Joystick

A good quality joystick is the most popular choice for realistic and accurate control of the glider. Make sure it has a twist-grip for rudder operation but not required if you are planning on using separate rudder pedals. Some joysticks have force-feed-back feature which adds to your virtual gliding experience.

An alternative option is to use an Gamepad or XBox controller. This may lack the realistic feel and relation to a real glider but it’s whatever you are comfortable with and you can achieve smooth operation of your glider. All control functions can be configured to your liking in the program settings. More on this later.

You can even use a standard keyboard and mouse for all controls but not recommended. Below are some popular choices starting from our budget choice (Extreme 3D Pro).

1. Logitech Extreme 3D PRO Joystick
Logitech Joysticks Microsoft Sidewinder Force Feedback 2 Joystick  - Produced from 1998 - 2003 but still very popular Check out the specs here Ursa Minor Fighter Joystick WinWing Joysticks VKB Gladiator NXT EVO VKBsim Australia

Rudder Pedals

USB rudder pedals are a great option for pilots who wish to have a more realistic approach. Afterall, this is a gliding simulator and you may need them for practice in flying your real glider. Alternatively, you can choose to use Condor’s inbuilt auto-rudder coordination that works in conjunction with a twist-grip joystick for manual control on take-off and landing. Here are some popular choices:

1. Logitech G Pro Flight Rudder Pedals
2. WINWING Orion WinWing
3. VKB T-Rudder Mk.V

Headset and Mic

A headset is something you wear therefore it needs to be comfortable and to perform its function well. We recommend being very fussy with your choice. Some points to consider:

• Make sure the headset cups around your ears are very comfortable and not too small.
• Bluetooth headsets are great but one with a plug in cord as backup or for troubleshooting is handy.
• Light weight and easily adjustable.
• Having a mic that mutes automatically when you swing it up out of the way is also handy.
• The mic needs to be of a good quality in order to be heard clearly.

1. Logitech G733 LightspeedLogitech

Head Tracking - Optional

Many pilots that fly Condor soaring simulator are very comfortable using a straightforward hardware setup: PC, monitor, joystick, keyboard, and mouse. It’s a proven combination—simple, effective. Any additional equipment is entirely a matter of personal preference.

If you're after a more immersive feel in the cockpit, head tracking is one way to take your experience to the next level. In thermal flying or when maneuvering near other gliders, maintaining full situational awareness is critical to avoid collisions. Head tracking offers a faster, more natural way to look around, eliminating the need to press buttons to change your view.

TrackIR   has been around for a long time now and uses an infrared camera and a special clip (both provided) that is attached to your headset in order to track your head movement. This setup is very accurate and doesn’t use your own webcam. You need to be able to block sunlight from coming into your virtual environment as it will prevent your camera from working properly.

Another method is to use a standard webcam and software to track your head movement but this can be less accurate.

The latest and most rapidly improving techology is VR goggles. When you weigh up the cost of VR goggles versus good quality monitors and head tracking equipment, VR is becoming a great cost-effective solution. Research is key here as there are many pro’s and con’s.

Motion Sickness with Headtracking

Be aware that motion sickness affects many pilots in real life and in a simulator using head tracking. There are ways to train your brain to eventually overcome the terrible effects of motion sickness by initially reducing all movement settings to a minimum. Try this for about 5-10 hours. If you feel ok then increase the movement settings ever so slightly and use this setting for another 5-10 hours and so on. Over time you will eventually get to a piont you are happy with. Be patient.