AIRBUS / AIRLINER

Airbus A380

A full-length double-deck airliner built for very high passenger capacity.

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Type designatorsA388Models & sources ↓

Choose the version you fly to narrow the edition-specific reading.

PropulsionFour jets
ConfigurationFull-length double deck
Simulator ecosystemsMSFS
YOUR AIRCRAFT COMPANION

Start here

A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.

Introduction

Meet the aircraft

The A380 arranged two passenger decks within a very large four-engine airframe. Its programme targeted heavily travelled routes and major hub airports. The aircraft's wide wing and extensive landing gear reflect the scale of the design. Airline interiors vary substantially, so a single seating figure does not describe every A380. Its simulator implementations likewise have their own cockpit and systems scope.

Aircraft background

Wikipedia contributors · Read more ↗
Pilot account

A huge aircraft, a surprisingly light touch

Mark flew an A380 from Toulouse before the 2009 Paris Air Show, joining a demonstration of new braking and traffic-avoidance functions. The cockpit was unusually spacious and quiet, and taxi cameras made keeping the aircraft on the centreline easier than he expected. Takeoff brought an odd mismatch between the speed indicated on the instruments and his muted visual sense of acceleration.

AIN, public reprint at English4aviation, June 2009. Firsthand demonstration flight. Original AIN publication: 17 June 2009; the full report is available in this public reprint.

AIN, public reprint at English4aviation · Read more ↗
Simulator systems

Fuel trim and flight controls are different systems

FlyByWire's A380X documentation separates trim-tank fuel management from the flight-control checks performed with the sidestick. It also identifies autopilot engagement and hydraulic shutdown procedures. Fuel transfer manages balance, while the sidestick checks concern the flight controls.

A380X · FlyByWire · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024

FlyByWire · Read more ↗
WATCH & EXPLORE

Into the cockpit

YouTube
Flight video

Just Planes · 18 min ·

Piloting AIRBUS A380 from Kuala Lumpur | Cockpit Views

Preparation, walkaround and departure from Kuala Lumpur aboard a Malaysia Airlines A380.

Real aircraft · Airbus A380

Watch on YouTube ↗

Preview images are served by AirframeDB. Videos open on YouTube only when you choose to watch.

THE AIRCRAFT

Meet Airbus A380

The A380 arranged two passenger decks within a very large four-engine airframe. Its programme targeted heavily travelled routes and major hub airports. The aircraft's wide wing and extensive landing gear reflect the scale of the design.

Airline interiors vary substantially, so a single seating figure does not describe every A380. The simulator products also differ in the cockpit functions and systems they model.

Research-based aircraft backgroundWikipedia contributors · Airbus A380 ↗
FAMILY, MODELS & VARIANTS

Airbus A380

Airbus → · Explore the family →

AIRCRAFT IDENTITY

Aircraft type designators

Use the code for the model you are flying. The linked authority lists the applicable aircraft.

HOW IT CAME TO BE

History & design

FROM THE COCKPIT

Pilot accounts

A huge aircraft, a surprisingly light touch

Robert P. Mark

Mark flew an A380 from Toulouse before the 2009 Paris Air Show, joining a demonstration of new braking and traffic-avoidance functions. The cockpit was unusually spacious and quiet, and taxi cameras made keeping the aircraft on the centreline easier than he expected. Takeoff brought an odd mismatch between the speed indicated on the instruments and his muted visual sense of acceleration. Once airborne, small movements of his wrist were enough to guide the large aircraft through banked turns.

On his landing, he kept off the brake pedals while the brake-to-vacate system slowed the aircraft for the selected exit. He also watched demonstrations using artificial traffic targets and an artificially shortened runway entry. These were planned tests, not encounters with real conflicting traffic or an actual runway emergency.

AIN, public reprint at English4aviation, June 2009. Firsthand demonstration flight. Original AIN publication: 17 June 2009; the full report is available in this public reprint.

Read the full account · AIN, public reprint at English4aviation ↗

An approachable giant, with room to improve the cockpit

Mike Gerzanics

After flying the first A380 test aircraft from Toulouse, Gerzanics told Max Kingsley-Jones that its handling felt closer to an A320 than an A340. Taxi cameras helped him position the nose gear accurately, and the cockpit height and landing-gear geometry made ground manoeuvring less daunting than its enormous wingspan suggested. The aircraft was well below its maximum takeoff weight on this particular evaluation flight.

