4. I mentioned this before that the main housing is similar to the Alpha Flight Controls except for the front part. You will notice that the joy file is for a 4-engine jet commercial aircraft being the far most left handle is the SPEEDBRAKE, then from left to right throttles 1 till and including 4 and the last handle is for the FLAPS. Most likely this is for the thrust reverser lever and perhaps also for the red dot button. And yes, even the annunciator lights work, so I’m a happy person and satisfied with what I see. When you start this, you will install the previous mentioned standalone Honeycomb/Aerosoft configuration program. It’s an archipelago situated some 2,000 miles (3.200 km) southwest of the North American mainland, Hawaii is the southernmost state of the United States (not Florida, as many think) and the second westernmost state after Alaska. Loosening the screw knobs means a left hand rotation of the screw knobs is needed. I feel that it’s time to finish this review. The package comes with much ortho photo material also due to the overall size of the modeled airport. Attention …. Bravo Throttle Quadrant with X-Plane 11.51r1 I started this Zibo 738 section because I ran into problems and just to make this clear, not into problems when it comes to the basic X-Plane assignments like for the throttle, flap and landing gear levers, but more for the lights and some AP functions. Next I connect the USB cable to the Bravo Throttle Quadrant where the USB-C connector goes into the back of the Bravo Throttle Quadrant while the other end – USB Type A – goes either directly into the PC or iMac or in an USB hub. Although this good news, I had hoped that before the initial release of the Bravo Throttle Quadrant many json (aircraft add-on configuration) files where available via the Honeycomb and Aerosoft websites. Not only this island, but all the other islands are covered by alpilotx.net HD Mesh Scenery version 2.0. If an add-on aircraft has a dedicated developed AP, it could be that the assignments for AP commands are different then the ones assigned by the joy file. Then you can see one of more annunciator lights illuminated on the light panel in front of the levers. So we continue “On the rear of the yoke you will find two screws locks (locking knobs). Pandemic Parenting: What is your story? Nicky and Ryan, thanks for that. But now it’s time to climb to a higher altitude and I finally end up at 6,000 feet. That said, I did first a flight short test with the Nimbus Islander. What I didn’t say yet is that when you turn the left-hand selector knob to for example, ALT (PRESET ALTITUDE), VS, HDG (HDG SEL), IAS, you actually change these values on the MCP (Mode Control Panel). The fun can start. Another thing that’s perhaps missing in this configuration are rudder and brake pedals. Much more can be found at the dedicated WikipediA web page, but there’s more than only WikipediA. The plastic throttle, prop, mixture, thrust, flap and speedbrake levers are all made of plastic, but look and feel solid and realistic. I actually wrote a plugin myself to make Bravo Throttle work in Mojave. I write on purpose basic AP panel since it’s not a replacement for the Boeing MCP or Airbus FCU. From there, we fly to my final destination, the airport of Hilo (PHTO) on the Island of Hawaii. Worth to highlight that whenever you face interface/connecting problems when using an USB hub, I advice you to reconnect the USB Type A connector directly into your PC or iMac. It explains briefly what you can do, what the several options are while several examples on how you can configure is missing. It seems that all assigned AP functions work with this aircraft, but when I tried to do the same during another flight with the Just Flight/Thranda Duchess 76, the basic functions like FLAPS UP/DOWN lever and GEAR UP/DOWN handle worked, but the AP didn’t respond do what I expected. When you connect the Bravo Throttle Quadrant while X-Plane is already up and running, a popup window appears that tells you that new hardware is detected. Third: some arms on the Bravo Throttle Quadrant have two and other three electrical contacts. I’ll explain later more about the electrical contact on the Throttle Quadrant unit itself. The same for the 3rd screen shot, this is without Alpilotx while the 4th screen shot is the same spot but with Alpilotx installed. I didn’t assign that detent yet, but you can do that easily yourself. When you’ve unzipped the Mac package, you end up with a folder named Resources and the following sub-folders: Flight Testing In the mean time, you could check out my previously published Honolulu International airport review/impression using this link. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! As written in the previous section, I managed to have a functional Honeycomb configuration app with Big Sur and followed the steps to make it the default profile as well as loading it in X-Plane. When you’ve connected the Bravo Throttle Quadrant to an USB receptacle, you won’t see any LED lights in the front as we know from the Alpha Flight Controls. In other words, the Honeycomb Mac zip package offers not only the Windows joy file and Bravo photos, but also the ready to use Windows external Honeycomb/Aerosoft configuration program while the Honeycomb Windows zip package offers the same, but now as an installer. For clarity, I’ve marked the differences with circles. From this point on we’re heading in a more or less straight-line south till I’ve reached the end of the island and then, on a heading of 130-140 degrees, towards Molokai and Maui. Unfortunately, the DHC6-300 uses the default Garmin GNS 430 which can hold only one waypoint at a time. I could use most Auto Pilot functions and knobs, but nothing happened on the MCP. Testing with LR Beechcraft Baron 58 That’s more than enough needed for a normal takeoff of my DHC6-300. It isn’t a long term tested review of the Honeycomb Bravo Throttle Quadrant, but I can tell you right now that it’s a solid, modern and unique piece of hardware not seen