Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Aircraft and simulator background
The Hellcat began as a proposed improvement to Grumman's Wildcat before developing into a larger fighter. Its first prototype flew in June 1942, and the Navy accepted the first production F6F-3 in January 1943. The F6F-5 followed in mid-1944.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
FlyingIron Simulations · Read more ↗Spring tabs and blowback flaps
The manual describes manual primary controls with aileron spring tabs and three-axis trim. Flaps can reach about 50 degrees below 93 knots, reducing to 15 degrees at 150 knots; deployment is prohibited above 170 knots. The landing gear fully retracts, with a 135-knot gear reference.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
FlyingIron Simulations · Read more ↗The v1.1.0 control update
FlyingIron's v1.1.0 notes improve aileron and rudder trim and control response in the MSFS 2020 product, with Marketplace updates for the 2020 and 2024 simulators.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
FlyingIron Simulations · Read more ↗Meet Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
The Hellcat began as a proposed improvement to Grumman's Wildcat before developing into a larger fighter. Its first prototype flew in June 1942, and the Navy accepted the first production F6F-3 in January 1943. The F6F-5 followed in mid-1944.
FlyingIron's F6F-5 manual describes manual primary controls, aileron spring tabs and trim on all three axes. Hydraulic blowback changes flap position with airspeed.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
Grumman → · Explore the family →
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat
FlyingIron Simulations · F6F-5 Hellcat for Microsoft Flight Simulator public manual download ↗Aircraft type designators
No type designator selected for this reference.
History & design
From an improved Wildcat to the Hellcat
The Navy asked Grumman for an improved Wildcat in June 1941. A larger engine required changes to propeller clearance, landing gear, wing area and tail surfaces, and the project became a new fighter. The prototype flew in June 1942; the F6F-5 arrived in mid-1944 with changes including aileron spring tabs and the R-2800-10W.
National Air and Space Museum · Grumman F6F-3K Hellcat ↗Long description; programme development, June 1942 prototype and mid-1944 F6F-5
Systems & details
Spring tabs and blowback flaps
The manual describes manual primary controls with aileron spring tabs and three-axis trim. Flaps can reach about 50 degrees below 93 knots, reducing to 15 degrees at 150 knots; deployment is prohibited above 170 knots. The landing gear fully retracts, with a 135-knot gear reference.
The v1.1.0 control update
FlyingIron's v1.1.0 notes improve aileron and rudder trim and control response in the MSFS 2020 product, with Marketplace updates for the 2020 and 2024 simulators.
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024FlyingIron F6F-5 Hellcat
FlyingIron · Released
FlyingIron F6F-5 Hellcat
FlyingIron · Released
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.
Museum history
Grumman F6F-3K HellcatGrumman F6F-5 Hellcat
Long description; programme development, June 1942 prototype and mid-1944 F6F-5
National Air and Space Museum · Read the source ↗Developer documentation
F6F-5 1.1.0 current systemsGrumman F6F-5 Hellcat
Flight Model Improvements; Update Availability
FlyingIron Simulations · Read the source ↗F6F-5 Hellcat for Microsoft Flight Simulator public manual downloadGrumman F6F-5 Hellcat
PDF pp21-22, 36
FlyingIron Simulations · Read the source ↗F6F-5 Hellcat for Microsoft Flight SimulatorGrumman F6F-5 Hellcat
Product description and feature list
FlyingIron Simulations · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Museum history
Grumman F6F-3K HellcatNational Air and Space Museum · Long description; programme development, June 1942 prototype and mid-1944 F6F-5Developer documentation
F6F-5 1.1.0 current systemsFlyingIron Simulations · Flight Model Improvements; Update Availability F6F-5 Hellcat for Microsoft Flight Simulator public manual downloadFlyingIron Simulations · PDF pp21-22, 36 F6F-5 Hellcat for Microsoft Flight SimulatorFlyingIron Simulations · Product description and feature listBuilt-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
FlyingIron F6F-5 Hellcat
FlyingIron · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
A carrier fighter with manual controls, aileron spring tabs and hydraulic blowback flaps.