He found the low-speed handling agile around the airport and the touchdown and lowering of the nose notably smooth. He welcomed larger displays and graphical changes to the flight plan, but his assessment was not unqualified praise: separate controls for the flight-management system, aircraft monitoring and information terminal made the integration less satisfactory than in contemporary business jets.

Flight International, 18 September 2006. Interview following Gerzanics’s 14 September 2006 evaluation in MSN001/F-WWOW; early test-aircraft configuration.

Read the full account · Flight International ↗

A dream aircraft, and the work behind every departure

Ali Kashwani

Kashwani had wanted to fly the A380 from its launch, and his opportunity arrived in 2008. On his first walk-around, the scale of its wings and engines left a lasting impression. In Airbus's interview, the Emirates captain describes a responsive aircraft that he considered especially stable among the jetliners he had flown. Seeing people photograph it at takeoff or landing continued to bring back that initial sense of occasion.

His working day was more methodical than the spectacle outside suggested. He liked to reach the aircraft an hour before departure so the large crew had time to prepare, check the systems and receive the passengers. Automation provided support in cruise, while the pilots still had to identify and navigate around thunderstorms. Airbus published the interview with Kashwani.

Airbus, April 2019. Manufacturer-published interview with an Emirates A380 captain; individual preferences and impressions are attributed.

Read the full account · Airbus ↗

The emergency continued after the landing

David Evans

Evans was the supervising check captain in an observer seat when QF32 suffered an uncontained engine failure after departing Singapore on 4 November 2010. He describes a flood of warnings that required the five pilots to establish what still worked, discuss conflicting indications and judge which actions were appropriate. While Richard de Crespigny flew the aircraft and the operating crew worked through the problems, Evans also helped keep passengers informed. The assessment took nearly two hours before the crew returned to land.

For Evans, the period after stopping was particularly worrying. One engine continued running, fuel was leaking and the brakes were hot. The crew weighed an immediate slide evacuation against keeping passengers aboard with the cabin crew ready to act. They eventually disembarked through stairs. He emphasises shared judgement, communication and cabin-crew work during the emergency.

Royal Aeronautical Society, 8 December 2010. Firsthand interview with the supervising check captain; Tim Robinson, Royal Aeronautical Society. Evans was not the pilot flying.

Read the full account · Royal Aeronautical Society ↗
VIRTUAL VERSIONS

In your simulator

Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.

Compare simulator versions →
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024

A380X

FlyByWire · Early Access

MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024Third-party add-on

Aircraft

Products and variants
ProductSimulatorProduct type
A380X ↗Early AccessMSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024 Publicly released open alpha; see the developer’s current INOP list.Aircraft

Fuel trim and flight controls are different systems

FlyByWire's A380X documentation separates trim-tank fuel management from the flight-control checks performed with the sidestick. It also identifies autopilot engagement and hydraulic shutdown procedures. Fuel transfer manages balance, while the sidestick checks concern the flight controls.

FlyByWire · A380X SOP ↗

SOP snapshot; dated pages; installed aircraft build not observed · PDF pp13,29,40,83; after-start control check and climb

Released product and variants

The free A380X is publicly available through the FlyByWire installer for both MSFS generations, including a native 2024 version. FlyByWire still describes it as an open alpha and maintains a list of unimplemented systems; several systems remain unimplemented.

FlyByWire Simulations · INOP System - FlyByWire Simulations Documentation ↗

Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14

Publicly released open alpha; see the developer’s current INOP list.

MSFS 2024

A380-800

iniBuilds · Released

MSFS 2024Third-party add-on

Aircraft

Products and variants
ProductSimulatorProduct type
A380-800 ↗ReleasedMSFS 2024 Aircraft
GO TO THE SOURCE

Manuals & resources

Find your next read

Choose a topic for a short introduction and a link to the original source. Simulator references identify the developer and edition they cover.

Simulator documentation

Fuel trim and flight controls are different systemsA380X · FlyByWire · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024

FlyByWire's A380X documentation separates trim-tank fuel management from the flight-control checks performed with the sidestick. It also identifies autopilot engagement and hydraulic shutdown procedures. Fuel transfer manages balance, while the sidestick checks concern the flight controls.

