Meet Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
Lockheed developed the F-117A to attack high-value targets while reducing radar detection. Its low-observable design was the basis of the first operational stealth aircraft. A single pilot operates the aircraft, powered by two General Electric F404-F1D2 engines.
History & design
Low-observable development and a test-aircraft survivor
Developed around reducing detection by radar, the F-117A first flew on 18 June 1981. The 4450th Tactical Group reached initial operating capability in October 1983, several years before the aircraft became publicly familiar. Its first combat use was in Panama in December 1989, followed by the Gulf conflict of 1990–1991.
The National Museum of the USAF records 59 production aircraft built between 1981 and 1990. Its exhibit is the second F-117A, used for development testing from 1981 to 1991. That individual history explains why a museum airframe can represent the programme’s experimental work rather than a front-line combat career.
National Museum of the United States Air Force · Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk ↗Systems & details
Pitch commands and Mach hold
The 2023 MSFS 2020 guide describes +6G and -2G commands at full aft and forward stick. Mach hold changes pitch to maintain Mach; altitude, heading and destination/navigation hold are also documented.
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
Compare simulator versions →MSFS 2020F-117 Nighthawk
Aerial Simulations · Released
F-117 Nighthawk
Aerial Simulations · Released
MSFS 2024F-117 Nighthawk
Aerial Simulations · Released
F-117 Nighthawk
Aerial Simulations · Released
Manuals & resources
Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Aircraft background
Lockheed F-117A NighthawkNational Museum of the United States Air Force · Museum aircraft history and technical notesDeveloper documentation
F-117A User Guide — version 1.2Aerial Simulations · 25 June 2023 · MSFS 2020 guideProduct
F-117 Nighthawk for Microsoft Flight SimulatorAerial Simulations / Orbx · Original MSFS product · checked 11 October 2026 F-117 Nighthawk for Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024Aerial Simulations / Orbx · Separate MSFS 2024 product · checked 11 October 2026Built-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
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
Aerial Simulations · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Partial review
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
A fixed-centre fly-by-wire feel estimate for Aerial Simulations’ F-117A, with trim movement, autopilot following and unverified accessory effects disabled.
Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk
A fixed-centre fly-by-wire feel estimate for Aerial Simulations’ F-117A, with trim movement, autopilot following and unverified accessory effects disabled.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk · Aerial Simulations · MSFS 2020 · Add-on starting point
- Lockheed F-117A Nighthawk · Aerial Simulations · MSFS 2024 · Add-on starting point
Aerial Simulations F-117A; separate original MSFS and MSFS 2024 products. · User Guide version 1.2, 25 June 2023, describes MSFS 2020. The 2024 listing does not establish unchanged control parameters.
The simulator model and controls
Lockheed developed the F-117A to attack high-value targets while reducing radar detection. Its low-observable design was the basis of the first operational stealth aircraft. A single pilot operates the aircraft, powered by two General Electric F404-F1D2 engines.
Aerial Simulations has separate original MSFS and MSFS 2024 products. The preserved June 2023 version 1.2 guide describes the MSFS 2020 implementation.
How this profile feels
The 0.55 baseline spring has no low-speed blend or high-speed stiffening. A small 0.04 aerodynamic-load term uses a 300-KIAS reference; these are inherited force estimates.
Trim relief and local force trim are off. Gear-motion texture remains enabled, while flap, spoiler, reverse-thrust and engine-vibration cues are disabled.
Controls and trim
The MSFS 2020 guide describes +6G at full aft stick and -2G at full forward stick, with angle-of-attack limits. These commanded-load values describe the add-on’s pitch logic. The profile’s fixed-centre spring and damping remain estimates rather than a measured F-117 force law.
Equipment cues
The product listings include radar-cross-section monitoring, custom Mach hold, a drag chute and exterior animations. Gear-motion texture uses observed movement. No carrier, catapult or afterburner effect is introduced.
Autopilot
The guide’s autopilot has altitude, pitch-based Mach, heading and destination/navigation modes. Mach hold changes pitch rather than throttle. The guide does not publish calibrated servo targets, so physical autopilot following and neutral hold stay off.
About the values
Gains are normalized profile estimates. Physical hand force depends on the device and its output limits. Indicated-speed references are tuning scales; physical acceptance of revision 2 remains pending.
What the documentation establishes
Aerial Simulations lists separate original MSFS and MSFS 2024 products.
The version 1.2 MSFS 2020 guide describes +6G and -2G pitch commands at full aft and forward stick, respectively.
Guide pages 13–14 describe altitude, pitch-based Mach, heading and destination/navigation autopilot modes; Mach hold is not autothrottle.
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
ReviewedAerial Simulations has separate original MSFS and MSFS 2024 products. The preserved June 2023 version 1.2 guide describes the MSFS 2020 implementation.
