If you only read one line: the Next Level Racing Flight Seat Pro at $699 is the cockpit for HOTAS pilots who want to keep their desk, and the Next Level Racing Flight Simulator at $799 is the one to buy if you fly with a yoke. Here are all 4 cockpits we track, ranked. Spec-sheet comparison, not a hands-on test: scores from official spec sheets and US prices.
Yoke or HOTAS decides it. HOTAS pilots get the most out of the Flight Seat Pro's center pole. Yoke pilots should look at the Flight Simulator or the Trak Racer, which list a yoke mount without an extra stand. Flying both? The Flight Simulator lists both.
Is the seat in the box? Three of the four include a seat. The F-GT Elite doesn't: NLR recommends its ES1, ERS1 or ERS2 seats, so price one in before you compare.
Measure twice. These are not small: 49.5 kg for the Flight Simulator, 43.1 kg for the Flight Seat Pro and 68.1 kg for the F-GT Elite with its pack, per the spec sheets. Both NLR flight cockpits are rated for up to 330 lb (150 kg). Trak Racer doesn't publish a weight or a maximum load for the TR8 Pro.
Desk first is fine. A solid desk carries a first setup for a long time. When you're ready, the setup builder only adds a cockpit that comes with its seat, so the total you see is the total you pay at the checked prices.
The ranking in detail
Reading the order: the first two are $100 apart and built for different pilots. The Next Level Racing Flight Seat Pro rolls up to the desk you already own on lockable castor wheels, with a center HOTAS pole that adjusts 80 mm in height; a yoke needs NLR's Flight Stand Pro, sold separately. The Next Level Racing Flight Simulator is a full frame that lists a yoke, a center HOTAS, dual joysticks, throttles and rudder pedals among its supported controls, with the seat and a 4-point harness in the box.
The Trak Racer TR8 Pro Flight Simulator Cockpit with Seat at $999 comes with a reclining seat designed with Airbus, left and right side mounts, a sliding yoke mount and a rudder mount; a center stick needs an optional bracket. The F-GT Elite with the Elite Flight Pack is the biggest frame here at $1,298, and the seat isn't included, so the real bill is higher than the number on this page.
1
Cockpit · Next Level Racing
Next Level Racing Flight Seat Pro
9.4Excellent · out of 10
Center HOTAS mounting pole with 80 mm of height adjustment and a 74-degree angle range
Flight plate arms mount on top for airplane setups or lower for helicopter collectives
Lockable castor wheels let you roll it up to your desk; supports up to 330 lb (150 kg)
$699Price checked on October 29, 2026, ranked 1 of 4 in the cockpit category
Each product gets a score out of 10, calculated within its category (cockpits and seats) from the manufacturer specs and the US price checked on October 29, 2026. Products are then ranked by descending score; on a tie, the cheaper one comes first.
We do not run hands-on tests. An affiliate link never affects a score or a rank.
Cockpits: maximum load, supported controls, seat, weight, modular design, warranty and price.
VR headsets: clarity (PPD or resolution), field of view, display, refresh rate, PC connection, tracking, eye tracking, weight and price.
Missing criteria are removed and weights renormalized; no score without a price or with fewer than three known technical criteria.
Frequently asked questions
What is number one in this ranking?
The Next Level Racing Flight Seat Pro leads with 9.4/10 ("Excellent"), at a price of $699 checked on October 29, 2026.
Which model gives the best score for the price?
Dividing the score by the checked price, the Next Level Racing Flight Simulator comes out ahead of the other models in the list (excluding number one): 9.3/10 for $799.
How is this ranking built?
We consider all flight sim cockpits and seats in our data with a price and a score, 4 products in total, and keep the 4 best rated. Each score is calculated within its product category, with no hands-on test and regardless of any commission.
Are the prices up to date?
US prices were checked on October 29, 2026 at official US stores or named US retailers. They can change: the price at the merchant is the one that applies.
