Thrustmaster’s T.Flight HOTAS 5 Microsoft Flight Simulator Edition has an unglamorous but important feature for PlayStation 5 pilots: an RJ12 port for external rudder pedals. That connector is not a hidden mode or a new workaround, but it matters because it gives PS5 users a direct route beyond twist-rudder controls without moving to a PC or Xbox setup.
Simulation Daily recently flagged the port as the HOTAS 5’s “secret weapon” in its PS5 review. Thrustmaster’s own documentation confirms that the stick supports its TFRP rudder pedals on PlayStation 5, with the pedals connecting directly to the HOTAS rather than the console.
Rudder pedals add separate control over yaw and wheel braking, which is particularly useful for crosswind landings, taxiing, helicopter work, and aircraft with more demanding ground handling. The HOTAS 5’s joystick still includes a twist axis, so pedals are not mandatory. But a physical pedal set removes one more task from the hand already managing pitch and roll.
The catch is that the port is proprietary in practice. It uses an RJ12-style connector, but it is intended for Thrustmaster’s compatible TFRP pedal system, not arbitrary USB flight pedals or generic telephone-style accessories. Buyers should verify compatibility before treating the socket as an open accessory standard.
That does not mean the HOTAS 5 is uniquely capable. Thrustmaster’s older PlayStation-focused HOTAS hardware also supported the company’s pedal system. The newer HOTAS 5 is simply the current Microsoft Flight Simulator-branded entry-level option, and it keeps the expansion port intact.
For Windows pilots, the broader lesson is less dramatic: an inexpensive HOTAS can still be a sensible foundation if it exposes the connections needed for later upgrades.
Simulation Daily recently flagged the port as the HOTAS 5’s “secret weapon” in its PS5 review. Thrustmaster’s own documentation confirms that the stick supports its TFRP rudder pedals on PlayStation 5, with the pedals connecting directly to the HOTAS rather than the console.
A basic connector with a practical payoff
Rudder pedals add separate control over yaw and wheel braking, which is particularly useful for crosswind landings, taxiing, helicopter work, and aircraft with more demanding ground handling. The HOTAS 5’s joystick still includes a twist axis, so pedals are not mandatory. But a physical pedal set removes one more task from the hand already managing pitch and roll.The catch is that the port is proprietary in practice. It uses an RJ12-style connector, but it is intended for Thrustmaster’s compatible TFRP pedal system, not arbitrary USB flight pedals or generic telephone-style accessories. Buyers should verify compatibility before treating the socket as an open accessory standard.
Why PS5 pilots may notice it more
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 arrived on PS5 in December 2025, extending the sim to a platform with less established flight-control hardware support than Windows. PC users can choose among a broad range of USB pedals, yokes, throttles, and button boxes; Xbox users also have more console-focused options. On PS5, the list is shorter, making a ready-made stick-and-pedals path more valuable.That does not mean the HOTAS 5 is uniquely capable. Thrustmaster’s older PlayStation-focused HOTAS hardware also supported the company’s pedal system. The newer HOTAS 5 is simply the current Microsoft Flight Simulator-branded entry-level option, and it keeps the expansion port intact.
What buyers should do
PS5 Flight Simulator players considering the HOTAS 5 should treat pedal support as an upgrade path, not as something included in the box. The TFRP pedals are sold separately, and the stick’s existing twist rudder remains the cheaper starting point.For Windows pilots, the broader lesson is less dramatic: an inexpensive HOTAS can still be a sensible foundation if it exposes the connections needed for later upgrades.
References
- Primary source: Windows Central
Published: 2026-07-20T17:38:48+00:00
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