By Flight Streamer, private pilot and flight simulation creator. Published . Updated .
Cockpit Simulator discount code: flightstreamer (Partner Discount)
Review at a glance
The Cockpit Simulator CS 737 TQ brings motorized thrust levers, trim wheels and speed-brake movement to a full-size Boeing pedestal. I tested it with the PMDG 737NG and iFly 737 MAX 8 in MSFS 2024. Synchronization stood out; price, space requirements and minor lever play are the main tradeoffs.
These observations describe the setup tested in this review. For the rest of my cockpit, see my flight simulator setup.
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Cockpit Simulator provided the throttle used in this review; the testing and opinions below are my own.
There is a big difference between a flight-simulator throttle that looks like a Boeing 737 throttle and one that actually behaves like one.
The Cockpit Simulator CS 737 TQ belongs in the second category.
This is a full-size, heavily motorized Boeing 737 throttle quadrant designed around the moving controls and mechanical logic that make the real 737 pedestal so distinctive. The thrust levers move with the autothrottle, the trim wheels operate physically, the speed-brake lever can deploy automatically, the reverse levers use mechanical interlocks, and the engine start levers require an actual pull before they move.
I tested the unit over multiple flights and livestreams with both the PMDG 737NG and the iFly 737 MAX 8 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. That matters because hardware this complex cannot really be judged from a ten-minute desk test.
Quick verdict
The CS 737 TQ is the most convincing Boeing 737 throttle quadrant I have personally used in a home flight simulator.
Its biggest strength is not simply that it has motors. It is that the physical throttle stays connected to what the simulated aircraft is doing throughout the flight. When the autothrottle moves the virtual thrust levers, the physical levers move with it. When the aircraft deploys the speed brakes after touchdown, the real lever in front of you responds as well.
That synchronization changes the experience far more than a long feature list ever could.
The obvious downside is cost. At $4,199 USD at the time of my review, this is specialized hardware for serious Boeing setups, not a mainstream desktop throttle.
What I actually tested
My review was based on repeated use rather than a single first impression.
I used the throttle with:
- Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024
- PMDG 737NG
- iFly 737 MAX 8
- Full gate-to-gate flights
- VATSIM operations
- Takeoff with TO/GA and autothrottle
- Cruise and descent
- Landing, speed-brake deployment and reverse thrust
- Engine start and shutdown sequences
I also used Cockpit Simulator's Bridge software to configure and test the hardware.
That test scope is important. Where I discuss behavior in this article, I am referring to what I experienced with those aircraft and that simulator.
The motorized thrust levers are the main event
The first thing that separates the CS 737 TQ from normal flight-sim throttles is obvious as soon as the aircraft takes control of thrust.
On a conventional throttle, the virtual cockpit and the physical levers can easily become disconnected. The aircraft's autothrottle changes thrust in the simulator, but your real lever stays wherever you last left it.
With the CS 737 TQ, that disconnect largely disappears.
During takeoff, TO/GA and autothrottle operation are reflected physically in the hardware. The thrust levers move in front of you as the aircraft commands thrust. During the rest of the flight, the levers continue to track the simulated airplane rather than acting like passive USB axes.
That sounds like a luxury until you use it through a full flight. After that, it becomes one of the defining parts of the 737 experience.
Nine motors make sense once you see everything moving
The throttle uses a nine-motor system, with four brushless motors and five stepper motors.
That number sounds excessive until you consider how many parts of a 737 throttle quadrant can move independently.
The motors are not there simply to create a visual effect. They allow the hardware to synchronize functions such as thrust-lever movement, stabilizer trim and speed-brake operation with the aircraft.
The result is a piece of hardware that feels active rather than static.
The trim wheels add more than I expected
The motorized trim wheels are one of those features that can look secondary in a product photo.
In actual use, they contribute a lot.
You can hear and see the trim system working physically while flying. It adds another layer of feedback without requiring you to look at the virtual cockpit.
For anyone building a 737-focused simulator, that kind of background movement is part of what makes the cockpit feel alive.
Landing is where the throttle really shows what it can do
The landing sequence is where I found the CS 737 TQ most impressive.
On touchdown, the physical speed-brake lever can deploy automatically with the aircraft. The reverse-thrust levers provide independent left and right inputs and use a mechanical interlock.
You cannot simply lift the reverse levers while the forward thrust levers are advanced. The forward levers also cannot be moved normally until the reverse levers are properly stowed.
That interaction is important because it turns reverse thrust into a physical sequence rather than just another pair of mapped axes.
I did notice that stowing the reverse levers required a deliberate amount of force. I cannot verify whether the exact resistance matches a real 737 throttle quadrant, so I would not claim that it does. What I can say is that the mechanism feels intentionally mechanical rather than loose or game-controller-like.
The speed-brake system is more sophisticated than a normal axis
The physical speed-brake behavior is another area where the CS 737 TQ goes beyond simply reading a lever position.
During my testing, the speed-brake lever responded to aircraft state, including automatic deployment during the landing sequence.
The system can also react as reverse thrust and forward thrust are used after touchdown.
The practical benefit is simple: I do not have to keep checking whether the physical lever still matches the simulated aircraft. The hardware is following the airplane.
Engine start levers and parking brake
The engine start levers are another good example of the product's attention to physical behavior.
They require an outward pull before moving between positions instead of behaving like ordinary toggle switches.