SOP snapshot; dated pages; installed aircraft build not observed · PDF pp13,29,40,83; after-start control check and climb

FlyByWire · Read the source ↗
Released product and variantsA380X · FlyByWire · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024

The free A380X is publicly available through the FlyByWire installer for both MSFS generations, including a native 2024 version. FlyByWire still describes it as an open alpha and maintains a list of unimplemented systems; several systems remain unimplemented.

Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14

FlyByWire Simulations · Read the source ↗

Pilot account

A huge aircraft, a surprisingly light touchAIN, public reprint at English4aviation, June 2009. Firsthand demonstration flight. Original AIN publication: 17 June 2009; the full report is available in this public reprint.

Mark flew an A380 from Toulouse before the 2009 Paris Air Show, joining a demonstration of new braking and traffic-avoidance functions. The cockpit was unusually spacious and quiet, and taxi cameras made keeping the aircraft on the centreline easier than he expected. Takeoff brought an odd mismatch between the speed indicated on the instruments and his muted visual sense of acceleration. Once airborne, small movements of his wrist were enough to guide the large aircraft through banked turns.

Robert P. Mark

AIN, public reprint at English4aviation · Read the source ↗
An approachable giant, with room to improve the cockpitFlight International, 18 September 2006. Interview following Gerzanics’s 14 September 2006 evaluation in MSN001/F-WWOW; early test-aircraft configuration.

After flying the first A380 test aircraft from Toulouse, Gerzanics told Max Kingsley-Jones that its handling felt closer to an A320 than an A340. Taxi cameras helped him position the nose gear accurately, and the cockpit height and landing-gear geometry made ground manoeuvring less daunting than its enormous wingspan suggested. The aircraft was well below its maximum takeoff weight on this particular evaluation flight.

Mike Gerzanics

Flight International · Read the source ↗

Developer documentation

A380-800 — product listingA380-800 · MSFS 2024

Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue

iniBuilds Store · Read the source ↗

Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.

Manual

↗A380X SOPFlyByWire ↗Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft manualsMicrosoft / aircraft developers

Aircraft background

↗Airbus A380Wikipedia contributors · Research background · Wikipedia revision 1374387538 · retrieved 2026-09-12

Product

↗A380 Airliner for MSFS-2024iniBuilds · Official developer / designated store catalogue · checked 2026-09-12 ↗iniBuilds A380 Airliner for MSFS – iniBuilds StoreiniBuilds Store · Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue

Developer documentation

↗Installer Guide - FlyByWire Simulations DocumentationFlyByWire Simulations · Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14 ↗INOP System - FlyByWire Simulations DocumentationFlyByWire Simulations · Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14

Type designator

↗ICAO Doc 8643 — aircraft type designatorsInternational Civil Aviation Organization · Public search data retrieved 2026-09-14; authority update 2026-09-03
AIRCRAFT AND FEEL

Built-in force-feedback profiles

Read the documentary basis, editable starting settings and remaining questions for the aircraft you fly. Each explanation refers to the exact profile revision shown.

Catalogue programme-20261022-v1 · 3 profile choices

FlyByWire A380X

FlyByWire · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point

MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024

FlyByWire A380X: Fixed spring centering represents the passive A380 sidestick; hydraulic/electric surface redundancy does not imply stick backdrive.

Airbus A380

Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Partial review

MSFS 2024 · MSFS 2020

Airbus A380: Fixed spring centering represents the passive A380 sidestick; hydraulic/electric surface redundancy does not imply stick backdrive.

FFB-BRIDGE BUILT-IN PROFILE

FlyByWire A380X

Free and ProRevision 3Inherited starting point

FlyByWire A380X: Fixed spring centering represents the passive A380 sidestick; hydraulic/electric surface redundancy does not imply stick backdrive.

Aircraft and simulator scope

  • FlyByWire A380X · FlyByWire · MSFS 2020 · Add-on starting point
  • FlyByWire A380X · FlyByWire · MSFS 2024 · Add-on starting point

The simulator model and controls

The A380 arranged two passenger decks within a very large four-engine airframe. Its programme targeted heavily travelled routes and major hub airports. The aircraft's wide wing and extensive landing gear reflect the scale of the design.

