Plastic linkages relay the circular movements of the flight stick to one of the joysticks on an Xbox Series X controller (which required the flight controls to be remapped to the gamepad’s right joystick) while the thumb buttons at the top of the flight stick translate presses to the action buttons on the controller as well, allowing throttle, flaps, and even the aircraft’s trim to be all controlled single-handedly. And the add-on doesn’t require any modifications to the controller itself. It was designed using a 3D model of the gamepad so it simply snaps onto the side and securely stays attached until it’s removed.
It doesn’t look like Kuumeri has any plans to sell finished versions of their flight stick accessory, but they have put the 3D models and files for sale on Etsy for $30 for anyone wanting to print their own, with compatibility promised for Xbox Series S/X controllers, as well as those that shipped with the Xbox One. Kuumeri claims it’s an easy print and there are no support materials that have to be removed or sanded away afterward, but they warn that “you will need to have a well-tuned printer for the joints to have proper tolerances. Otherwise, you will have to fine-tune your print settings, or sand and shave some of the parts.”
To ensure your printer is up to the task, Kuumeri has also provided a free version that can be downloaded through Thingiverse. It’s a simplified version of the flight stick accessory that lacks all of the button linkages (it only interfaces with a single controller joystick) but if you’re able to successfully print and use it, it guarantees you won’t have any problems 3D-printing and assembling the $30 more advanced version.
G/O Media may get a commission