We’re excited to officially introduce the complete DesktopCockpits Airbus A320 desktop cockpit range - our biggest product line-up to date.
What started as a solution for flight simmers who wanted more immersion without building a permanent full-size home cockpit has developed into a complete range of desktop cockpit options, with different sizes and configurations to suit different spaces, setups and ways of flying.
The new range includes the Compact, Standard and Extended Captain, alongside one of our biggest new additions yet: the Extended First Officer cockpit.
Selected Standard and Extended models are also available in ECAM variants, giving flight simmers even more choice over how they configure their Airbus setup.
Whether you have a smaller desk and want a compact cockpit setup, or you’re looking to build a larger and more immersive Airbus flight simulator, there is now a DesktopCockpits configuration designed around the space you have and the way you fly.
The complete DesktopCockpits Airbus range. Third-party flight simulator controls shown are not included unless specifically stated on the individual product page.
More Choice for Different Flight Simulator Setups
One of the biggest changes with the new Airbus range is simply choice.
Not every flight simmer has the same amount of space available.
Some people fly from a desk that also needs to be used for work or everyday computing. Others have a dedicated simulator space and want to create as much of the Airbus flight deck experience as possible.
Rather than offering one cockpit size and expecting every setup to adapt around it, we wanted to provide different options depending on the space available and the level of immersion you want to achieve.
Compact Airbus
The Compact Airbus maintains a relatively compact desktop footprint. It is designed for simmers who want more of the Airbus cockpit represented in front of them without moving to one of the larger Standard or Extended configurations.
For many flight simulator setups, the Compact provides a useful balance between available desk space and cockpit immersion.
The Compact is particularly suited to users who want their simulator to feel more like a dedicated cockpit setup while still keeping the overall installation manageable.
Standard Airbus
The Standard Airbus moves closer to the feel of a larger cockpit while remaining designed for use on a normal desk.
At approximately 95 cm wide, it provides significantly more cockpit presence than the smaller models and is suited to flight simmers who have additional desk space available but do not necessarily require the full width of the Extended range.
The Standard range is also available in ECAM configurations, providing additional layout options for users who want greater emphasis on the Airbus ECAM display area.
For someone looking for a substantial Airbus desktop cockpit without moving to the largest configuration, the Standard sits naturally in the middle of the range.
Extended Captain Airbus
The Extended Captain is our largest Airbus desktop cockpit.
At approximately 117 cm wide, it is designed for flight simmers looking for the most immersive Captain-focused configuration within the DesktopCockpits Airbus range.
The Extended also includes an additional panel at the outer end of the cockpit, designed to accommodate the WinCTRL AGP32. This allows users to integrate controls for the autobrake, landing gear and chronometer into the cockpit layout, creating a more complete and immersive Captain-side setup.
The Extended Captain creates considerably more physical cockpit presence across the desk and is particularly suited to dedicated flight simulator setups where space is less restricted.
It is designed around the Captain’s side of the Airbus flight deck and can be configured around compatible third-party flight simulator controls.
The Extended range is also available in an ECAM variant, giving users additional flexibility when deciding how they want their cockpit displays and controls arranged.
For users looking to create a flagship Airbus home simulator without committing to a permanent full-scale cockpit shell, the Extended Captain provides our largest Captain-oriented desktop configuration.
Introducing the Extended First Officer
One of the biggest additions to the new range is the release of the DesktopCockpits Extended First Officer cockpit.
Until now, the DesktopCockpits Airbus range has primarily focused on the Captain’s side of the flight deck.
The introduction of a dedicated First Officer configuration gives flight simmers much more flexibility in how they build their simulator.
The Extended First Officer is designed for users who prefer flying from the right-hand seat, with the new configuration providing an option that has previously been missing from the DesktopCockpits range.
The launch of the First Officer model represents an important step for DesktopCockpits as we continue developing from a single desktop cockpit design into a broader and more flexible cockpit range.
What’s New With the Latest Airbus Range?
The expansion of the product line has also brought several refinements to the latest DesktopCockpits Airbus designs.
One of the new features is interchangeable speed plates, allowing parts of the cockpit configuration to be changed without replacing the complete panel.
We have also introduced a larger and improved glare support, designed around compatible third-party Airbus simulator hardware such as WinCTRL, SimGauges, MOZA, and WingFlex.
A free customised SELCAL plate is also included, adding another personalised detail to the cockpit.