This profile selects FlyByWire A380X for MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024.

How this profile feels

The spring stays independent of airspeed. Directed aerodynamic loading is omitted.

Pitch-trim relief is off. Autopilot following is off.

Controls and trim

Airbus describes fully electric pitch trim, including its backup, for the A380; normal-law trim is automatic. Its hydraulic and electric actuator redundancy and gust/load alleviation act on surfaces independently of the sidesticks. iniBuilds distinguishes Trent 900 and GP7200 engines and early/modern software batches. FlyByWire's A380X operating procedures have separate scope from the A32NX systems API.

The selected implementation

The A380X SOP belongs to the A380 implementation. A32NX API identifiers are not assigned to A380X despite related operating philosophy.

About the values

The gains are normalized profile settings. They describe the chosen effect balance; hand force depends on the device and its output limits. IAS references are tuning values rather than operating limits. Physical acceptance of this revision remains pending.

Documentary review and sources

These decisions describe the documentary basis and remaining gaps for this revision. Aircraft documentation and a starting setting describe different kinds of evidence.

Aircraft and variant
Inherited

This profile selects FlyByWire A380X for MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024.

Flight controls
Inherited

Airbus describes fully electric pitch trim, including its backup, for the A380; normal-law trim is automatic. Its hydraulic and electric actuator redundancy and gust/load alleviation act on surfaces independently of the sidesticks. iniBuilds distinguishes Trent 900 and GP7200 engines and early/modern software batches. FlyByWire's A380X operating procedures have separate scope from the A32NX systems API.

Trim
Inherited

Automatic aircraft trim and the absence of a mechanical trim wheel keep hardware-centre movement separate from stabilizer operation. Pitch relief is off, with stored authority 0; roll authority is 0.

Autopilot and stability
Inherited

Autopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. Separate neutral hold is on at strength 0.28, when a supported autopilot state admits it.

Equipment
Inherited

The A380X SOP belongs to the A380 implementation. A32NX API identifiers are not assigned to A380X despite related operating philosophy.

Speeds and limits
Inherited

The indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.

Simulator integration
Inherited

The profile targets msfs2020, msfs2024. Add-on-specific controls use only the supported references configured by this profile.

Force-feedback settings
Inherited

The settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.

Starting settings and their rationale

These configured values are starting estimates. The explanations describe what each setting controls; physical validation appears separately below.

Estimated starting settings · revision 3
SettingStarting valueWhat it controls and why
Spring strengthStarting value0.55 What it controls and whyFixed spring centering represents the passive A380 sidestick; hydraulic/electric surface redundancy does not imply stick backdrive. The baseline spring is 0.55. Low-speed spring blending is off.
Master force gainStarting value0.85 What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits.
Profile force gainStarting value0 What it controls and whyThe stored 0 aerodynamic-load gain is inactive under the fixed-centre control law.
Force tuning speed/referenceStarting value250 ktWhat it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit.
Spring response reference speedStarting value65 ktWhat it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it.
Aileron force scaleStarting value0.72 What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 and 1, respectively. These stored weights do not create directed aerodynamic loading while that term is inactive. The pitch spring-travel curve reaches output 1 at input 1. The roll spring-travel curve reaches output 0.3 at input 1. Spring-travel response contributes separately to axis balance.
Elevator force scaleStarting value1 What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings.
Trim feelStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement.
Trim reliefStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount.
Autopilot followStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. Separate neutral hold is on at strength 0.28, when a supported autopilot state admits it.
Autopilot neutral holdStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target.
Output force limitStarting value0.55 What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate.
All 49 starting settings and their rationale

The settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.

