My name is Antony Williams. I've spent thousands of hours in both real and simulated cockpits. When I build a home simulator, I look for gear that builds correct muscle memory. It needs to feel right. It needs to be reliable. Today, we are looking at a piece of hardware that has become a staple in my own Cirrus setup: the Honeycomb Bravo Throttle Quadrant. The original article mentioned it for its custom Cirrus throttle handles, and for good reason. Let's break down why this unit is arguably the best investment you can make for your flight sim, especially if you fly the Cirrus SR22.
You notice the weight first. The Honeycomb Bravo is not a toy. It's a solid piece of engineering. The base is heavy, constructed from a thick, matte black plastic that feels premium. It comes with two mounting options: a large suction cup base or a set of sturdy C-clamps. I use the clamps. They lock the unit to my desk with zero wobble. This is critical. When you're in the middle of a tricky instrument approach, the last thing you want is your hardware sliding around.
Inside the box, you get the quadrant itself and two sets of lever handles. One set is for commercial jets, with spoiler and flap detents. The other is for general aviation. These are the ones we care about for the Cirrus. You get a black throttle lever, a blue prop lever, and a red mixture lever. The modular design is brilliant. You can configure the quadrant for a single-engine prop, a multi-engine, or a jet. This versatility is a major selling point.
The real Cirrus SR22 G6 uses a single power lever. It manages throttle and propeller RPM automatically. So, how do we replicate this on the Bravo? It's simple. You install just the single black throttle lever. You now have a realistic power control. But what about the other levers? You can use the blue prop and red mixture levers for older Cirrus models or other GA aircraft. Or, you can map them to other functions in the sim. I sometimes map the mixture lever to the fuel pump or parking brake, depending on my training mission.
The real magic for Cirrus pilots comes from the aftermarket. The original article mentioned 'Cirrus throttle handles,' and this is what they meant. Numerous creators sell 3D-printed handles that perfectly replicate the t-shaped handle in the real aircraft. Swapping the default black knob for one of these custom handles makes a huge difference in immersion. It’s a small change that has a big impact on the feel of the simulator.
This is where the Bravo truly distances itself from the competition. It's not just a throttle. It's an integrated cockpit control panel. Let's look at the key features.
The trim wheel is massive. It feels fantastic. It's a large, ribbed wheel on the left side of the unit that allows for precise, small adjustments to the aircraft's pitch. Any real pilot will tell you that trim is life. You are constantly adjusting it. Most yokes and joysticks have a small, imprecise rocker switch for trim. The Bravo’s wheel lets you build proper trimming habits. You can feel the adjustments. This feature alone is worth half the price of the unit.
On the front face, you have a fully functional autopilot selector panel. The buttons include HDG (Heading), NAV (Navigation), APR (Approach), REV (Reverse), ALT (Altitude), VS (Vertical Speed), and IAS (Indicated Air Speed). There is also a knob to select and adjust these values. This is a game-changer for IFR training. Instead of fumbling with a mouse to click tiny buttons on the screen, you are physically interacting with the autopilot. This builds procedural memory that translates directly to the real cockpit. The buttons are backlit with a soft red glow, which is perfect for low-light sim sessions.
The unit includes a landing gear lever with indicator lights (up, in transit, down). For a fixed-gear Cirrus SR22, this might seem unnecessary. But it can be mapped to any other switch function in your simulator. The flap lever is also a proper, multi-position lever, not a simple up/down switch. It has a nice, solid feel as you move through the flap detents. This is much better than a button for building the physical habit of setting flaps.
So, is the Honeycomb Bravo the right choice for a serious Cirrus simmer? Absolutely. It provides an unmatched level of realism and functionality for its price point. It’s not a 1:1 replica of a Cirrus console, but the core components—the throttle action, the trim wheel, and the autopilot—are essential for effective training. It allows you to move beyond simply 'playing a game' and into the realm of 'practicing procedures'.
Pros:
Cons:
In my opinion, the pros heavily outweigh the cons. It's the best piece of kit for the money, their is no competition in this price bracket. If you are building a home cockpit for Cirrus training, the Honeycomb Bravo should be at the top of your list. It's a foundational piece of hardware that will elevate your entire simulation experience. Don't hesitate.