Introduction

Winwing has quickly established itself as a company producing a growing line of high-quality, affordable hardware for flight simulation.

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Recently, Winwing expanded its lineup by launching the MIP (Main Instrument Panel) series, a collection of flight control interface units designed for both Airbus and Boeing aircraft. The Airbus MCDU is compatible with multiple models, depending on the simulation platform, while the Boeing lineup has dedicated units for the 737, 747, and 777.

Initial thoughts

I tested both the Airbus and 737 units, and they transform the way you interact with the flight computer. There is no longer a need for a mouse, keyboard, or mobile device to access the FMS functions 

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Hardware

This is solid, well-constructed hardware, featuring push buttons with a positive tactile feel. Each button press elicits a soft click like that of pushing a mouse button, and the backlit keyboard is a solid plus. Both the keyboard and screen brightness levels can be adjusted (the screen via BRT/DIM toggle switches, and the keyboard via the SimApp Pro interface). SimApp Pro serves as the interface between the flight simulator and the hardware, which connects to the computer via the supplied USB cable.

Mounting hardware is included for both vertical and horizontal positions. The dimensions closely match those of the real aircraft units, except for depth, as the real device is slightly deeper in that regard; however, the difference is quite small and should not be a factor for most users.

Initially, I mounted the unit on its brackets in a vertical configuration in order to conserve desk space; however, I found that it was a bit unstable that way when being used, so I switched to the horizontal position instead. Included with each unit are twelve stick-on circular pads that can be attached to provide a bit more stability. While this is a thoughtful and useful addition, I found that the unit still had a tendency to move when pushing the buttons. These pads seem to be most useful in helping to secure the unit if mounted on a bracket or cockpit hardware.

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Software

The units are compatible with most versions of the applicable aircraft across Microsoft Flight Simulator, Prepar3D, and X-Plane. Connection and communication with the simulator platforms is via the aforementioned SimApp Pro. SimApp Pro is free software that manages the hardware and its interaction with the simulator platform. It indicates what devices are connected, tests their functionality and status, and provides options for lighting and font settings. The Environment Check tab includes a checklist that shows the status of key system functions, which is a great help when troubleshooting, should a problem develop.

If an issue cannot be solved at the user level, Winwing Customer Service is, in my experience, excellent. They are usually able to resolve issues in a very short period of time. 

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Some of the other tabs include: Virtual Device Mapping, Key Binding, Dynamic Vibration Motor, and Game Peripheral Display. Frankly, some of these are a bit of a mystery, as the available manual does not discuss them, and they are less than self-explanatory. Nonetheless, ignoring them does not seem to affect the use of the MCDU or CDU, as all the functions operate as they should.

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Conclusion

Being able to input data by using physical buttons and having the display be accessible at all times is a joy, freeing up monitor space and turning what had been somewhat of a chore at times into an enjoyable experience.

For anyone serious about flight simulation, these units offer a significant boost in realism and ease of use, whether or not you plan on building a full home cockpit, all while remaining reasonably priced.

Winwing is producing high-quality hardware, in addition to having fast and responsive customer service, factors that encourage me to unhesitatingly recommend these units.

Currently priced at 147.37USD, the MCDU, along with the 737 and 777 PFP models, can be purchased through the Winwing website. 

The 747 (PFP 4) model is available for pre-order, with an estimated arrival date of August 19, 2025.

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