Alongside these updates, the introduction of ECAM variants for the Standard and Extended ranges gives customers more choice over both the size and layout of their simulator.
Integrated Instrument Displays
One of the things that makes DesktopCockpits feel so immersive is the use of real LCD screens built into the cockpit.
Most configurations include two LCD panels, while the Compact models use one LCD panel.
These screens are used to display your aircraft instruments, including:
- Primary Flight Display (PFD)
- Navigation Display (ND)
- ECAM displays
- Standby instruments
Because the screens work as standard external displays, your simulator instruments can be moved onto them just like additional monitors.
The LCD panels operate as standard external computer displays.
Compatible simulator instruments are opened in separate windows and positioned across the cockpit screens, meaning there is no dedicated DesktopCockpits display software required.
Depending on the simulator and aircraft being used, instruments can be displayed using native simulator pop-outs or compatible third-party display software.
Microsoft Flight Simulator Compatibility
The DesktopCockpits Airbus range is designed for use with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 and Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 on Windows.
Aircraft we have confirmed compatibility with include:
- Fenix A319
- Fenix A320
- Fenix A321
- FlyByWire A320neo
- iniBuilds A320neo
- iniBuilds A321LR
The exact method used to display cockpit instruments varies depending on the simulator and aircraft.
Many instruments in Microsoft Flight Simulator can be opened using native pop-out functionality, while some aircraft or individual displays may require an alternative method.
For example, certain instruments that cannot be opened natively may require compatible software such as GlassOut.
Because pop-out availability can vary between aircraft and individual instruments, we recommend checking that the displays you intend to use can be opened separately before purchasing.
X-Plane 12 Compatibility
The DesktopCockpits Airbus range can also be used with X-Plane 12.
The ToLiss A320 family has been tested on Windows using XTextureExtractor, which can be used to extract and position compatible aircraft displays across the cockpit screens.
As with Microsoft Flight Simulator, compatibility and display behaviour can vary depending on the aircraft and software being used.
Designed Around the Hardware You Choose
An important part of the DesktopCockpits concept is flexibility.
The cockpit provides the physical MIP structure and, where specified, integrated LCD displays, while allowing flight simmers to choose compatible third-party controls to complete their setup.
Depending on the cockpit configuration, the hardware that could be added are:
- FCU and EFIS controls
- Glarewing / warning panels
- Autobrake and landing gear controls (AGP32 from WinCTRL)
Please note: DesktopCockpits products do not include the third-party flight simulator controls shown in our photography, such as FCU, EFIS, glarewing or warning panels, sidesticks or throttles, unless specifically stated on the individual product page.
This approach allows customers to build their cockpit around hardware they already own or choose the controls that best suit their simulator.
Why Offer Different Cockpit Sizes?
When DesktopCockpits was first created, the idea was simple: provide more of the feeling of sitting behind an Airbus instrument panel without requiring the space, cost or complexity of building a permanent full-size home cockpit.
But flight simulator setups vary enormously.
Some people fly from a desk they also use for work. Others have a dedicated simulator room.
Some want a relatively simple physical instrument panel, while others want to build as much of the Airbus flight deck around themselves as possible.
That is why we have expanded the range.
The Compact provides additional cockpit presence while remaining relatively space-conscious.
The Standard gives users a larger middle-ground option, including ECAM configurations.
The Extended offers our largest desktop cockpit, with further layout choice through Extended ECAM variants.
The idea isn’t that one model is better than another.
It is about choosing the cockpit that works for your available space, your simulator setup and the way you fly.
A New Chapter for DesktopCockpits
The launch of the complete Airbus range represents a significant step forward for DesktopCockpits.
What began as a single solution to a problem I had as a flight simmer myself has developed into a growing range of desktop cockpit products being used by flight simulation enthusiasts around the world.
Our goal remains the same:
Skip The Build. Start Flying.
We want to make creating an immersive home flight simulator more accessible by taking away much of the fabrication and construction normally associated with building a cockpit.
And this is only the beginning.
Explore the Complete Airbus Range
You can now explore the complete DesktopCockpits Airbus range, compare the different sizes, ECAM variants and Captain or First Officer configurations, and find the cockpit that best suits your simulator setup.
From the Compact through to the Standard, Extended Captain and newly released Extended First Officer, the new range gives flight simmers more ways than ever to build an Airbus cockpit around their available space.
Explore the DesktopCockpits Airbus range and find the cockpit that fits the way you fly.
