The short version
- The Takeoff Kit lists at $179.99, which is $30 more than the $149.99 standalone Foxtrot Aviation Stick.
- Wilson's review of a Honeycomb-supplied sample praises the feel of the throttle sliders and switches. He found one lever cap that didn't fit properly, and a throttle box that slid around on his desk mat.
- His main objection is that, at the time of his review, the Throttle Box could only be had inside the full Foxtrot Takeoff Kit.
- Honeycomb's launch announcement, however, said the throttle would also come as a separate expansion for existing owners. That promise is why the "sold separately" question matters.
Honeycomb supplied the review sample. Windows Central says the company had no input on the article before it was published.
What's in the box
Honeycomb's product page describes the kit as a stick plus a compact throttle box for Microsoft Flight Simulator and X-Plane. It lists these specifications:
- A stick with 16-bit Hall-effect sensors, a twist-rudder axis and adjustable resistance.
- A throttle box with four levers, detents and reverse-thrust functionality.
- Lever sets that can be swapped between GA and airliner layouts, plus a parking-brake lever, a landing-gear lever and integrated engine switches.
- A USB-C to USB-A cable, two mounting brackets, a connector cable, an Allen key and a two-year limited warranty.
- A throttle box measuring 136 × 173 × 83 mm, and a combined weight of 1.279 kg.
These are manufacturer specifications, not independent measurements.
How it behaved in testing
Wilson says the stick is identical to the standalone model he reviewed earlier, so his earlier verdict still applies. Other points from his hands-on time:
- Mounting: Plates and screws attach the throttle to either side of the stick, using threads that were already on the stick's underside. The extra weight steadied the combined rig on his desk.
- Sliders: All four felt alike, with enough resistance to avoid accidental nudges. Each has a bottom detent, which he used for reverse thrust or to mark the limit for speed brake and flaps.
- Switches: The small landing-gear, engine and parking-brake controls gave satisfying feedback.
- Setup: He needed only four axes and four buttons, and found setup fast. His preferred layout was a GA arrangement with propeller and mixture levers.
Honeycomb's downloads page lists input-overview documents, firmware updates and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 profiles for the stick, the throttle and the combined kit. I haven't inspected those files, so I won't prescribe a mapping. If you buy one, start with the official profile for your configuration rather than assigning everything by hand.
The problems he found
- One lever cap didn't fit. One GA lever cap didn't sit flush, which Wilson blames on an apparent moulding fault. That is one sample, not evidence of a wider defect. He says there are no spare parts on Honeycomb's site, so the fix would go through customer support. If you buy a kit, check the caps early while the return window is open.
- The throttle box is light. At about 330 g, it slid forward on his desk mat under lever pressure. It gripped better on wood, and it was steadier when bolted to the stick.
Is the throttle sold separately or not?
Wilson's review says it isn't, and that the bundle-only arrangement leaves stick owners stuck. Honeycomb's August 13 release said otherwise. It said the kit would be available as a complete bundle or as a standalone Throttle Box expansion for existing Foxtrot Aviation Stick owners. Several outlets repeated that claim.
There is also some retailer evidence. A Focus Camera listing is titled as a Foxtrot Throttle Box for the Foxtrot Black Aviation Stick, and its SKU is HC004360. It describes the box as an independent USB controller that complements the stick. I can't confirm from that listing whether the item is in stock or what it costs. Honeycomb's own hardware catalog, as retrieved, lists the Takeoff Kit and the stick but not a standalone throttle. It also marks the stick as "Available soon".
So the evidence conflicts:
- The company said a standalone throttle would exist.
- The reviewer found none on sale at the time of testing.
- At least one retailer has a throttle-only listing.
- Honeycomb's own store catalog didn't show one.
If you own the stick, check the Honeycomb store and its reseller list before buying a second stick. Don't assume the bundle is your only route.
What to make of the pricing argument
The review floats a standalone price of around $30. It also suggests that manufacturing, packaging and licensing costs may explain the bundle-only sale. Both ideas are the reviewer's speculation, not company statements. The $30 gap between the kit and the stick doesn't establish what the throttle would cost alone, since retail pricing rarely splits that neatly.
The company's published position also undercuts the cost explanation, because it said a separate throttle was planned. A more likely reading is a staggered rollout. That is my inference, not a confirmed fact.
Platform notes
The review says the kit is PC-only and not compatible with Xbox. Honeycomb's listing says PC and Mac, with support for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and 2024, X-Plane 11 and 12, and Prepar3D. The two statements are consistent as far as Xbox goes. Nothing found here confirms a console version of the Foxtrot.
Who should buy it
- Newcomers wanting a compact stick-and-throttle setup: The bundle looks like a sensible entry point, at roughly $30 over the stick alone.
- Existing Foxtrot owners: Wait for confirmation of a standalone throttle. Wilson's verdict is that the kit isn't for you.
- Buyers who want more throttle realism: Wilson says he found it easier to recommend Honeycomb's Bravo Throttle Quadrant Lite instead.
Honeycomb has published a firm promise of a separate throttle, but Windows Central's testing suggests it wasn't easy to get at launch. If you're an existing owner, confirm the part is actually on sale before you commit.