Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Meet the aircraft
The R44 extends Robinson’s light-helicopter layout into a four-seat cabin. The Raven II uses a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540 engine and retains the family’s two-blade main and tail rotors. VSKYLABS represents the Raven II for X-Plane. Its documentation describes a cockpit designed for desktop and VR interaction, a native flight model and a separately maintained product for each supported simulator generation.
Aircraft background
VSKYLABS · Read more ↗Raven II simulator editions
The product represents the fuel-injected Raven II. Separate X-Plane 11 and 12 editions are offered, with native aircraft systems and VR cockpit interaction.
R44 Raven II · VSKYLABS · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
VSKYLABS · Read more ↗Into the cockpit
YouTube AB Helicopters Ltd · 1 min ·
Robinson R44 external walkaround and cockpit view
A pilot introduces an R44 during a navigation flight from Denham.
Real aircraft · Robinson R44
Watch on YouTube ↗Preview images are served by AirframeDB. Videos open on YouTube only when you choose to watch.
Meet Robinson R44
The R44 extends Robinson’s light-helicopter layout into a four-seat cabin. The Raven II uses a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540 engine and retains the family’s two-blade main and tail rotors.
VSKYLABS represents the Raven II for X-Plane. Its documentation describes a cockpit designed for desktop and VR interaction, a native flight model and a separately maintained product for each supported simulator generation.
Robinson R44
Aircraft type designators
Use the code for the model you are flying. The linked authority lists the applicable aircraft.
History & design
Four seats, still a piston helicopter
Robinson developed the R44 during the 1980s, extending its light-helicopter concept to a four-seat cabin. The company history records FAA certification in 1992. The larger aircraft broadened the role beyond the two-seat R22 while retaining piston-engine power.
Robinson Helicopter Company · Robinson Helicopter Company history ↗Manufacturer company history, with Raven II engine identity from its current product specification
Why the Raven II name matters
The Raven II is the fuel-injected member of the family. Its IO-540 installation distinguishes it from the carbureted Raven I. Those model names matter when comparing performance or choosing a simulator aircraft: a family label alone does not establish the engine, equipment or control configuration.
Robinson Helicopter Company · Robinson R44 Raven II / Clipper II specifications ↗Manufacturer Raven II product specification; distinct from the carbureted Raven I
Systems & details
Hydraulics shape the cyclic feel
The R44 II handbook describes hydraulic servos that remove main-rotor feedback from the cyclic and collective. The light normal control feel therefore belongs to the assisted system, rather than a direct reflection of rotor loads. Loss of assistance produces much heavier controls.
Friction and centering are different
The cyclic friction knob resists movement in both axes; the collective has its own friction lever. Pedals use direct push-pull controls and an elastomeric trim spring. A simulator centering spring is an interpretation of hardware support, not a measurement of these friction devices.
Governor and autopilot have separate roles
The governor adjusts throttle to help maintain engine RPM above 80 percent. Optional HeliSAS adds a cyclic centering tendency when SAS is engaged. An R44 profile therefore needs to distinguish the basic hydraulic controls from an aircraft fitted with that optional system.
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12R44 Raven II
VSKYLABS · Released
R44 Raven II
VSKYLABS · 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.
Simulator documentation
Raven II simulator editionsR44 Raven II · VSKYLABS · X-Plane 11 · X-Plane 12
The product represents the fuel-injected Raven II. Separate X-Plane 11 and 12 editions are offered, with native aircraft systems and VR cockpit interaction.
Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14
VSKYLABS · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Developer documentation
VSKYLABS Aerospace Simulations Aircraft Center: VSKYLABS Robinson R44 Raven IIVSKYLABS · Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14 VSKYLABS Robinson R44 Raven II. Advanced add-on for X-Plane Flight Simulator.VSKYLABS · Official developer / designated-store reference · checked 2026-09-14Type designator
ICAO Doc 8643 — aircraft type designatorsInternational Civil Aviation Organization · Public search data retrieved 2026-09-14; authority update 2026-09-03Manufacturer documentation
Robinson R44 Raven II / Clipper II specificationsRobinson Helicopter Company · R44 Raven II; manufacturer reference checked 12 October 2026 Robinson Helicopter Company historyRobinson Helicopter Company · R44 Raven II; manufacturer reference checked 12 October 2026 Robinson R44 II Pilot’s Operating HandbookRobinson Helicopter Company · R44 Raven II; manufacturer reference checked 12 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-20261022-v1 · 2 profile choices
VSKYLABS Robinson R44 Raven II
VSKYLABS · Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Inherited starting point
X-Plane 12
VSKYLABS Robinson R44 Raven II: Hydraulic cyclic assistance motivates low supported centering.
Robinson R44
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
X-Plane 12 · X-Plane 11
Robinson R44: Hydraulic cyclic assistance motivates low supported centering.
