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MSFS
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Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3

Virpil Controls · Throttle Quadrant

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MSFS Performance Score

70.5 / 100
MSFS Score
Throttle Quadrant · Virpil Controls
Budget
Value score 18.6 per $100 spent
Lever Count (25%) 40
Build Quality (25%) 90
Detent Feel (20%) 100
Expandability (15%) 20
Compatibility (15%) 100

Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 scores 70.5/100; buildQuality (25% weight) is the dominant factor at 90/100.

Verdict for MSFS

The Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 scores 70.5/100 for MSFS, where its full-metal construction and 12 axes hold firm through high-workload twin-engine approaches into dense photogrammetry airports. Built for sim pilots who prioritize hardware longevity over lever count, though the dual-lever layout will feel limiting when flying quad-engine airframes.

Reviewed: March 2026

Full Specifications

Connection USB
Force Feedback No
Axis Count 12
Button Count 71
Compatibility PC
Release Year 2022

Pros & Cons for MSFS

Pros

  • ↑ Full-metal construction means zero flex during rapid power adjustments on a missed approach at a busy online VATSIM hub — at this price tier, most alternatives ship with plastic housings that develop slop within months of daily use.
  • ↑ Plug-and-play via USB direct means MSFS detects all 12 axes on first boot without driver installation; throttle, mixture, prop pitch, and condition levers map cleanly through the MSFS control settings panel with no third-party software required for basic operation.
  • ↑ Physical detents on the throttle levers give tactile confirmation of idle, climb, and TOGA positions during heads-down departure procedures — a feature largely absent from other metal-built throttles sitting at this budget price point.

Cons

  • ↓ Two levers become a hard constraint the moment you load a four-engine heavy like the PMDG 747 into a dense photogrammetry zone — managing asymmetric thrust on a crosswind approach requires axis-splitting workarounds that break immersion and add cognitive load.
  • ↓ No expansion port means you cannot attach a separate condition lever or prop axis module later — mid-range alternatives at the next tier up offer daisy-chain or USB hub expansion that lets your throttle setup grow with your aircraft roster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a good Throttle Quadrant for MSFS?
70.5/100 for MSFS reflects a peripheral that punches above its tier on build quality but falls short on axis versatility. For single- or twin-engine GA flying — VFR cross-country legs, IFR approaches into photogrammetry cities, or bush flying with live weather — the metal construction and physical detents make this a genuinely capable daily driver. Where it shows limits is complex airliner operations requiring four independent thrust levers or turboprop condition lever travel, scenarios where a higher lever-count throttle or a paired axis module would carry more of the workload.
Is it worth the price for MSFS?
At the budget tier, full-metal construction with physical detents and 12 axes on a throttle unit is a rare combination — most competing units at this level use plastic bodies and omit detents entirely. The trade-off is the two-lever ceiling, which is real, but for pilots primarily flying twin or single-engine frames, the build quality here outpaces nearly every alternative sharing this price bracket.
What should I look for in a Throttle Quadrant for MSFS?
Lever count matters in MSFS because the sim's airliner and turboprop library increasingly demands independent axis control per engine — managing four throttles on a quad-engine approach into a live-weather photogrammetry airport through a single joystick axis is a compromised experience that exposes the hardware gap immediately. Build quality matters because throttle quadrants absorb repetitive, high-force inputs during every flight cycle — detent clicks, full-travel power slams on go-arounds, and fine mixture tweaking on long VFR legs — and plastic mechanisms lose calibration and develop dead zones far faster than metal ones under that kind of use. The Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 scores 70.5/100 overall, with build quality scoring 90/100 making it one of the stronger options in its tier on durability, while the lever count subscore of 40/100 reflects the two-lever limitation that will surface in any multi-engine airframe beyond twins.
Is the Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 compatible with MSFS?
The MT-50 CM3 connects via USB direct and MSFS recognizes it as a standard HID controller on first connection with no driver installation required. You will need to manually bind axes inside MSFS's control settings for throttle 1, throttle 2, and any secondary axes like prop pitch or mixture, as MSFS does not auto-assign split throttle channels by default for this unit — allocate roughly five minutes on first setup to map and sensitivity-test each axis.
How should I configure this in MSFS?
Set sensitivity curves to a slight negative input response (-15 to -20%) on the throttle axes to soften the travel near idle and give finer fuel flow control during descents and pattern work, and apply a 3–5% dead zone at both ends of each axis to eliminate spurious input noise at full cutoff and full forward positions. For the secondary axes such as prop and mixture, a linear curve with a 2% null zone in center is sufficient — these axes rarely need the same fine-tuning as the primary throttle levers in normal MSFS operations.

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