Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Aircraft and configuration
The Bulldog is represented as a prototype gyroplane with a 150 hp Rotec R3600 tractor engine and fixed wheels. Rara-Avis Sim offers a native MSFS 2024 version, with an update available to owners of the earlier MSFS 2020 product.
Bulldog Autogyro
Rara-Avis Sim · Read more ↗Meet Bulldog Autogyro
The Bulldog is represented as a prototype gyroplane with a 150 hp Rotec R3600 tractor engine and fixed wheels. Rara-Avis Sim offers a native MSFS 2024 version, with an update available to owners of the earlier MSFS 2020 product.
History & design
A radial-engined autogyro at Friedrichshafen
Rara-Avis describes Bulldog as a one-off aircraft shown at AERO Friedrichshafen in 2015. A Rotec nine-cylinder radial sits ahead of two open tandem seats, giving this gyroplane a markedly different layout from the familiar rear-engined pusher arrangement.
Rara-Avis Sim · Bulldog Autogyro — simulator documentation ↗Bulldog Autogyro, developer account of the prototype
What is known about its flight history
The developer records a planned first flight in July 2015 but explicitly says it could not establish whether that flight occurred. The MSFS recreation therefore has a documented exhibition prototype as its reference, without a confirmed flight-test history in this source. The planned date is not presented as an achieved milestone.
Rara-Avis Sim · Bulldog Autogyro — simulator documentation ↗Bulldog Autogyro, developer account of the prototype
Systems & details
A radial engine in front of the rotorcraft cabin
The developer’s configuration places a 150 hp Rotec R3600 in tractor position ahead of two open tandem seats. A single main rotor, conventional landing gear and composite fuselage complete the layout. The MSFS 2024 version adds a walk-around with interactive covers, revised rotor-start logic and an optional G3X panel. Those are documented choices for the virtual Bulldog; they do not resolve the source’s uncertainty about whether the exhibited prototype completed its planned first flight.
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.
Simulator documentation
Bulldog Autogyro — simulator documentationRara-Avis Sim · Bulldog Autogyro product descriptionBuilt-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
Rara-Avis Sim Bulldog Autogyro
Rara-Avis Sim · Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
A prototype autogyro with a tractor-mounted Rotec radial engine.
Rara-Avis Sim Bulldog Autogyro
A prototype autogyro with a tractor-mounted Rotec radial engine.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Rara-Avis Sim Bulldog Autogyro · Rara-Avis Sim · MSFS 2020 · Add-on starting point
- Rara-Avis Sim Bulldog Autogyro · Rara-Avis Sim · MSFS 2024 · Add-on starting point
The simulator model and controls
Rara-Avis Sim Bulldog Autogyro is the selected Rara-Avis Sim configuration.
How this profile feels
The spring stays independent of airspeed. Directed aerodynamic loading is omitted.
Local force trim is off. Autopilot following is off.
Aircraft and configuration
The Bulldog is represented as a prototype gyroplane with a 150 hp Rotec R3600 tractor engine and fixed wheels. Rara-Avis Sim offers a native MSFS 2024 version, with an update available to owners of the earlier MSFS 2020 product.
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
InheritedRara-Avis Sim Bulldog Autogyro is the selected Rara-Avis Sim configuration.
Flight controls
InheritedA prototype autogyro with a tractor-mounted Rotec radial engine.
Trim
InheritedLocal force trim is off. Autopilot following is off.
Autopilot and stability
InheritedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
InheritedThe Bulldog is represented as a prototype gyroplane with a 150 hp Rotec R3600 tractor engine and fixed wheels. Rara-Avis Sim offers a native MSFS 2024 version, with an update available to owners of the earlier MSFS 2020 product.
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 value0.13 | What it controls and whyThis profile uses cyclic loading for Bulldog Autogyro. The baseline spring is 0.13. Low-speed spring blending is off. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.65 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe 0 gain omits sustained directed airspeed loading. Spring resistance remains independent. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value80 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 value40.0 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 value0.7 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.7 and 1, 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 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 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 value0.13 | What it controls and whyThis profile uses cyclic loading for Bulldog Autogyro. The baseline spring is 0.13. Low-speed spring blending is off. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.02 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe 0 gain omits sustained directed airspeed loading. Spring resistance remains independent. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.65 | 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 value1 | 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 value40.0 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 value80 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 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. 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 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 whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyScales supported pitch-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes pitch response. |
| 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 whyThe profile uses the trim behaviour configured below. Local force trim is off. The stored latch parameters are inactive; the profile does not supply a local hold-where-left neutral. |
| 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 valueDisabled | 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 | 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 value1 | 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 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.2 | 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 | 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 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- Free autorotating rotor aircraft with light fixed control support. Helicopter VRS/ETL and engine-to-rotor RPM coupling are not applicable.
- No qualified physical trim mechanism; relief and local FTR off.
- No calibrated autopilot servo or inceptor-demand output established. AP follow and neutral hold are disabled.
- 80 KIAS is an estimated tuning reference, not a certified operating limit or cruise TAS.
- Native read-only aircraft telemetry only. No custom interface names, units or freshness contract invented; switches and animated controls are not servo demands.
- Spring 0.13, lateral scale 0.7, pitch/roll relief 0/0; editable estimates. No measured hand-force calibration, unsupported failure loads, surface-follow or body-rate torque.
- Installed-aircraft and physical checks are deferred. If telemetry omits the developer or configuration, select this profile and save it as the aircraft default.
- Only actual accessory-position changes drive movement textures. No release or installed-product acceptance is inferred.
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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