VSKYLABS Robinson R44 Raven II
VSKYLABS Robinson R44 Raven II: Hydraulic cyclic assistance motivates low supported centering.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- VSKYLABS Robinson R44 Raven II · VSKYLABS · X-Plane 12 · Add-on starting point
The simulator model and controls
The R44 extends Robinson’s light-helicopter layout into a four-seat cabin. The Raven II uses a fuel-injected Lycoming IO-540 engine and retains the family’s two-blade main and tail rotors.
This profile selects VSKYLABS Robinson R44 Raven II for X-Plane 12.
How this profile feels
Hydraulic cyclic assistance motivates low supported centering. The spring stays independent of airspeed. Directed aerodynamic loading is omitted. Cyclic damping adds resistance to hardware motion.
The selected neutral remains separate from collective friction and governor operation. Local force trim is off. Autopilot following is off.
Controls and trim
The R44 uses hydraulically boosted cyclic control, with collective friction treated separately. Its two-blade rotor and piston governor have independently stated rotor and engine references. The manufacturer’s 408-rpm value is a 102-percent rotor condition.
The selected implementation
VSKYLABS models hydraulically boosted cyclic controls and a separate collective-friction control. Its cyclic friction is not modelled; the engine governor activates above 80 percent engine RPM.
About the values
The gains are normalized profile settings. They describe the chosen effect balance; hand force depends on the device and its output limits. IAS references are tuning values rather than operating limits. Physical acceptance of this revision remains pending.
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
InheritedThis profile selects VSKYLABS Robinson R44 Raven II for X-Plane 12.
Flight controls
InheritedThe R44 uses hydraulically boosted cyclic control, with collective friction treated separately. Its two-blade rotor and piston governor have independently stated rotor and engine references. The manufacturer’s 408-rpm value is a 102-percent rotor condition.
Trim
InheritedThe selected neutral remains separate from collective friction and governor operation. Local 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
InheritedVSKYLABS models hydraulically boosted cyclic controls and a separate collective-friction control. Its cyclic friction is not modelled; the engine governor activates above 80 percent engine RPM.
Speeds and limits
InheritedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
InheritedThe profile targets 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 value0.1 | What it controls and whyHydraulic cyclic assistance motivates low supported centering. The baseline spring is 0.1. 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 value105 kt | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is zero, so this stored tuning reference does not create a forward-flight cyclic load. It is not the published cruise speed. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value45 kt | What it controls and whyInactive while airspeed spring blending is disabled. This value does not define translational lift. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value1 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 1 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 value0.1 | What it controls and whyHydraulic cyclic assistance motivates low supported centering. The baseline spring is 0.1. Low-speed spring blending is off. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.02 | What it controls and whyA small quiet zone helps prevent the supported cyclic from chattering near neutral. This is a hardware tuning choice, not free play measured in the real R44 controls. |
| 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 whyAirspeed blending is disabled for this implementation. The light supporting spring stays constant rather than imitating an airplane’s increasing surface load. |
| QSpring Minimum Factor | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyStored for the common force model; it does not alter this profile while airspeed spring blending is disabled. |
| QSpring Start Knots | Starting value10 kt | What it controls and whyInactive while airspeed spring blending is disabled. This is not an R44 flight limitation. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value45 kt | What it controls and whyInactive while airspeed spring blending is disabled. This value does not define translational lift. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value105 kt | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is zero, so this stored tuning reference does not create a forward-flight cyclic load. It is not the published cruise speed. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyNo extra centering stiffness is added with speed, consistent with the profile’s hydraulically assisted control interpretation. |
| 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 value1 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 1 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 selected neutral remains separate from collective friction and governor operation. 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 whyRolling runway rumble is omitted for the skid-equipped R44. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyWheel-style ground bumps are omitted for the skid landing gear; the separate touchdown cue remains available. |
| Gain | Starting value0.2 | What it controls and whyA restrained touchdown cue marks ground contact. Its amplitude is a simulator effect choice, not a measurement of forces through the real cyclic. |
| 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 whyThe R44 has no airplane-style trailing-edge flaps, so this motion cue is disabled. |
| Gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe fixed skid undercarriage has no retracting-gear motion to represent. |
Limits and open questions
- Governor activates above80 percent engine RPM. Manufacturer408RPM is102 percent, so normalization uses400RPM at100 percent, not408. Standard rotor telemetry still requires installed acceptance.
- Physical and installed-aircraft acceptance deferred. Gains, damping, frequency envelopes and airspeed references are estimates.
- No unqualified AP following, trim actuator demand, failure behavior or dynamic equipment detection.
- Rotor rumble uses actual rotor state only. Enabled forward-flight n/rev retains the runtime engine-combustion presence and governed-nominal frequency fallback when rotor telemetry is missing; it is not measured rotor loading. ETL/VRS are generic airspeed/descent heuristics, not add-on vortex-state integration.
- Metadata identity repair only; force modules, matching and simulator scope unchanged.
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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