Meet Maxair Drifter
The Drifter is an open-air pusher ultralight with its occupants below the wing and the engine behind them. Ant’s handbook traces the design to the 1980s and describes approximately 500 built. The small airframe’s view and arrangement come from that low-speed recreational role, with little cockpit structure between the occupants and the surrounding air.
The handbook describes a Rotax 582 driving a four-blade Brolga propeller through a reduction gearbox. Pitch trim uses a wire-operated tab controlled from a lever on the front stick. Wheel and float versions give the same broad aircraft a different surface-contact arrangement, while the propulsion and trim mechanism retain their own identity.
History & design
An ultralight from the 1980s
Ant’s handbook places the Drifter’s origin in the 1980s and records a production total of about 500. Its simulator package preserves the exposed pusher layout and offers wheels and floats. Those versions make different parts of the airframe relevant during landing and surface movement.
Ant's Airplanes · Drifter MSFS Pilot’s Handbook ↗Ant’s Drifter handbook aircraft background and configuration.
Tab trim from the front stick
The trim lever acts by wire on the elevator tab. This changes aerodynamic pitch balance while leaving the primary stick to command the elevator. The handbook’s 50–65-knot cruise range is a stated flight reference for its configuration, distinct from engine speed and the reduction between crankshaft and propeller.
Ant's Airplanes · Drifter MSFS Pilot’s Handbook ↗Ant’s Drifter handbook trim, engine and performance.
Systems & details
The handbook’s version and aircraft state matter
Ant’s version 1.30 handbook records changes to empty and gross weights and corrections for MSFS 2024. Earlier updates revised fuel capacity, consumption, engine behaviour and the tablet. Engine-start difficulty can require priming for a cold start, while rolling-resistance options affect ground movement. These documented changes distinguish the full product from its limited demonstration version and make the handbook revision relevant when comparing fuel figures or the behaviour of an older installation.
In your simulator
No released simulator product is listed for this aircraft in the developers reviewed. Announced products are excluded.
Manuals & resources
Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Manual
Drifter MSFS Pilot’s HandbookAnt's Airplanes · Ant’s Drifter handbook aircraft background and configuration.; Ant’s Drifter handbook trim, engine and performance.Developer documentation
ANT'Santsairplanes.com · Aircraft equipment and developer product details.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-20261011-v3 · 4 profile choices
Ant's Airplanes Drifter Ultralight Wheels
Ant's Airplanes · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
The Drifter is an open-air pusher ultralight with its occupants below the wing and the engine behind them.
Ant's Airplanes Drifter Ultralight Floats
Ant's Airplanes · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
The Drifter is an open-air pusher ultralight with its occupants below the wing and the engine behind them.
Maxair Drifter
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 12
The Drifter is an open-air pusher ultralight with its occupants below the wing and the engine behind them.
Maxair Drifter Straight Floats
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 12
The Drifter is an open-air pusher ultralight with its occupants below the wing and the engine behind them.
Maxair Drifter
The Drifter is an open-air pusher ultralight with its occupants below the wing and the engine behind them.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Maxair Drifter · MSFS 2020 · Variant starting point
- Maxair Drifter · MSFS 2024 · Variant starting point
- Maxair Drifter · X-Plane 12 · Variant starting point
Universal named airframe/configuration; intended MSFS2020/MSFS2024/XP12 starting point, not add-on or edition acceptance. · Physical facts and prior documentary review are reused from their archived dated sources; new market availability is not inferred.
The simulator model and controls
The Drifter is an open-air pusher ultralight with its occupants below the wing and the engine behind them.
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
Fixed wheels, Rotax 582 pusher, no documented wing flaps and simulator differential-brake controls.
Tab trim from the front stick
The trim lever acts by wire on the elevator tab. This changes aerodynamic pitch balance while leaving the primary stick to command the elevator. The handbook’s 50–65-knot cruise range is a stated flight reference for its configuration, distinct from engine speed and the reduction between crankshaft and propeller.
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.
What the documentation establishes
Maxair Drifter: Fixed wheels, Rotax 582 pusher, no documented wing flaps and simulator differential-brake controls.
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
ReviewedThe Drifter is an open-air pusher ultralight with its occupants below the wing and the engine behind them.
Flight controls
InheritedThe Drifter is an open-air pusher ultralight with its occupants below the wing and the engine behind them.
Trim
InheritedPitch trim: Wire-operated elevator tab. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.
Autopilot and stability
ReviewedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
InheritedFixed wheels, Rotax 582 pusher, no documented wing flaps and simulator differential-brake controls.
Speeds and limits
InheritedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
ReviewedThe profile targets msfs2020, msfs2024, xplane12. 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 value0.74 | What it controls and whyThe trim lever acts by wire on the elevator tab. The baseline spring is 0.74. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 30 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 value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 60 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value60 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 value30.0 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 value0.72 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1.0 | 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 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 value0.74 | What it controls and whyThe trim lever acts by wire on the elevator tab. The baseline spring is 0.74. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 30 KIAS. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 60 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1.0 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value0.72 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
Maxair Drifter: Wire-operated elevator trim tab, pitch only. No established roll trim. Estimated pitch/roll trim authorities 0.3/0; exact add-on sign, travel, units and build-specific neutral remain unqualified. Rudder trim never substitutes for roll trim.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whyPitch trim: Wire-operated elevator tab. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; 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. |
Maxair Drifter: 60 KIAS is the retained estimated tuning reference. It is not published cruise TAS, VNE, a new flight limit or a measured force threshold. Source-specific operating quantities remain attached to their original configuration and conditions.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value60 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
Engine tachometer RPM does not establish propeller RPM or a measured vibration harmonic.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Gain | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whyEngine tachometer RPM does not establish propeller RPM or a measured vibration harmonic. |
Exact configured values with software explanations. Force magnitudes remain editable estimates; disabled features retain inactive values.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.04 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| 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 value0.55 | 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 value8 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 value30.0 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening gain | Starting value0.15 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 0.15. It strengthens the permitted spring response above 30 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. |
| 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 valueEnabled | What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| 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 value0.1 | 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 value0.35 | 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 value3 | 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 value0.4 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.25 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.65 | 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. |
| 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 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- Maxair Drifter is a universal starting point; exact add-on matching, edition operation and physical hand-force calibration remain unqualified.
- Autopilot movement and unknown custom trim, failure or force-input signals are disabled. Confirm the selected equipment fit and trim direction for the implementation in use.
- Force magnitudes and speed tuning are editable inherited estimates. Owner physical and installed-aircraft acceptance remain pending.
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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