Estimated starting settings · revision 3
SettingStarting valueWhat it controls and why
Spring strengthStarting value0.55 What it controls and whyFixed spring centering represents the passive A380 sidestick; hydraulic/electric surface redundancy does not imply stick backdrive. The baseline spring is 0.55. Low-speed spring blending is off.
Spring deadbandStarting value0.01 What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner.
Starting centering forceStarting value0.03 What it controls and whyThe centre preload is 0.03. It ramps outside the 0.01 deadband across 0.05 travel, shaping the passive centre independently of aircraft autotrim.
Center Starting Force TransitionStarting value0.05 What it controls and whySets the travel used to ramp in centre preload. Wider intervals make its onset more gradual.
Profile force gainStarting value0 What it controls and whyThe stored 0 aerodynamic-load gain is inactive under the fixed-centre control law.
Master force gainStarting value0.85 What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits.
QBlend EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it.
QSpring Minimum FactorStarting value0.5 What it controls and whySets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength.
QSpring Start KnotsStarting value8 ktWhat it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit.
Spring response reference speedStarting value65 ktWhat it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it.
Force tuning speed/referenceStarting value250 ktWhat it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit.
Airspeed spring stiffening gainStarting value0 What it controls and whyAdds permitted spring resistance above the full-blend speed. Zero removes this high-speed increase.
Airspeed spring stiffening limitStarting value5 What it controls and whyLimits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap.
Aileron force scaleStarting value0.72 What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 and 1, respectively. These stored weights do not create directed aerodynamic loading while that term is inactive. The pitch spring-travel curve reaches output 1 at input 1. The roll spring-travel curve reaches output 0.3 at input 1. Spring-travel response contributes separately to axis balance.
Elevator force scaleStarting value1 What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings.
Output force limitStarting value0.55 What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate.
Travel EnabledStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyApplies the configured pitch and roll spring travel curves.
OutputStarting value1 What it controls and whySets response at the second pitch-curve point; it is an endpoint only if its input position is full travel.
OutputStarting value0.3 What it controls and whySets response at the second roll-curve point; its input position and other points determine the travel law.
Trim feelStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement.
Trim reliefStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount.
Elevator AuthorityStarting value0 What it controls and whyAutomatic aircraft trim and the absence of a mechanical trim wheel keep hardware-centre movement separate from stabilizer operation. Pitch relief is off, with stored authority 0; roll authority is 0.
Aileron AuthorityStarting value0 What it controls and whyScales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response.
Force Trim EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyEnables local force trim, separate from aircraft-owned trim and add-on integration qualification.
GLoad EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAllows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it.
Rate Damping EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyEnables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law.
Autopilot followStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. Separate neutral hold is on at strength 0.28, when a supported autopilot state admits it.
Autopilot follow authorityStarting value0.05 What it controls and whySets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply.
Autopilot neutral holdStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target.
Autopilot neutral hold strengthStarting value0.28 What it controls and whySets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled.
EnabledStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyEnables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions.
GainStarting value0.06 What it controls and whySets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings.
GainStarting value0.06 What it controls and whySets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate.
Maximum flap indexStarting value4 What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3.
Minimum flap indexStarting value2 What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate.
Shaker EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyPermits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment.
Stick shaker amplitudeStarting value0.5 What it controls and whySets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled.
EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue.
EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyEnables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration.
EnabledStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyEnables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects.
Limits and open questions
  • FlyByWire A380X; msfs2020, msfs2024. Previously observed titles and implementation identifiers are retained; installed matching remains deferred.
  • Passive spring-centred sidestick. No aerodynamic hinge torque, body-rate loading, surface following, stick shaker or hydraulic-failure force increase. Changes of control law do not create a mechanical linkage.
  • Automatic or manual stabilizer trim changes the aircraft balance, not the physical sidestick neutral. Both trim-relief authorities stay zero, including in degraded/direct law.
  • The sidestick does not backdrive with the autopilot. With the autopilot engaged the sidestick is held at neutral (neutral hold), as the real sidestick is locked there. AP servo-follow remains disabled; engagement indicators are not force-demand signals.
  • Aircraft-owned fly-by-wire and auto-trim; passive spring support only. A380X four-engine widebody, not A32NX; no false increase in hand force based on aircraft mass.
  • 250 KIAS is an estimated feel reference, not cruise TAS or a certified limit. No invented Mach, VNE or weight scheduling.
  • Read-only native telemetry for aircraft motion and accessory positions. Custom switches, display animations and mode lamps are not calibrated servo targets. No unverified LVars/datarefs or simulator writes.
  • Spring 0.55; lateral scale 0.72; trim authorities 0/0; per-axis output cap .55. Editable engineering estimates, not measured hand forces. No body-rate torque, surface following or fabricated hydraulic-failure loads.
  • New physical and installed-product checks deferred by owner. Existing separately recorded acceptance retains its original device, simulator, add-on and version limits. Source review does not broaden custom telemetry acceptance.
  • Only actual accessory position changes drive movement texture; static drag and command-triggered kicks are disabled. Select and save an aircraft default when telemetry lacks a discriminating developer/configuration identity.
  • 2026-10-01, Airbus passive sidestick law (docs/poh/a320neo-feel-spec.md, SAE 861801, BEA AF447 3.2): pitch spring 0.55 at master gain 0.85, constant with airspeed, G and trim; roll at 30 % of pitch (published pitch:roll 3-4:1, 10 daN at 16 deg pitch, 2-3.5 daN at 20 deg roll); a 0.03 centre starting force over a 0.01 deadband for the 0.5 daN breakout (5 % of full pitch force); autopilot neutral hold 0.28 for the 5 daN override of the neutral lock; weak stall and Mach buffet (0.06), which the BEA describes as weakly transmitted to the sidestick; no turbulence, overspeed, spoiler, flap, gear, ground, engine, mechanical or drag cues.

