Winwing vs Virpil Rudders: Don't Buy WRONG!
Steve | G-LOC MEDIA
Flight simulation enthusiast and YouTuber
In the WinWing Orion vs Virpil Ace Interceptors head to head, both sets are exceptional full metal rudder pedals at a similar price point - but the Virpil Ace Interceptors edge it out thanks to a noticeably smoother, more natural feeling damper that the WinWing simply can't match. WinWing fights back with better pedal angle adjustability, slightly more travel, and an advantage for cockpit builders who need a more vertical pedal face. It's close enough that your specific setup could swing the decision either way, but on pure rudder feel the Virpil wins.
WinWing Orion vs Virpil Ace Interceptors - Which Rudder Pedals Actually Win?
Two of the best mid to high-end rudder pedals on the market go head to head — the WinWing Orion vs Virpil Ace Interceptors. I've reviewed both of these individually before, but in this post we're going to split the hairs, look at the key differences, and figure out which set is actually better — or more importantly, which one is better for you. The comparison includes the damper mod on both sets, which is sold separately on each. Worth knowing upfront.Price - WinWing Orion vs Virpil Ace Interceptors
Price-wise the Virpil Ace Interceptors come in at $375 USD while the WinWing Orion sits at $330 USD — a $45 difference not including potential import taxes or delivery depending on where you are.Worth noting that WinWing now holds stock in both the USA and Australia, while Virpil are based in the EU. Depending on where you live that could affect your total cost and delivery time, so factor that in.
On face value the WinWing edges it on price. But as the old saying goes, never judge a book by its cover.
Features and Specs
Both sets deliver the same core functionality - toe brakes and yaw/rudder control. Here's where they differ:Pedal Travel:
- Virpil Ace Interceptors: ~150mm
- WinWing Orion: 180-190mm
The WinWing gives you more travel, but honestly as long as you're over 130mm it's going to feel pretty similar in use. You might even prefer the shorter travel depending on what aircraft you fly.
Both have dampers available and both allow you to completely remove the springs for a non-return setting - ideal for helicopter flying.
Design and Build Quality
Both sets are exceptional full metal builds with cam springs and dampers. Visually they're quite different — Virpil have gone for a layered laser-cut steel design look, while WinWing go for a chunkier, more industrial build. Neither translates into a meaningful practical difference, they're both extremely sturdy.Pedal Design:
This is where things get interesting. Virpil have gone with a wider, slightly larger pedal face, while WinWing use a smaller more compact pedal. The Virpil pedal is more suited to having a full flat foot on the pedal. The WinWing design caters more for flying the way you would in a jet aircraft or a warbird like a P-51 - heels on the floor, pushing with your toes. That said you can fly either style on both pedals - it's just that WinWing is slightly more naturally suited to the toe-push style.Pedal Angle Adjustability
This is a meaningful difference. The Virpil Ace Interceptors can't reach the same vertical angle as the WinWing pedals. For a desktop setup that's fine, but if you're mounting them on a full cockpit with a high pedal tray you may find you just can't get the toe brake angle acute enough with the Virpils to comfortably use the brakes. The WinWing pedals go considerably more vertical and don't have this problem. That's a genuine practical win for WinWing depending on your setup.
Width:
- Virpil Ace Interceptors: 535mm edge to edge
- WinWing Orion: 525mm
Both are on the wider side — potentially too wide depending on what you fly.
Mounting:
Virpil have a clear advantage here. The WinWing mounting system with the mini extrusion legs is a bit odd and frustrating to set up. The Virpil mounting is more straightforward.In Use - Accuracy and Feel
Both sets of pedals are plug and play via USB. And in terms of accuracy during use — honestly I can't pick anything between them. Both are incredibly accurate for the price. Closed all around.But here's where that gap changes.
The Damper - Where the Virpil Ace Interceptors Pull Ahead
This is the most important part of the whole comparison. The dampers on both sets look almost identical — they might even come from the same factory. But in use they feel noticeably different.The Virpil Ace Interceptors are smoother, more substantial feeling through the rudder axis. No stickiness at all, even on the most minute movements. The return of the pedal underfoot just feels more natural. I'm running the Virpil damper at around 65-70% to get the feel I want.
With the WinWing Orion I'm running the damper at full strength to achieve a similar feeling, and even then there's a very slight stickiness when crossing over the centre region. It's minuscule — I didn't even pick it up in my original review of the WinWing — but once you've had both side by side it's there.
All those small wins the WinWing was racking up through the comparison get pushed aside by the sheer quality of the Virpil damper feel. That smoothness through the rudder axis is the main event when it comes to rudder pedals and Virpil just edges it.
Which Setup Is Actually Better For You?
Here's the honest breakdown:Choose the WinWing Orion if:
- You're mounting to a full cockpit with a high pedal tray — the wider pedal angle adjustment is a genuine practical advantage
- You want slightly more pedal travel
- Budget matters and $45 saves you money
- You're based in the USA or Australia and want to avoid EU import costs and delays
Choose the Virpil Ace Interceptors if:
- You want the smoothest, most natural feeling rudder axis available at this price — the damper quality is the deciding factor
- You're using them on the floor or a lower seated setup where the pedal angle isn't an issue
- You prefer a cleaner, easier mounting solution
- You fly fixed wing and want that full flat-foot pedal feel
Final Verdict - WinWing Orion vs Virpil Ace Interceptors
WinWing has wider pedal angle adjustments, a slightly more robust visual build, and better feeling toe brakes. But the Virpil Ace Interceptors win on the rudder axis feel — and that's the main draw card of a set of rudder pedals. The smoothness and the beefier feel underfoot through the damper is a clear step up.By a small margin, the Virpil Ace Interceptors edge it out in this head to head. But they're close enough that your specific setup could easily tip the decision the other way — particularly if you're on a full cockpit build where the WinWing's pedal angle adjustability becomes a genuine advantage.
Either way you're getting a fantastic set of rudder pedals. You won't be disappointed with either.
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