The parking brake also has its own locking behavior tied to brake input.
Neither feature is as visually dramatic as moving thrust levers, but these are exactly the details that become important once you stop admiring the hardware and start operating the aircraft.
The integrated pedestal changes the value equation
The throttle is not sold as a bare set of thrust levers.
The complete assembly includes a pedestal-style base and a functional Overheat and Fire Warning Panel. That means you also get the three fire handles, warning and test controls, indicator lights and backlighting integrated into the same physical structure.
For a dedicated 737 cockpit, this matters because it fills a substantial portion of the center pedestal in one product.
It also makes the price comparison more complicated. It would not be fair to compare it directly with a conventional desktop throttle that has none of these motorized or pedestal functions.
Build quality and physical presence
The unit is extremely substantial.
It feels closer to simulator equipment than to normal gaming hardware. The panel layout, fonts, screws, controls and proportions are all designed to recreate the Boeing throttle closely.
During my testing I noticed a small amount of lever play. It did not affect operation, but at this price I think small mechanical details are worth mentioning rather than ignoring.
I also cannot make a meaningful statement about multi-year durability yet. The manufacturer provides a two-year warranty, but a review period is not the same thing as several years of ownership.
Setup was easier than the hardware suggests
One of the more surprising parts of the experience was setup.
For a product with this many motors, lights, switches and aircraft-specific functions, I expected the software side to be difficult.
It was not.
Cockpit Simulator Bridge handles the aircraft integration and includes a hardware-testing section for switches, axes, lights, motors and synchronized functions.
That test environment is especially useful with hardware this complex. If something does not behave as expected, you can determine whether the issue is the physical throttle, the integration layer or the aircraft add-on instead of troubleshooting blindly.
PMDG 737NG and iFly 737 MAX 8 experience
I tested the CS 737 TQ with both the PMDG 737NG and the iFly 737 MAX 8.
The PMDG integration gave me the full experience I expected from a motorized 737 throttle.
I also used it with the iFly 737 MAX 8, including complete flight operations. The exact feature support can differ by aircraft and software version, so I would always check the current compatibility information before buying.
My review conclusions are based only on the combinations I actually used.
What I liked most
The strongest part of the CS 737 TQ is the sense that the physical throttle and the virtual aircraft are one system.
The thrust levers do not just report your input. They move because the airplane moves them.
The speed brake does not just sit where you last placed it. It can respond to the landing sequence.
The reverse levers are not simply switches. They interact mechanically with the forward thrust levers.
That combination matters more than any single specification.
What I would improve
The first issue is obvious: the price.
At $4,199 USD, most flight-sim users will never seriously consider it.
I also noticed minor lever play, and the reverse levers required more force to stow than I initially expected.
The other limitation is specialization. This hardware makes the most sense if the 737 is a major part of your simulator. It is difficult to justify this level of investment if you constantly switch between unrelated aircraft types.
Who should buy the Cockpit Simulator CS 737 TQ?
This throttle makes the most sense for someone who:
- Flies the Boeing 737 frequently
- Wants full-size hardware
- Values motorized autothrottle synchronization
- Wants physical speed-brake and trim-wheel movement
- Is building a serious home cockpit
- Wants integrated fire-panel controls
- Has enough space and budget for specialized equipment
It makes far less sense if you simply want physical thrust levers or need a compact controller that works equally well across many aircraft.
Is the CS 737 TQ worth it?
That depends on what you compare it with.
Compared with a normal desktop throttle, the CS 737 TQ is extraordinarily expensive.
Compared with the type of full-scale motorized hardware used in serious 737 cockpit builds, it is solving a completely different problem.
For me, the value is in the synchronization. During a flight I am not constantly correcting the physical controls to match the virtual cockpit. The throttle behaves as part of the aircraft.
If that level of realism is what you are building toward, this is one of the strongest pieces of 737 hardware I have tested.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Cockpit Simulator promo code?
The Cockpit Simulator promo code is flightstreamer. Enter it at checkout for a discount and check the final total before paying.
Where can I get a Cockpit Simulator CS 737 throttle discount?
Use the Flight Streamer special discount link for the CS 737 TQ, or enter promo code flightstreamer at checkout. A combined discount from using both is not confirmed.
Does the Cockpit Simulator CS 737 TQ work with the PMDG 737?
Yes. I personally tested it with the PMDG 737NG in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
Does it work with the iFly 737 MAX 8?
I also tested it with the iFly 737 MAX 8 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. Exact integration features can depend on software and aircraft versions.
Are the thrust levers motorized?
Yes. The CS 737 TQ uses a nine-motor system and physically moves the thrust levers as the simulated aircraft commands them.
Do the trim wheels move?
Yes. The stabilizer trim wheels are motorized.
Does the speed-brake lever deploy automatically?
In my testing, the physical speed-brake lever responded to aircraft state and deployed during the landing sequence.
Is the fire panel functional?
Yes. The pedestal includes a functional Overheat and Fire Warning Panel rather than a purely cosmetic panel.
Is this suitable for a casual flight-sim setup?
For most casual users, no. It is expensive, large and highly specialized. It makes much more sense in a serious Boeing-focused simulator.
Disclosure
Cockpit Simulator provided the unit used for my review. My conclusions are based on my own testing with the PMDG 737NG and iFly 737 MAX 8 in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024.
See the Cockpit Simulator promo code and special discount link.