before. Together with the right external lighting conditions, it’s really nice to see, but remember, HD Mesh Scenery isn’t a photo real scenery package. And knowing a bit the construction and design of the Alpha Flight Controls, I had already a good feeling about the overall construction, but I didn’t had any idea what to expect and how big it is. There’s a small remark and that is when you fly as particular aircraft type, it’s not easy to see all the annunciator lights, positioned behind the PROP and MIXTURE levers or to operate all these free available switches. It’s relatively heavy for the size and what it does. – ISDG Vehicle Library Extension I wrote it in the previous section, when you know the Saitek Throttle Quadrant then forget that one and face the massive, no, impressive Honeycomb Bravo Throttle Quadrant. I’ve tuned for waypoint JINAS which is not really needed, but it gives me a little idea about the distance to go while flying towards the airport. I also noticed that when I do a light test in the cockpit, the light test thus the illumination of all the caution and warning lights wasn’t copied to the Bravo, but I believe that this was also mentioned by Aerosoft forum member kavster who created this json file. As per January 2021, the Honeycomb Aeronautical website offers dedicated zip packages for Windows and Mac. When you don’t need the mounting plate for a while, then follow the instructions in the manual, reapply the plastic covering to preserve quality and condition of the 3M Micro-Suction. As it is now, the Flight Controls unit is in the correct position, but not yet tightened to the mounting plate. Although the name suggest that we’re dealing with a throttle device for flight simulators, it actually offers much more then only a throttle unit. Right click on the And not to forget the integral lights of these buttons. Second: when you want to use it as a Boeing throttle panel, but only need two throttle handles like for the 737, 757, 767 and 777, you need to install throttle handles numbered 1 and numbered 3 (2). I hope I can find the right words for this, it looks like that the top layer of the base unit – same as with the Alpha Flight Controls – is covered with a rubber coating which gives a kind of anti-slip look. I still feel like I That said, when I press the NAV button on the Honeycomb, the Baron or most likely other aircraft will engage the NAV mode. I did double check the assignments so ready to go. That’s partly because I’m still flying at 8,000 feet and also because of the way NAPS created Honolulu airport. Objects, forests, road networks and airports, should be set to extreme. It’s not just a plate. The archipelago is physiographically and ethnologically part of the Polynesian sub-region of Oceania. As you can see on the following screenshots, via the View pulldown menu you can select different lever configurations as well as the switching and Auto Pilot part of the Bravo Throttle Quadrant. The problem is that the Bravo Throttle Quadrant has many switches, levers, knobs of which most can be configured within X-Plane but when it comes to the annunciator lights, the integral AP lights, the GEAR lights, for hose you need the Aerosoft AFC_Bridge configurator. On the sticker on the side of this throttle handle you’ll read it. That said, simple copy and paste the contents of the joystick configs folder into the X-Plane directory Resources/joystick configs. Although the trim wheel can be used with every aircraft, it is typical a Boeing look alike trim wheel. The initial Hawaii flight adventure, including some thorough checks at PHOG, has led to a review/impression of more then 7,000 words. After that’s finished, the different Honeycomb pictures can be found with their switches, buttons and the levers. – Fixing the Mounting (or 3M Micro-Suction) Plate – AS_HONEYCOMB_XP11_WIN_V2.zip. – Honolulu International Airport After takeoff, my intention is to fly a more or less straight line to Honolulu International Airport (PHNL) with an intended landing on runway 04R. Borrowing a quote from author Barbara Brown Taylor, "What is saving your life right now?" In real life, Hawaiian Airlines inter-island subsidiary airline ‘Ohana by Hawaiian, operates between the Hawaiian Islands chain, although serviced by an ATR 42. Ho ho, hold on. For this, see the last two photos. I write on purpose “Boeing” look alike since the throttle levers, FLAP lever handle and speed brake lever are typical for Boeing aircraft, but don’t be disappointed when you’re an Airbus virtual pilot. This section is applicable to both Windows and macOS. The only contact is then the throttle lever with the GO AROUND red button. The links to all these freeware add-on airports and additional programs can be found below. Once I’ve leveled off at a certain altitude, it’s time to adjust the PROP and MIXTURE levers and as I previously mentioned, the travel and movement of these levers is smooth, and direct. Also applicable for the Alpha unit and the same for the Bravo unit, the model or size of the throttle quadrant feels OK as well as the durable switches and knobs. However, it’s worth highlighting that it’s an easy and uncomplicated aircraft to fly by hand just using the aircraft trim. Some plastic parts really feel like cheap plastic and that’s absolutely not the case with these add-on parts for the Bravo Throttle Quadrant. We added functions that are important in a flight sim environment like extra buttons and hat-switches, so more programmable features and assignments are available.”, Nicki continues “We also created a table mounting system that doesn’t require any clamps onto the table and can be used on most table and desk surfaces .The mechanical engineering for the Yoke was handled by Precision Flight Controls who have more than 25 years of experience in creating high-end flight simulators for the professional aviation industry.”, “By using existing components that have been evolutionally developed and tested over many decades, it ensured us that we would have the right feel and mechanical quality.