Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Meet the aircraft
Schleicher's AS 33 sailplane family combines a small wing area with water ballast and 15- or 18-metre span configurations. The Es has a sustainer; the Me uses electric self-launching. The launch system differs between these models.
Aircraft background
Alexander Schleicher · Read more ↗Into the cockpit
YouTube Alexander Schleicher
The AS 33 Me
Schleicher follows the AS 33 Me from design to its first flight.
Real AS 33 Me; electric self-launching variant
Watch on YouTube ↗
YouTube Stefan Langer · 32 min ·
FLIGHT TEST AS33 Es - LATEST 18m GLIDER
Stefan Langer presents a flight test of the AS33 Es with 18-metre wings.
Real aircraft · AS33 Es, 18-metre configuration
Watch on YouTube ↗
YouTube Alexander Schleicher · 3 min ·
The first of its kind. AS 33 Me
Alexander Schleicher introduces the electric self-launching AS33 Me.
Related variant · AS33 Me electric self-launcher
Watch on YouTube ↗Preview images are served by AirframeDB. Videos open on YouTube only when you choose to watch.
Meet Schleicher AS 33
Schleicher's AS 33 sailplane family combines a small wing area with water ballast and 15- or 18-metre span configurations. The Es has a sustainer; the Me uses electric self-launching. The launch system differs between these models.
History & design
Following the ASG 29
Schleicher developed the AS 33 as the successor to the ASG 29 in the 15/18 m competition classes. Its new wing uses numerical airflow analysis and wind-tunnel work, including the wing-root junction and tips, rather than simply carrying the older wing onto another fuselage.
Alexander Schleicher · AS 33 ↗Schleicher AS 33 family; Es and Me propulsion variants
Two spans within one design
The 18 m wing has an area of 10 m², allowing higher wing loading for fast flight. A joint positioned farther inboard also supports a 15 m arrangement. Separate ballast controls serve the inner wings, outer wings and tail tank, giving loading an explicit role in the aircraft’s configuration.
Alexander Schleicher · AS 33 ↗Schleicher AS 33 family; Es and Me propulsion variants
Systems & details
Propulsion and span both need a name
The manufacturer distinguishes Es and Me versions as well as 15 m and 18 m wings. A selected electric self-launching Me should not inherit every detail of a different propulsion variant. The span-specific mass and wing-loading tables likewise apply to their named configurations.
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024AS 33 Me
Got Friends · Released
AS 33 Me
Got Friends · 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.
Developer documentation
AS 33 Me — product listingAS 33 Me · MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
Got Friends · Read the source ↗Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Aircraft background
AS 33Alexander Schleicher · Aircraft background; checked 2026-09-14Product
AS 33 Me – Got FriendsGot Friends · Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogueBuilt-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 · 3 profile choices
Got Friends AS 33 Me
Got Friends · Free and Pro · Revision 5 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
Got Friends AS 33 Me: The selected loading supplies sailplane stick resistance.
Schleicher AS 33
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
Aircraft reference · Manual starting point
Schleicher AS 33: The selected loading supplies sailplane stick resistance.
Alexander Schleicher AS 33 Es
Free and Pro · Revision 3 · Partial review
Aircraft reference · Manual starting point
Mechanical soaring controls, spring trim and separate airbrake cues.
Alexander Schleicher AS 33 Es
Mechanical soaring controls, spring trim and separate airbrake cues.
Aircraft and manual starting-point scope
- Alexander Schleicher AS 33 Es · Aircraft reference
Compiled factory starter revision 3; documentary sources do not qualify every simulator add-on.
The simulator model and controls
Schleicher's AS 33 sailplane family combines a small wing area with water ballast and 15- or 18-metre span configurations. The Es has a sustainer; the Me uses electric self-launching. The launch system differs between these models.
The factory starting point selects Alexander Schleicher AS 33 Es.
How this profile feels
The selected loading supplies sailplane stick resistance. Spring resistance builds with the selected airspeed response. A separate aerodynamic term adds speed-dependent control load.
Pitch trim uses springs; the motor-extension channel does not describe physical roll trim. Valid trim provides the configured pressure relief. Autopilot following is off.
Controls and trim
The AS33 uses spring pitch trim and interchangeable 15/18-metre configurations with differing ballast/flap tables. Its retractable electric propulsion supports self-launching. The developer repurposes an aileron-trim channel for motor extension.
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.
What the documentation establishes
The AS33 first-flight account describes coordinated controls and an aileron/flap mixer derived from the ASG 29. A separate long-term AS33 report describes agile roll response at high mass.
The linked general sailplane guidance discusses stall buffet and the effect of airbrakes. It is background guidance, not an AS33-specific stall test or buffet-force measurement.
The linked general sailplane guidance describes how flap changes can affect pitching moment. It does not establish the exact AS33 linkage or stick-force curve.
The linked general sailplane guidance discusses the relationship between trim and control effort. This is background context rather than measured AS33 forces.
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 factory starting point selects Alexander Schleicher AS 33 Es.
Flight controls
ReviewedThe AS33 uses spring pitch trim and interchangeable 15/18-metre configurations with differing ballast/flap tables. Its retractable electric propulsion supports self-launching. The developer repurposes an aileron-trim channel for motor extension.
Trim
Not yet reviewedPitch trim uses springs; the motor-extension channel does not describe physical roll trim. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.1.
Autopilot and stability
Not yet reviewedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
ReviewedGear, flap and ground cues follow the selected settings and available simulator-reported states.
Speeds and limits
Not yet reviewedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
Not yet reviewedThe profile targets . Add-on-specific controls use only the supported references configured by this profile.
Force-feedback settings
Not yet reviewedThe 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 value0.7 | What it controls and whyThe selected loading supplies sailplane stick resistance. The baseline spring is 0.7. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 55 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 value1 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 1 with an indicated-speed reference of 100 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value100 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 value55 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 whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 1 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. 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 valueEnabled | 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 value0.7 | What it controls and whyThe selected loading supplies sailplane stick resistance. The baseline spring is 0.7. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 55 KIAS. |
| 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 value1 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 1 with an indicated-speed reference of 100 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.85 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value55 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 value0.3 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 0.3. It strengthens the permitted spring response above 55 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. |
| Aileron force scale | Starting value1 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 1 and 1, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. 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. |
| 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. |
| Trim feel | Starting valueEnabled | 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. |
| Maximum flap index | Starting value4 | 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. |
| Stick shaker amplitude | Starting value0.5 | What it controls and whySets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled. |
Exact configured values with software explanations. Force magnitudes remain editable estimates; disabled features retain inactive values.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| 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 value0.4 | 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 value15 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. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value100 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whyPitch trim uses springs; the motor-extension channel does not describe physical roll trim. Pitch authority 0.3 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.1. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0.1 | 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 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. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions. |
| Gain | Starting value0.4 | 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. |
| 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. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.3 | 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 value0.5 | 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 valueDisabled | 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 value0.08 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue. |
| Gain | Starting value0.18 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- Physical force validation is not established for the current revision by documentary review.
- Generic simulator telemetry and configured control responses require the stated aircraft and device scope.
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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