Matt Thurber, editor-in-chief at AIN Media Group, has been flying since 1975 and writing about aviation since 1978 and now has the best job in the world, running editorial operations for Aviation International News, Business Jet Traveler, and FutureFlight.aero. In addition to working as an A&amp;P mechanic on everything from Piper Cubs to turboprops, Matt taught flying at his father’s flight school in Plymouth, Mass., in the early 1980s, flew for an aircraft owner/pilot, and for two summer seasons hunted swordfish near the George’s Banks off the East Coast from a Piper Super Cub. An ATP certificated fixed-wing pilot and CFII and commercial helicopter pilot, Matt is type-rated in the Citation 500 and Gulfstream V/550. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Matt and his team cover the entire aviation scene including business aircraft, helicopters, avionics, safety, manufacturing, charter, fractionals, technology, air transport, advanced air mobility, defense, and other subjects of interest to AIN, BJT, and FutureFlight readers.

Editor-in-Chief

Matt Thurber

Personal computer-based flight simulators have come a long way since the pixelated days of the original Microsoft Flight Simulator. Now a few hundred dollars worth of software replicates some of the most complex aircraft in the world, in a way that is so realistic that pilots are using these products to bolster proficiency and prepare for upcoming flights.&nbsp;
As the software grows more sophisticated, so too do the computing and graphics requirements, but a powerful enough laptop can easily run software such as Laminar Research’s X-Plane 12, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 or 2024, DCS, and others. A challenge, however, is deciding what flight controls to buy to connect to the computer, and there are many choices. Some home simmers are even building ultra-realistic cockpits that replicate their favorite airliners. Type-specific helicopter controls are available for fans of vertical flight.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is something much simpler, Jon Ostrower’s Yawman Arrow. One cable connects the Arrow to the computer, and just a few simple controls and buttons enable a satisfying simming experience without the hassle of multiple cable connections, mounting flight controls, and figuring out how to make everything work. As Ostrower’s company, Yawman Flight, decribes it, “The Yawman Arrow is the fusion of a traditional handheld gaming controller and the unique flight controls found on aircraft of all sizes. Designed for precision and versatility, the Arrow brings together a traditional joystick, desktop throttle quadrant, and rudder pedals—and more—all into a handheld form factor.”
I’ve been testing the Arrow for a while and have come to appreciate its simplicity and power. There are many times when I want to check something out on the simulator but I don’t have the time or energy to fire up my powerful gaming computer and get the controls ready. I just want to see something about a unique instrument approach or see the view of a runway that I’m researching for an accident report.&nbsp;
In those situations, plugging the Arrow into my MacBook Air laptop and firing up X-Plane 11 lets me get to work quickly and find what I’m looking for without a lot of fuss. (I don’t run X-Plane 12 on this computer because it doesn’t have sufficient graphics power.)
If I want to, I can plug the Arrow into my desktop PC but that doesn’t seem like a practical use of this technology. It’s designed for quick access and portability, and putting the laptop to work seems like the best way to make use of its benefits.&nbsp;
One fun activity with the Arrow is to bring it along on a trip and fly an airliner in X-Plane while sitting in the seat of an airliner. If you can match the simulation to the airplane you’re flying in, extra points.
The simplicity of the Arrow lends itself to being the go-to controller for flying a simulator with a virtual reality (VR) headset. Once you get used to the controls, it’s easy to find them by feel when you can’t look at the real world from inside a VR headset.&nbsp;
Arrow controls include a joystick, trim wheel, sliders that can be set as throttles, buttons, and even mechanically linked rudder controls. All the controls are programmable, and setting up custom control settings in X-Plane is easily done.
Holding the Arrow with two hands gives easy access to the controls, although I’ve found that it’s sometimes hard to reach the trim wheel while using other controls. I’m wondering whether it might have made more sense to move the trim wheel to the center instead of on the left side.
The joystick works well and isn’t too sensitive; it’s easy to avoid overcontrolling. Setting up one of the sliders for the throttle control also works well.&nbsp;
I understand the constraints that make it extremely difficult and costly for the Arrow to work with Apple iPads, but I do wish that would be possible so I could use the Arrow with the Infinite Flight simulator. However, Infinite Flight does work on Android devices and so does the Arrow, although I haven’t tried this yet.
Overall, the Arrow is a neat unit that cleverly adds new utility to the increasingly sophisticated desktop simulation market. For a flight operation that wants a simple simulation setup for trialing instrument approaches at unfamiliar airports, the Yawman Arrow is an ideal solution.
Retail price of the Arrow is $199, but it occasionally goes on sale for $149.
“The goal is to make flight simulation mobile,” Ostrower told AIN. “I’ve been trying X-Plane on my laptop, and now I finally have a controller I can use for that. I heard from a ton of people who have big hardware but they find it is a huge pain to set up. There is a huge silent market of folks who don’t want a joystick on their desk, don’t want the big hardware, and want to do VR or sit back and fly in a relaxing way. This is like a beer after work as opposed to an artisanal cocktail.”&nbsp;

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One cable connects the Arrow to the computer, and just a few simple controls and buttons enable a satisfying simming experience. 

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News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

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