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X-Plane 12 — Head to Head

Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 vs Winwing ORION2 Throttle F/A-18 Handle Max

Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3
Full Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 review →
vs
Winwing ORION2 Throttle F/A-18 Handle Max
Full Winwing ORION2 Throttle F/A-18 Handle Max review →

Comparing performance for X-Plane 12 · Scoring: 45% CPU / 55% GPU weighted

Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 vs Winwing ORION2 Throttle F/A-18 Handle Max for X-Plane 12: Tied score, axis depth vs button density.

Both throttles score 70.5/100 on our model-derived scale, meaning neither has a measurable edge in X-Plane 12 frame-time performance during GPU-heavy VR city flyovers or photogrammetry zones like EGLL. The MT-50 CM3's 12 axes give multi-engine airliner pilots finer analog control across complex custom profiles during long VFR cross-country legs with mixture, prop, and cowl flap management on study-level aircraft. The ORION2's 80-button layout edges ahead for fast-jet pilots running dense HOTAS bindings through high-workload online multiplayer sessions where instant switch access matters more than axis count.

Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3

Choose Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 if you fly study-level multi-engine props or turboprops in X-Plane 12 and need 12 axes to cover throttle, prop, mixture, condition levers, and cowl flaps without reaching for a keyboard.

Winwing ORION2 Throttle F/A-18 Handle Max

Choose Winwing ORION2 Throttle F/A-18 Handle Max if you fly fast-jet or carrier-pattern profiles in X-Plane 12 and prioritize 80 mapped buttons for rapid HOTAS access during high-workload approaches and online ATC sessions.

Our take:

The score gap is nonexistent at 70.5 vs 70.5 — buy on use case: the MT-50 CM3 is the stronger value for multi-engine propeller and turboprop workflows, while the ORION2 wins for fast-jet pilots who need maximum button density at a comparable price tier.

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Quick Take: Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 vs Winwing ORION2 Throttle F/A-18 Handle Max

Lever Count

Tied

Best Value

Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3

Physical Detents

Both

Virpil Controls VPC Throttle MT-50 CM3 scores 70.5/100 while Winwing ORION2 Throttle F/A-18 Handle Max scores 70.5/100 for X-Plane 12. They are closely matched performance-wise.

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