, have gates anyway to select the right position. But in the Airbuses, You can easily find the right selection slot (it is a feel thing, more than a visual one). I rarely use the Flap switch set higher, but only again with a flappy switch on the aircraft, but it is handy if you want your flaps at say another detent down. But the flappy switch can also confuse the Bravo, as if you use the flappy switch, the Flap lever does not move itself to the correct indent, so the Honeycomb, doesn't know what to do (the flap handle will flicker on screen), so it is always best to use the Flap lever than the switch. The Trim wheel is fine in a manual mode, but you can't use it to set the Centre of Gravity takeoff setting in an airliner. Next was the IXEG B737, not flown the -300 for awhile, but set up with a custom profile(s) (both in a custom profile and an X-Plane custom profile), this aircraft showed how good the Honeycomb Bravo really is, one flight, two flights, three flights, and I just wanted more as almost all the buttons and controls worked perfectly, it was extremely immersive! The one that I was excited about was the FlightFactor Boeing 777v2. FlightFactor have provided the correct HB commands for you to set the Autopilot and Switchgear (the custom commands are in the "Manual") for the Bravo. The command list is below, can take a fair while to set, but worthwhile as virtually every knob works! So a HB Config profile is not needed here. Note to Developers, please consider this option when releasing aircraft as it means you only need the one profile to set (X-Plane) for that particular aircraft. I would recommend to copy the created profile as a backup. So this is the point, if you do have the correct profiles, it the Honeycomb Bravo is totally brilliant, but a lot of the authenticity is missing if you don't have a working profile, as you are left with only the basics to fly with. Summary So let us sum up the Honeycomb Bravo Throttle System... Expensive, but you get a lot of quality hardware for your money, so I don't regret the purchase one little bit, as it is a very nice piece of kit. It takes up a lot of your desk space, and sticks outwards quite a lot from your desk, so you have to adjust your flying stance a lot to use it. All switches, buttons, levers and controls are of top quality in feel and use. As the multiple, if extremely versatile arrangements and layouts for a wide variety of aircraft is outstanding. Lighting is also outstanding, with Gear lights, AP selection lights and red Annunciators. It is a time consuming system to set up with two sets of profiles, and if like me flying a wide variety of aircraft, so you can spend a lot of time just in getting all the right hardware and profile combinations working together correctly. With the Saitek x56, I rarely changed settings, aircraft to aircraft, except for setting up to fly Helicopters. Certainly a static setup, refined in settings for a certain Simulation is to get the best out of the Bravo. Biggest barrier is the poor information presented for a complex profile setup by Honeycomb, there are a few videos, but you mostly certainly require more documentation on details. Provided default profiles are poor and after four years are still noted as X-Plane 11, and far too few profiles to cover the many simulation platforms and various aircraft out there, certainly an interactive forum would be actually a good idea for a central base of information and help (currently it is Aerosoft doing the hosting). Basically it needs someone to sort out the mess and give users better information and deliver professional profiles that work. USB cable is seriously too short at 1 meter, you would need to purchase a longer cable. If you know me well, you would know that anything that brings the real world aviation feel and interaction to create a higher level of realistic Simulation is going to make me happy. The Honeycomb Bravo Throttle can certainly deliver that aspect to your on-line flying, yes it is complicated to set up, but once configured is an amazing bit of hardware to use, and is totally recommended. _____________ The Honeycomb Bravo Throttle can be purchased at most leading On-Line Flight Simulation stores, for around US$300, but there is always a deal out there. Requirements ✅ PC (Windows 10/11) • Requires a USB-A port • Compatible with major flight simulators: • Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 (MSFS 2020) • X-Plane 11 & 12 • Prepar3D (P3D) • FSX (with some limitations) ✅ Xbox Compatibility • Works with Xbox Series X|S only when paired with a compatible yoke (e.g., Honeycomb Alpha XPC). Software & Drivers • Windows Users: Install the Honeycomb software/drivers from their official website for full configurability. • MSFS 2020 Users: Custom profiles may need to be set up in the simulator’s control settings. • X-Plane Users: Works out of the box but may require minor configuration. Hardware Compatibility • Designed to integrate seamlessly with the Honeycomb Alpha Yoke. • Works with third-party yokes and rudder pedals (e.g., Logitech, Thrustmaster, Turtle Beach). Installation Software needs to be downloaded in the HB Configurator Tool, available from Honeycomb & Aerosoft. Downloading the "X-Plane 11" version is the correct version for X-Plane 12. Documents Manual (14 pages) in English, German and French (Installation) Partner Offers ________________ Hardware Review by Stephen Dutton 7th February 2025 Copyright©2025: X-Plane Reviews (Disclaimer. All images and text in this review are the work and property of X-PlaneReviews, no sharing or copy of the content is allowed without consent from the author as per copyright conditions) All Rights Reserved

Yes it really is one of the best! Such an amazing addon!

To me she is the best of all sim airplanes. Very close to the real C172 I've flown IRL (of course with the logical limitations of the sim)