New Simulation Headset and Rudder Pedals from Thrustmaster
By Randy Dufault
July 26, 2018 - AirVenture is the first show Tim Gorham, Thrustmaster’s North American marketing manager, has ever attended where the attendees seem to know more about flight simulation than his own staff.
“Normally we have to introduce people to flight simming and aviation in general. Here we are getting people that know 10 times more than the people working in the booth,” he said. “They are putting us to shame, honestly.”
Thrustmaster is a key supplier of flight simulation hardware and a sponsor of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2018. It came here to announce two new additions to its collection of high realism products.
The first is the T.Flight U.S. Air Force Edition Gaming Headset.
“We’ve got a long history of audio quality and audio fidelity,” Tim said. “We’ve been making gaming headsets for a long time, but this year we are super excited that we are using the gaming headset segment to immerse people more into the flight sim world by giving them a gaming headset that looks like a real pilot’s headset.”
The headset truly looks like a typical aviation headset and features volume controls on each earpiece and replaceable logo plates that allow a user to customize the headset with squadron logos or other graphic designs.
Thrustmaster’s other new offering is the TPR pendular rudder pedal system.
Unlike typical simulator pedals that slide back and forth, the TPR is mechanically similar to pedal installations in real aircraft, including toe brakes. Construction is completely from steel and aluminum, resulting in a very solid feel and realistic simulation experience.
TPRs are available to order starting next week, with deliveries beginning in six to eight weeks.
Both new products are available to try at Thrustmaster’s booth just inside the door of Exhibit Hangar B.
Tim and the Thrustmaster team are hearing loud and clear from the AirVenture crowd that a high-quality control yoke is still missing from the company’s product lineup. Although he was not ready to announce anything, he did indicate that Thrustmaster heard the message loud and clear.
A 20 percent discount on all Thrustmaster products is available through the end of AirVenture on orders from www.BHPhotoVideo.com. Simply use code OSHKAIRSA718 when ordering.
