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A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Aircraft and configuration
The F-23A is Top Mach Studios' imagined production development of the YF-23, not a built operational aircraft. Its avionics, weapons and performance are developer-defined. The package supplies custom fly-by-wire controls, twin jet engines and retractable landing gear.
F-23A (hypothetical package variant)
Top Mach Studios · Read more ↗Meet F-23A (hypothetical package variant)
The F-23A is Top Mach Studios' imagined production development of the YF-23, not a built operational aircraft. Its avionics, weapons and performance are developer-defined. The package supplies custom fly-by-wire controls, twin jet engines and retractable landing gear.
History & design
The operational fighter that exists in the package
Top Mach includes three aircraft: recreations of the two YF-23 prototypes and an imagined operational F-23A. The latter develops the prototype idea with additional performance and equipment, including tactical displays, radar and FLIR. It has a simulator development history, not an operational service history. The manual explicitly calls this variant hypothetical; prototype evidence cannot establish that its additional systems existed in a production fighter.
Top Mach Studios · F-23A (hypothetical package variant) — simulator documentation ↗Top Mach 2025 manual, pages 9-10; fictional operational variant explicitly identified.
Systems & details
Controls and equipment
Automatic flaperons provide several control functions, including yaw and speedbraking. The simulated autopilot disconnects with stick displacement.
A distinct operational interpretation
Top Mach’s imagined F-23A adds an operational lighting fit, drop tanks, static weapons and tactical displays to the prototype-inspired package. Its custom flight-control software includes automatic pitch trim and G, roll and yaw limiting, while a hidden G3000 planner provides simulator navigation. The manual separates those features from the two YF-23 prototype models. Selecting the F-23A therefore selects a deliberate extension of the prototype concept, not another name for a historically delivered fighter.
In your simulator
No released simulator product is listed for this aircraft in the developers reviewed. Announced products are excluded.
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
Controls and equipmentF-23A (hypothetical package variant)
Automatic flaperons provide several control functions, including yaw and speedbraking. The simulated autopilot disconnects with stick displacement.
Black Widow manual · hypothetical F-23A, pages 1, 7–10, 15–16 and 53–56
Top Mach Studios · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Simulator documentation
F-23A (hypothetical package variant) — simulator documentationTop Mach Studios · Black Widow manual · hypothetical F-23A, pages 1, 7–10, 15–16 and 53–56Built-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-20261011-v3 · 1 profile choice
Top Mach Studios F-23A (hypothetical package variant)
Top Mach Studios · Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
A hypothetical production F-23A included in the Black Widow simulator package.
Top Mach Studios F-23A (hypothetical package variant)
A hypothetical production F-23A included in the Black Widow simulator package.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Top Mach Studios F-23A (hypothetical package variant) · Top Mach Studios · MSFS 2020 · Add-on starting point
- Top Mach Studios F-23A (hypothetical package variant) · Top Mach Studios · MSFS 2024 · Add-on starting point
The simulator model and controls
Top Mach Studios F-23A (hypothetical package variant) is the selected Top Mach Studios configuration.
How this profile feels
The spring stays independent of airspeed. Directed aerodynamic loading is omitted.
Pitch-trim relief is off. Autopilot following is off.
Aircraft and configuration
The F-23A is Top Mach Studios' imagined production development of the YF-23, not a built operational aircraft. Its avionics, weapons and performance are developer-defined. The package supplies custom fly-by-wire controls, twin jet engines and retractable landing gear.
Controls and equipment
Automatic flaperons provide several control functions, including yaw and speedbraking. The simulated autopilot disconnects with stick displacement.
About the values
Strengths are normalized hardware-feel settings. They set the effect balance; hand force depends on the device and its limits. The IAS reference is a tuning value.
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
InheritedTop Mach Studios F-23A (hypothetical package variant) is the selected Top Mach Studios configuration.
Flight controls
InheritedA hypothetical production F-23A included in the Black Widow simulator package.
Trim
InheritedThe profile uses the trim behaviour configured below. Pitch relief is off, with stored authority 0; roll authority is 0.
Autopilot and stability
InheritedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
InheritedThe F-23A is Top Mach Studios' imagined production development of the YF-23, not a built operational aircraft. Its avionics, weapons and performance are developer-defined. The package supplies custom fly-by-wire controls, twin jet engines and retractable landing gear.
Speeds and limits
InheritedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
InheritedThe profile targets msfs2020, msfs2024. Add-on-specific controls use only the supported references configured by this profile.
Force-feedback settings
InheritedThe 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.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.54 | What it controls and whyAutomatic flaperons provide several control functions, including yaw and speedbraking. The baseline spring is 0.54. Low-speed spring blending is off. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.46 | What it controls and whyThe stored 0.46 aerodynamic-load gain is inactive under the fixed-centre control law. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value320 kt | What 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 speed | Starting value70 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.76 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.76 and 0.86, respectively. These stored weights do not create directed aerodynamic loading while that term is inactive. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.86 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
All 44 starting settings and their rationale
The settings define the profile’s effect balance. Device output limits affect physical hand force.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring strength | Starting value0.54 | What it controls and whyAutomatic flaperons provide several control functions, including yaw and speedbraking. The baseline spring is 0.54. Low-speed spring blending is off. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.04 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.46 | What it controls and whyThe stored 0.46 aerodynamic-load gain is inactive under the fixed-centre control law. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| QBlend Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it. |
| QSpring Minimum Factor | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whySets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength. |
| QSpring Start Knots | Starting value20 kt | What 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 speed | Starting value70 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value320 kt | What 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 gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyAdds permitted spring resistance above the full-blend speed. Zero removes this high-speed increase. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening limit | Starting value2 | What it controls and whyLimits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.76 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.76 and 0.86, respectively. These stored weights do not create directed aerodynamic loading while that term is inactive. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.86 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe profile uses the trim behaviour configured below. Pitch relief is off, with stored authority 0; roll authority is 0. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyScales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response. |
| Force Trim Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyEnables local force trim, separate from aircraft-owned trim and add-on integration qualification. |
| GLoad Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAllows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it. |
| Rate Damping Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel. |
| Autopilot follow authority | Starting value0.1 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply. |
| Autopilot neutral hold | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target. |
| Autopilot neutral hold strength | Starting value0.6 | What it controls and whySets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate. |
| Maximum flap index | Starting value2 | What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3. |
| Minimum flap index | Starting value2 | What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate. |
| Shaker Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyPermits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment. |
| Stick shaker amplitude | Starting value0.5 | What it controls and whySets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.24 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.18 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.32 | What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.018 | What it controls and whySets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue. |
| Gain | Starting value0.025 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- Custom KCAS and high-alpha AoA differ from generic channels. Prototype flight manual is retained as background, not an MSFS implementation contract. Fictional F23A performance remains developer-defined; same conservative normal feel estimate as PAV variants.
- Force magnitudes and IAS references are estimates. Installed telemetry and physical acceptance remain deferred.
- No exact axis gearing, law/failure scheduling or calibrated inceptor force is implemented. AP following stays disabled.
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.
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