Flight controls
ReviewedThe MSFS 2020 guide describes +6G at full aft stick and -2G at full forward stick, with angle-of-attack limits. These commanded-load values describe the add-on’s pitch logic. The profile’s fixed-centre spring and damping remain estimates rather than a measured F-117 force law.
Trim
Not yet reviewedThe stored pitch authority is inactive because trim relief is disabled; simulator trim does not move the hardware neutral through this effect.
Autopilot and stability
ReviewedThe guide’s autopilot has altitude, pitch-based Mach, heading and destination/navigation modes. Mach hold changes pitch rather than throttle. The guide does not publish calibrated servo targets, so physical autopilot following and neutral hold stay off.
Equipment
ReviewedThe product listings include radar-cross-section monitoring, custom Mach hold, a drag chute and exterior animations. Gear-motion texture uses observed movement. No carrier, catapult or afterburner effect is introduced.
Speeds and limits
ReviewedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
Not yet reviewedThe 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 value0.55 | What it controls and whyThe inherited 0.55 spring supplies a fixed centre. Low-speed airspeed blending and high-speed stiffening are disabled. |
| 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 value0.04 | What it controls and whyThe 0.04 gain adds a small aerodynamic-load term alongside the fixed-centre spring. It does not reproduce the guide’s commanded-G law. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value300.0 kt | What it controls and whyThe retained 300-KIAS reference is the profile’s aerodynamic load scale; it is not a published F-117 cruise speed or limit. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value90 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 value1 | What it controls and whyScales roll aerodynamic loading. The separate roll spring curve also affects total axis balance. |
| 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 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 whyTrim relief is disabled. The guide’s simulator trim adjustment does not establish a physical neutral-to-trim relationship. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyThe guide’s autopilot has altitude, pitch-based Mach, heading and destination/navigation modes. Mach hold changes pitch rather than throttle. The guide does not publish calibrated servo targets, so physical autopilot following and neutral hold stay off. |
| 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 52 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 value0.55 | What it controls and whyThe inherited 0.55 spring supplies a fixed centre. Low-speed airspeed blending and high-speed stiffening are disabled. |
| 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 value0.04 | What it controls and whyThe 0.04 gain adds a small aerodynamic-load term alongside the fixed-centre spring. It does not reproduce the guide’s commanded-G 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 value0.5 | 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 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 value90 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 value300.0 kt | What it controls and whyThe retained 300-KIAS reference is the profile’s aerodynamic load scale; it is not a published F-117 cruise speed or 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 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 value1 | What it controls and whyScales roll aerodynamic loading. The separate roll spring curve also affects total axis balance. |
| 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 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 whyTrim relief is disabled. The guide’s simulator trim adjustment does not establish a physical neutral-to-trim relationship. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whyThe stored pitch authority is inactive because trim relief is disabled; simulator trim does not move the hardware neutral through this effect. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0.3 | 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 whyThe guide’s autopilot has altitude, pitch-based Mach, heading and destination/navigation modes. Mach hold changes pitch rather than throttle. The guide does not publish calibrated servo targets, so physical autopilot following and neutral hold stay off. |
| 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 value0.15 | 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 whyFlap buffet is disabled; conventional flap behavior is not inferred from the shared force parent. |
| 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 value0.1 | 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 value0.36 | 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 value0.88 | What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyReverse-thrust vibration is disabled. |
| Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyEnables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyEngine rumble is off, alongside simulator engine-vibration following. No measured F-117 engine or afterburner vibration is assigned. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyFlap-motion texture is disabled. |
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
| Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyThis independently configured effect remains subject to valid simulator telemetry and bounded device output. |
| Use Sim Engine Vibration | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyThis independently configured effect remains subject to valid simulator telemetry and bounded device output. |
| Loss Load Increase | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyHydraulic-loss loading is zero. An aircraft-specific F-117 failure-to-inceptor response has not been established. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySpoiler buffet is disabled; a spoiler cue is not inferred from the shared force parent. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThis independently configured effect remains subject to valid simulator telemetry and bounded device output. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThis independently configured effect remains subject to valid simulator telemetry and bounded device output. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyDiscrete flap-step texture is disabled. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyFlap-arrival texture is disabled. |
Limits and open questions
- No installed-aircraft match or physical force acceptance is claimed.
- The June 2023 v1.2 guide applies to MSFS2020. The current separate MSFS2024 listing establishes that edition but does not prove unchanged control-law parameters.
- Mach hold changes pitch, not engine power; the guide documents modes rather than calibrated servo targets.
- Trim-neutral response, autopilot following and hydraulic-loss behaviour remain unqualified and disabled.
- Flap, spoiler, reverse-thrust and automatic engine-vibration cues are disabled; no carrier, catapult or afterburner effect is introduced.
- Observed simulator titles without the developer name are library aliases or manual selections. Developer-prefixed matching tests do not establish acceptance of installed telemetry titles.
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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