FlyingIron F6F-5 Hellcat
A carrier fighter with manual controls, aileron spring tabs and hydraulic blowback flaps.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- FlyingIron F6F-5 Hellcat · FlyingIron · MSFS 2020 · Add-on starting point
- FlyingIron F6F-5 Hellcat · FlyingIron · MSFS 2024 · Add-on starting point
The simulator model and controls
FlyingIron F6F-5 Hellcat is the selected FlyingIron configuration.
How this profile feels
Spring resistance builds with the selected airspeed response. A separate aerodynamic term adds speed-dependent control load.
Valid trim provides the configured pressure relief. Autopilot following is off.
Aircraft and configuration
The Hellcat began as a proposed improvement to Grumman's Wildcat before developing into a larger fighter. Its first prototype flew in June 1942, and the Navy accepted the first production F6F-3 in January 1943. The F6F-5 followed in mid-1944.
Spring tabs and blowback flaps
The manual describes manual primary controls with aileron spring tabs and three-axis trim. Flaps can reach about 50 degrees below 93 knots, reducing to 15 degrees at 150 knots; deployment is prohibited above 170 knots. The landing gear fully retracts, with a 135-knot gear reference.
The v1.1.0 control update
FlyingIron's v1.1.0 notes improve aileron and rudder trim and control response in the MSFS 2020 product, with Marketplace updates for the 2020 and 2024 simulators.
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
InheritedFlyingIron F6F-5 Hellcat is the selected FlyingIron configuration.
Flight controls
InheritedA carrier fighter with manual controls, aileron spring tabs and hydraulic blowback flaps.
Trim
InheritedTrim: Pitch, roll and yaw. Pitch authority 0.28 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.12.
Autopilot and stability
InheritedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
InheritedThe Hellcat began as a proposed improvement to Grumman's Wildcat before developing into a larger fighter. Its first prototype flew in June 1942, and the Navy accepted the first production F6F-3 in January 1943. The F6F-5 followed in mid-1944.
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 value0.72 | What it controls and whyThe manual describes manual primary controls with aileron spring tabs and three-axis trim. The baseline spring is 0.72. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 85 KIAS. |
| 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 value0.68 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.68 with an indicated-speed reference of 210 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value210 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 value85 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 value0.7 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.7 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | 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 value0.72 | What it controls and whyThe manual describes manual primary controls with aileron spring tabs and three-axis trim. The baseline spring is 0.72. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 85 KIAS. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.045 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.68 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.68 with an indicated-speed reference of 210 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| 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 valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it. |
| QSpring Minimum Factor | Starting 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 Knots | Starting value25 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 value85 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 value210 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 value0.1 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 0.1. It strengthens the permitted spring response above 85 KIAS, with the squared-speed ratio capped at 5. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening limit | Starting 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 scale | Starting value0.7 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.7 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1 | 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 valueEnabled | What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement. |
| Trim relief | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.28 | What it controls and whyTrim: Pitch, roll and yaw. Pitch authority 0.28 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.12. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0.12 | 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 valueEnabled | 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 value0.05 | 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 value0.25 | 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 value1 | What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3. |
| Minimum flap index | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees. |
| Gain | Starting value0.065 | 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 value0.28 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.42 | 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 value0.09 | 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 value0.06 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue. |
| Gain | Starting value0.06 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- Force amplitudes, response curves and cue thresholds are editable engineering estimates, not measured hand-force curves. Physical and installed-aircraft checks remain deferred.
- Standard simulator channels only. Custom failure, warning, autopilot and trim-target interfaces are not qualified. No axis writes, AP follow or neutral hold.
- Automatic selection needs the reviewed developer and aircraft identity. An explicit aircraft-default binding can handle titles that omit the developer.
- The speed table labels 170 knots as a full-flap limit, but the blowback description permits the full 50-degree surface angle only at low speed. The profile follows actual surface movement and does not command flap angle. Carrier arresting/catapult signals are unqualified.
- Continuous/blowback flaps use existing actual-surface motion texture only. Sustained flap buffet and pitch bias stay disabled because the current profile schema falls back to the handle when surface data is missing. No detent/arrival pulses. A separately versioned actual-only sustained-cue policy remains open.
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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