Physical validation

No physical force validation is recorded in this public catalogue for this revision. Documentary review and software checks do not establish how a particular device feels.

FFB-Bridge maintains this profile’s revisions and tuning discussion.

Revision 3 and download availability in FFB-Bridge ↗
Exact profile identity
Profile
addon-fbw-a380
Artifact SHA-256
563daa5a0a4312f9f2ce273caa1194f54dcd14675e16b4bc18155b9b274f2566
Bytes
16239
Spring strength
Forces.SpringStrength
Spring deadband
Forces.SpringDeadband
Starting centering force
Forces.CenterStartingForce
Center Starting Force Transition
Forces.CenterStartingForceTransition
Profile force gain
Forces.ForceGain
Master force gain
Forces.MasterGain
QBlend Enabled
Forces.QBlendEnabled
QSpring Minimum Factor
Forces.QSpringMinimumFactor
QSpring Start Knots
Forces.QSpringStartKnots
Spring response reference speed
Forces.QSpringFullKnots
Force tuning speed/reference
Forces.CruiseSpeedRefKnots
Airspeed spring stiffening gain
Forces.SpringAirspeedStiffenGain
Airspeed spring stiffening limit
Forces.SpringAirspeedStiffenCap
Aileron force scale
Forces.AileronForceScale
Elevator force scale
Forces.ElevatorForceScale
Output force limit
Forces.MaxOutputForce
Travel Enabled
SpringResponse.TravelEnabled
Output
SpringResponse.Pitch.Points.1.Output
Output
SpringResponse.Roll.Points.1.Output
Trim feel
StickFeel.TrimFeelEnabled
Trim relief
StickFeel.TrimReliefEnabled
Elevator Authority
StickFeel.TrimRelief.ElevatorAuthority
Aileron Authority
StickFeel.TrimRelief.AileronAuthority
Force Trim Enabled
StickFeel.ForceTrimEnabled
GLoad Enabled
StickFeel.GLoadEnabled
Rate Damping Enabled
StickFeel.RateDampingEnabled
Autopilot follow
Autopilot.FollowEnabled
Autopilot follow authority
Autopilot.FollowAuthority
Autopilot neutral hold
Autopilot.NeutralHoldEnabled
Autopilot neutral hold strength
Autopilot.NeutralHoldStrength
Enabled
Aero.Enabled
Gain
Aero.Stall.Gain
Gain
Aero.Mach.Gain
Gain
Aero.Flap.Gain
Maximum flap index
Aero.Flap.MaxFlapIndex
Minimum flap index
Aero.Flap.MinFlapIndex
Gain
Aero.Gear.Gain
Shaker Enabled
Aero.ShakerEnabled
Stick shaker amplitude
Aero.Shaker.Amplitude
Enabled
Ground.Enabled
Gain
Ground.Rumble.Gain
Gain
Ground.Bumps.Gain
Gain
Ground.Thump.Gain
Gain
Ground.Reverse.Gain
Enabled
Engine.Enabled
Gain
Engine.Rumble.Gain
Enabled
Mechanical.Enabled
Gain
Mechanical.FlapMotion.Gain
Gain
Mechanical.GearMotion.Gain
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