When MOZA Racing announced a new lineup of flight simulation gear, it immediately caught our eye. MOZA has a reputation in the racing sim scene, and it’s exciting to see them get into the flight sim game – and MOZA has brought their A-Game, bringing a force-feedback joystick to a market clamoring for affordable FFB peripherals. I got the chance to sit down with MOZA’s new hardware at FSExpo 2024 for a brief demonstration.
MOZA AB9 FFB Joystick Base
The star of the show is clearly new new MOZA AB9 FFB (Force-Feedback) joystick base. While racing simmers have a plethora of options to choose from, it’s slim pickings for those of us who prefer wings to wheels. MOZA had two demo stations set up at FSExpo, each featuring the AB9 FFB with the MH16 flight stick, mounted to a cockpit and including their new throttle quadrant as well as their rudder pedals.
The first thing that struck me about the MOZA AB9 and MH16 was how good it felt in the hand. The stick was coated in strong but grippy plastic, but both the base and the stick are constructed from metal. I have large hands, and it felt comfortable without being too small. All of the switches felt satisfying and tactile, and I could find them without looking as all have a distinct feel. The MH16 has an attachment on the left side that can be moved around or detached entirely to customize the stick further.
The demo stations were set up with War Thunder – hardly the complex simulation that I assume most will use this for, but easy to climb in and out of for demonstration purposes. The aircraft I flew in the demonstration was a WWI biplane. Immediately, the haptic feedback that the AB9 FFB base provided was noticeable – but it was also less strong than I had imagined. Most noticeable was the shake and recoil from the guns, and buffeting when I had half of a wing shot off (I am not a combat pilot). In the demo, I was a little disappointed that they had not set up a full suite of options to try with all the buttons and switches, but I completely understand that teaching new bindings to everyone who walks up is probably not how they wanted to spend their day.
MOZA MRP Rudder Pedals and MTP Throttle Panel
Along with the AB9 FFB base, MOZA was also demonstrating their upcoming MRP rudder pedals and MTP Throttle Panel. The rudder pedals are pretty standard fare for fighter-style rudder pedals at this point. Multiple springs and a gas cylinder return-to-center/dampener mechanism provided good feel and large travel to the pedals, and my size-13.5 shoes fit comfortably into the heel cups. MOZA says the resistance will be adjustable, which is good – they felt rather light during my demonstration, with light toe braking forces as well.
The MTP Throttle Panel was also on display, and I found a lot to like about this upcoming hardware. I was immediately drawn to the two throttles – they slide nicely with the right amount of resistance, with adjustable detents and satisfying reverser handles, complete with interlocks. There’s an easily-accessible thumb stick as well.
MOZA stated that the MTP is based on the F-18 Hornet, and it’s chock full of the same excellent switches that I liked so much on the MH16 stick as well. The lighted landing gear lever, marking brake, and tailhook lever all have interlocks, and each switch had a solid, satisfying feel. The faceplates did attract fingerprints, though, and over time it will definitely need regular cleaning.
MOZA announced pricing for the AB9 base and its accessories today – $549 USD for the AB9 FFB base, and $169 for the stick. This would bring the final price of the stick setup that I used at the Expo to approximately $720 – not including the Z-Axis module (which will provide a twist axis to the stick), which I was not able to demo at FSExpo. This seems steep at first blush, but is considered “affordable” when it comes to Force-Feedback equipment these days in flight simulation. MOZA has not yet announced pricing details for the MTP or MRP accessories yet, but pre-orders for the AB9 base, MH16 stick, and Z-axis module are now available.
I could absolutely feel a difference when using the AB9 base – returning to my current flight stick(s) felt flimsy in comparison. Stay tuned, because FSNews plans to run an in-depth review of the new MOZA hardware as soon as we are able to. In the meantime, check out our full FSExpo coverage to catch up on items you may have missed, and if you’re looking for more civilian-focused rudder pedals, you may be interested in my feets-on experience with the long-awaited Honeycomb Charlies.
