Review: MOZA AB6 Force Feedback Stick for MSFS 2024 Helicopters

For months, I’ve heard the hype that force feedback is a game changer for helicopter flying in Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024. The AB6 is MOZA’s entry‑level force feedback base, and in this review I set out to answer this question: does it actually deliver the advantage helicopter simmers have been promised?

MOZA provided the AB6 force feedback base for review. It retails for USD$399 and includes the MHG grip and desktop clamp. The MH16 metal grip used in this review is an optional USD$149 upgrade. This is not a sponsored article, although an affiliate link is available if you are considering a purchase. As always, you receive my honest feedback, including both the strengths and the drawbacks.

To evaluate the AB6 properly, I flew a realistic helicopter profile out of Queenstown Airport (NZQN) on a crisp winter day. My chosen ride is the classic UH‑1H Huey, which sits in every MSFS 2024 hangar.

In the real UH‑1H, the cyclic is hydraulically assisted. You feel a centered spring force unless you press the force trim release, which temporarily removes that pressure so you can reposition the stick. When you let go, the system captures the new center. The AB6 replicates this workflow with surprising fidelity. I removed all MSFS 2024 default trim bindings and replaced them, in the MOZA Cockpit software, with hardware trim equivalents. The result was a near perfect match to the real Huey method.

The first test is the pickup and the AB6 immediately feels the part. Rotor vibrations feed into my hand, and I gently push into the simulated springs as I anticipate the left and aft cyclic required for a smooth lift into the hover. So far, so good.

I push forward into the spring to get moving. Passing through effective translational lift, the stick delivers a side‑to‑side shudder representing transverse flow. This is configurable in MOZA’s software and adds to the sense of being in the machine.

During the climb, the AB6’s hardware trim proves its worth. With trim release held, I reposition the cyclic to the exact attitude I want, then let the system capture the new center. I can even fly hands free for a moment, which is not something you would do in real life, but it illustrates how well the trim system holds attitude.

The spring force provides just enough feedback to keep the helicopter feeling alive without fighting you.

The steep descent back into Queenstown showcases some of the AB6’s most persuasive qualities. Blade slap vibrations are transmitted through the stick in a way that feels natural and reassuring. These cues help you sense energy changes without relying solely on instruments, which is exactly what good force feedback should provide. As I lower collective and decelerate, the stick helps to communicate the helicopter’s energy state.

During the high workload final approach, holding force trim release allows me to make smooth and confident cyclic inputs.

Hover taxiing with the AB6 is a pleasure. Once the trim center is set, the helicopter almost walks itself down the taxiway with minimal input from me. The final touchdown on the helipad is stable, predictable and satisfying. It delivers exactly what force feedback should provide.

The MOZA Cockpit software is straightforward once you understand its workflow. You must run it without MSFS open the first time or it will not detect the simulator. The interface provides full button mapping, hardware trim configuration, force feedback sliders, telemetry visualisation and RGB lighting controls.

Several hat switches on the MH16 lack a center push button, which reduces capability compared to the similar‑looking WINCTRL ViperAce EX grip. I also miss the WINCTRL’s mini‑joystick controller. The MOZA’s smooth aluminium exterior, however, feels premium and solid in the hand.

The AB6 base mounts from below. My setup is entirely desktop based, so I use the supplied clamp. It is slightly fiddly to assemble and a minor hassle to attach or remove due to the combined weight and bulk with the AB6, but once installed it is stable and has never come loose.

After a full flight test, I understand why helicopter pilots describe modern force feedback as transformative. This is what people are talking about when they say that force feedback in helicopters is a game changer.

The AB6 does not make flying easier in an unrealistic way. In my view, it makes it truer. It provides the tactile cues you rely on in real aircraft, including trim behaviour, rotor vibrations and spring forces. It enhances hover precision, trim discipline and confidence in all phases of flight. And it adds to the fun!

The MOZA AB6 force feedback base and MH16 grip deliver a convincing helicopter experience. The hardware trim system is outstanding, the force feedback effects are meaningful and the overall feel is immersive without being fatiguing. There are minor quirks, particularly the reduced button capability on the MH16 and perhaps a steep learning curve if you go deep into advanced customization, but the flying experience more than compensates.

If you’re serious about helicopter simulation and want to move beyond an entry‑level stick, this hardware will elevate your flying in a way that few widely available peripherals can.

The response to the AB6 review has been terrific, and many of you are now asking for a guide to configuring MOZA Cockpit for other helicopter types. I’m already working on that! In the meantime, if you are planning a MOZA purchase and would like to support the work I do with our helicopter simulation community, please consider using my LetsFly code or my Let’s Fly link when buying MOZA products.

I’ve drawn the lucky winner of the Dauphin/Dolphin giveaway. It is genuinely rewarding to be able to offer these kinds of prizes to our community. Thank you to Taog’s Hangar for supporting the giveaway.

DHM has also been busy. They have released a new sound pack for the Cowan Simulations H125, available now in the MSFS Marketplace, and I hope to have Hugo from DHM join me in a livestream soon.

On top of that, DHM booked several hours of real‑world flight time in an R22 to support development of their Pilot Experience Pack for the Cowan Simulations R22. It promises enhanced, true‑to‑life performance and is also available now in the MSFS Marketplace.

If you are looking to elevate your flight simulation experience, please consider my affiliate links and codes. If you use them and then make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. It costs you nothing extra, it helps support the work I do with our helicopter simulation community, and it helps keep my content free for everyone. Thank you!

Follow these links for the latest, best deals from Pimax. My LETSFLY code gives you a 2% discount. If you’re upgrading from any VR headset, you can show proof of purchase and apply for a larger discount on Crystal Light and Crystal Super QLED.

MOZA’s flagship AB9 and the smaller, but very capable, AB6 have been extremely popular with helicopter simulation enthusiasts. Their throttle and pedal controllers are also well worth a look.