Ready for take-off: Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight flight controller being tested

The request for a more precise control quickly arose, which was satisfied by a Thrustmaster T-Flight Hotas One for just under 80 euros. “HOTAS” is an acronym for “Hands On Throttle And Stick”. Intermediate result: a large joystick with a small panorama switch, a thick throttle control, the typical A / B / X / Y buttons of the Xbox and 14 other buttons.

Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight

Then I found out about the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight, a stately control system (length: 483 mm, width: 496 mm, height: 183 mm) with a number of buttons, wheels, sticks and levers for almost 400 euros! Actually exaggerated for a novice like me, but I wanted to try it anyway. So requested a test copy and put tomato juice on the shelf. The size of the packaging of the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight makes it clear that you unlock the next level of virtual flying. Inside the box is a large 180 degree control horn that you can push in and pull out. There is an 8-way POV switch (“Point of View”) and another 4-way switch per thumb. There are also four large shoulder buttons, two additional buttons, the eight standard Xbox buttons and a color display (320×240 pixels) with four control buttons.

The thrust quadrant with four large levers for jets hangs on it, firmly clipped on, which initially latches once and is then continuously adjustable. The large trim wheel can also be operated smoothly and smoothly, with which you can adjust the height alignment. There are also three other throttle controls, which are arranged under the ten illuminated buttons and which simulate the operation of smaller fan guns.

Two metal brackets are hidden in the housing for fastening. They can be tightened with a thick Allen key, which is waiting to be used under a flap closed by a magnet.

There are also threads for screws on the underside (included). Good thing, because it is necessary to secure the VelocityOne Flight in a stable manner. I haven’t tried whether the 4 large strips of adhesive tape are enough. For my taste, my wheelstand for steering wheels was a bit overwhelmed and I had the impression that the requirements are even higher because you also push the control horn in and out. Since flight maneuvers are carried out relatively sensitively, any unintentional movement from an unstable mount impairs the fun and precision. On the other hand, I can place the T-Flight Hotas control stick on my lap. The workmanship of the VelocityOne Flight makes a solid impression, buttons, levers and buttons react as you would expect. But if you panic, you will notice that you can twist the horns of the steering wheel a bit more than you would have expected in this price range. The surfaces, ergonomics and grip are all right. A jack socket for headsets rounds off the equipment.

Construction and setup

It is easy to set up and set up. Snap the thrust quadrant into place on the steering wheel, connect it using a USB Type-C cable and plug the steering wheel into the Xbox (or PC) using a USB cable. No additional power supply is required without force feedback. It’s actually a shame, because a small jerk during the touchdown and the typical rubbing when braking would have made the cherries on the cake. The cable (1 and 2 meters) is included in the scope of delivery and contributes to the high-quality overall impression with its textile coating. After plugging in, the peripherals on the Xbox are automatically recognized and you can start immediately – in theory. However, at the beginning I had the old problem again: where is the button for the landing gear, where is the parking brake, where is the brake, where are the landing flaps? The configuration in the Flight Simulator did not reveal itself to me immediately, because instead of an image of the button concerned and the labeling on the steering wheel (B1, POV-1, HAT-1, POV-2 …) you get a number that you can somehow assign got to. But hey, after all, this is about a flight simulation and not Candycrush. You have to allow for some training time.

There was an aha effect when it was switched on, because the buttons light up in the desired color thanks to RGB LEDs. The scope of delivery includes two panels, a number of stickers and foils, which you can use to label the cockpit as you wish.

The biggest drawback for me: It is not yet possible, for example, that the parking brake only lights up when it is activated, or that the button for the chassis lights up in red or green. That would significantly improve the overview. The manufacturer intends to deliver this function via an update. The display shows status messages, cockpit, navigation and drive systems and warnings. You definitely need time to get set up and settled in. Then the operation is great and you feel even more like a pilot than with the standard control options. As with the T-Flight Hotas One, the standard controller must occasionally support the menu. Once the presettings have been made, it is no longer needed. The main controls of the Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight can be operated intuitively. The precision of the flight maneuvers benefits from the dimensions of the controller and the comparatively large steering angles. After a successful landing, I often obeyed whether someone was clapping behind me.

Test conclusion: Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight

The price specifies the target group: The Turtle Beach VelocityOne Flight is not aimed at casual flyers, but rather ambitious FluSi fans who enjoy diving into the depths of the configuration and assigning and labeling every key. In addition to 380 euros, you need space. The VelocityOne Flight is not something you just set up for 30 minutes. But if you have got the start preparations behind you, you will be rewarded with a special tax experience where the gamepad and Hotas cannot keep up.