Brand-new San Diego-based flight simulation hardware manufacturer Meridian has released a trio of dedicated modular controllers.
While Meridian is a new brand, it comes with a certain pedigree. At the helm is Nicki Repenning, founder and former CEO of Honeycomb Aeronautical.
We won’t go into the drama part of that story here. If you know, you know, and if you don’t, it’s probably better that way, but Repenning offered a brief statement with the press release.
“The initial feedback from both the industry and community has been phenomenal and better than I could have asked for, says Nicki Repenning, Founder of Meridian GMT. and I completely understand the ones who raised doubts. I’ve got a lot to prove, and their doubts are warranted until I do.”
The modularity of the system is certainly one of its most interesting features, as it allows simmers to simulate different kinds of aircraft on the same controller simply by swapping parts in and out.
We start with the Sierra Plus Flight Controls, a modular yoke for PC and Mac priced at $299.99 + Tax, €319.99 including VAT, or £279.99 including VAT.
It features the following goodies:
- redesigned mechanical system with a 50% longer pitch axis and a 14 Bit Hall Effects Sensors (16 x higher sensitivity) on both axis, for incredibly smooth and precise control.
- Interchangeable Avionics Panels for versatile aircraft configurations:
- Single engine
- Multi Engine
- Commercial
- Ultra-Precise Flight controls with 14-bit Hall Effects Sensors (16 x precision) for micro adjustments on the fly.
- Yoke Travel:
- Pitch 144 mm
- Roll 180°
- Enhanced grip design with built-in dual vibration motors for touchdown bump, stick shaker, Engine RPM and more.
- Auto-Configuration of Aircraft Profile
- Built in magnetic yoke mount for iPads & clipboards
- Robust build quality, with Aluminum frame and Vegan Leather finish to withstand extended use
The second offering is the Tango Plus Throttle Quadrant, also for PC and Mac, offering the following features for $349.99 + Tax, €379.99 including VAT, or £319.99 including VAT
- Fully modular Aluminum frame design with configurable avionics and throttle setups
- Avionics
- General Aviation Autopilot, COMs and Audio Panel
- Mode Control Panel (Autopilot) for Boeing Aircrafts
- Flight Control Unit (Autopilot) for Airbus Aircrafts
- Magnetic throttle axis inserts for Boeing, Airbus, Single & Multi-Engine General Aviation, with detents.
- Automatic Aircraft profile selection based on throttle and avionics configuration.
- Throttle levers for Boeing, Airbus & General Aviation
- Gear Lever with position lock
- Annunciator panel that replicates and assigns warning lights as they appear in cockpit
- Auto-Brake settings
- 7 Toggle switches with magnetic inserts to label switch functions
Perhaps the most unusual item is the X-Ray flight controller, which is an Xbox-style controller with a twist, designed specifically for flight simulation and seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator.
It’s interesting as it offers some of the functionality of more advanced hardware for those who enjoy swimming from the couch. It comes in two versions, commercial/general aviation and military. The pricing has not been announced just yet.
Here’s what you can expect.
- Flight sim controller with faceplate for aircraft and helicopters
- Throttle Inserts
- Generic, Airbus with detents and helicopter collective
- Flap Inserts with detents and spring-loaded flap lever
- General Aviation
- Boeing (737 – 787)
- Airbus (A320 – A380)
- Rescue hoist and water tanker control
- Separate analog triggers for rudder control
You can check out all the controllers below and visit the company’s newly-opened official website.
