Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Aircraft and configuration
Top Mach Studios represents both YF-23A prototypes. PAV-1 uses YF119 engines and PAV-2 uses YF120 engines, with different performance. The simulated aircraft has custom fly-by-wire controls, retractable landing gear and automatic flaperons that also participate in yaw control and speedbraking.
YF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2
Top Mach Studios · Read more ↗Meet YF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2
Top Mach Studios represents both YF-23A prototypes. PAV-1 uses YF119 engines and PAV-2 uses YF120 engines, with different performance. The simulated aircraft has custom fly-by-wire controls, retractable landing gear and automatic flaperons that also participate in yaw control and speedbraking.
History & design
The Advanced Tactical Fighter demonstrator
Northrop and McDonnell Douglas developed the YF-23 as an Advanced Tactical Fighter prototype. The US Air Force museum identifies Paul Metz as its chief test pilot and records that he made its first flight in August 1990.
National Museum of the US Air Force · Former test pilot Paul Metz: museum lecture biography ↗Museum biography of YF-23 chief test pilot Paul Metz
A test pilot across two competing programmes
Metz later became chief test pilot for the F-22 and flew that aircraft for the first time in 1997. His career connects the experimental YF-23 phase with the fighter programme that proceeded into production; the YF-23 itself remained a demonstrator.
National Museum of the US Air Force · Former test pilot Paul Metz: museum lecture biography ↗Museum biography of YF-23 chief test pilot Paul Metz
Systems & details
Controls and equipment
Automatic trim acts through the primary elevator. Engaging the simulated autopilot disables fly-by-wire and manual input; stick displacement disconnects it.
Prototype and imagined production aircraft
Top Mach’s documentation distinguishes its two YF-23 prototype representations from an imagined operational F-23. The latter adds equipment and capabilities that were not the configuration of the competing demonstrators. The manual’s simulated fly-by-wire behaviour, automatic trim and control limits describe the add-on implementation. Keeping the prototype selection separate from the fictional production aircraft makes the differences in cockpit equipment and performance easier to understand without turning proposed features into historical facts.
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 equipmentYF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2
Automatic trim acts through the primary elevator. Engaging the simulated autopilot disables fly-by-wire and manual input; stick displacement disconnects it.
Black Widow manual · 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
YF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2 — simulator documentationTop Mach Studios · Black Widow manual · pages 1, 7–10, 15–16 and 53–56Aircraft history
Former test pilot Paul Metz: museum lecture biographyNational Museum of the US Air Force · Museum biography of YF-23 chief test pilot Paul MetzBuilt-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 YF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2
Top Mach Studios · Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
The YF-23 prototypes in PAV-1 and PAV-2 engine configurations.
Top Mach Studios YF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2
The YF-23 prototypes in PAV-1 and PAV-2 engine configurations.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Top Mach Studios YF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2 · Top Mach Studios · MSFS 2020 · Add-on starting point
- Top Mach Studios YF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2 · Top Mach Studios · MSFS 2024 · Add-on starting point
The simulator model and controls
Top Mach Studios YF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2 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
Top Mach Studios represents both YF-23A prototypes. PAV-1 uses YF119 engines and PAV-2 uses YF120 engines, with different performance. The simulated aircraft has custom fly-by-wire controls, retractable landing gear and automatic flaperons that also participate in yaw control and speedbraking.
Controls and equipment
Automatic trim acts through the primary elevator. Engaging the simulated autopilot disables fly-by-wire and manual input; stick displacement disconnects it.
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 YF-23A PAV-1 / PAV-2 is the selected Top Mach Studios configuration.
Flight controls
InheritedThe YF-23 prototypes in PAV-1 and PAV-2 engine configurations.
Trim
InheritedAutomatic trim acts through the primary elevator. 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
InheritedTop Mach Studios represents both YF-23A prototypes. PAV-1 uses YF119 engines and PAV-2 uses YF120 engines, with different performance. The simulated aircraft has custom fly-by-wire controls, retractable landing gear and automatic flaperons that also participate in yaw control and speedbraking.
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 whyControl surfaces: Automatic flaperons. 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 whyControl surfaces: Automatic flaperons. 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 whyAutomatic trim acts through the primary elevator. 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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