Meet Shorts 330 / C-23 Sherpa
The Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport. BlackBox’s Regional Series also represents the military C-23 branches, retaining their separate cabin and mission configurations. The 330 and later 360 share a product package but have different airframes and flap-position tables.
The systems manual describes rods and cables operating the primary controls, with trim tabs in pitch, roll and yaw. Hydraulic services operate other equipment without boosting those primary surfaces. The columns have stick shakers, and the landing gear retracts. These details make the 330 a manually controlled transport with warning and configuration systems around its yokes.
History & design
A Belfast-built regional transport
Short Brothers developed the SD3-30 around the needs of regional airlines: a roomy cabin for up to thirty passengers and turboprop operation on short routes. The Ulster Aviation Society preserves G-BDBS as part of that Belfast industrial history. The aircraft's box-like cabin gave it a recognisable shape and useful passenger or cargo space.
The 330 is the smaller member of the later 330/360 pair. Its dimensions and cabin capacity should stay separate from those of the stretched 360, even when a simulator package documents the two together.
Ulster Aviation Society · Short SD3-30 ↗Systems & details
Manual controls in a turboprop transport
The manual identifies mechanical primary controls and three-axis trim tabs. The 330’s flap system has four nonzero positions, compared with three for the 360. The stick-shaker installation is described separately from the hydraulic services and undercarriage.
The Regional Series cockpit
BlackBox documents its custom Collins FC65 flight-director/autopilot and Garmin AS400 navigation system. The C-23A, B and C identities remain separate from the civil SD3-30 and from each other in the package’s variant listings.
A large unpressurised cabin and conventional systems
The developer manual describes a box-section fuselage with a smooth outer skin bonded to a corrugated inner skin. It distinguishes the two aircraft's panels and dimensions while documenting shared systems. This explains both the family resemblance and the need to keep variant-specific cockpit and airframe details attached to the selected model.
BlackBox Simulation · BlackBox Shorts Regional Manual ↗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
BlackBox Shorts Regional ManualBlackBox Simulation · BlackBox Shorts Regional systems manual, controls and model-specific flap tables. BlackBox Shorts Regional 360 TutorialBlackBox Simulation · Aircraft equipment and developer product details.Aircraft background
Shorts Regional Series – Product Home – BlackBox SimulationBlackBox Simulation · Aircraft equipment and developer product details. Shorts Regional Series – Product Features – BlackBox SimulationBlackBox Simulation · BlackBox product features and variant list.Aircraft documentation
Short SD3-30Ulster Aviation Society · Ulster Aviation Society collection record for G-BDBS.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 · 5 profile choices
BlackBox C23A / SD3-30 Sherpa
BlackBox Simulation · Free and Pro · Revision 2 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
The Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport.
BlackBox C23B Sherpa
BlackBox Simulation · Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
The Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport.
BlackBox C23C Sherpa
BlackBox Simulation · Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
The Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport.
BlackBox Shorts SD3-30 (passenger / cargo)
BlackBox Simulation · Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
The Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport.
Shorts 330
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 12
The Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport.
BlackBox C23A / SD3-30 Sherpa
The Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- BlackBox C23A / SD3-30 Sherpa · BlackBox Simulation · MSFS 2020 · Add-on starting point
- BlackBox C23A / SD3-30 Sherpa · BlackBox Simulation · MSFS 2024 · Add-on starting point
The simulator model and controls
BlackBox C23A / SD3-30 Sherpa is the selected BlackBox Simulation configuration.
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
The Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport. BlackBox’s Regional Series also represents the military C-23 branches, retaining their separate cabin and mission configurations. The 330 and later 360 share a product package but have different airframes and flap-position tables.
Manual controls in a turboprop transport
The manual identifies mechanical primary controls and three-axis trim tabs. The 330’s flap system has four nonzero positions, compared with three for the 360. The stick-shaker installation is described separately from the hydraulic services and undercarriage.
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
InheritedBlackBox C23A / SD3-30 Sherpa is the selected BlackBox Simulation configuration.
Flight controls
InheritedThe Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport.
Trim
InheritedTrim: Pitch, roll and yaw tabs. Pitch authority 0.32 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.16.
Autopilot and stability
InheritedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
InheritedThe Shorts 330 combines twin turboprops, a high wing and a box-shaped cabin in a short-sector transport. BlackBox’s Regional Series also represents the military C-23 branches, retaining their separate cabin and mission configurations. The 330 and later 360 share a product package but have different airframes and flap-position tables.
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 value0.76 | What it controls and whyPrimary controls: Manual rods and cables. The baseline spring is 0.76. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 85 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 value0.62 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.62 with an indicated-speed reference of 155 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value155 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 value85 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 value0.74 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.74 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 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 value0.76 | What it controls and whyPrimary controls: Manual rods and cables. The baseline spring is 0.76. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 85 KIAS. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.05 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.62 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.62 with an indicated-speed reference of 155 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. |
| 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 value25 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 value85 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 value155 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 value0.1 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 0.1. It strengthens the permitted spring response above 85 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 value0.74 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.74 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. |
| 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 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. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.32 | What it controls and whyTrim: Pitch, roll and yaw tabs. Pitch authority 0.32 provides load relief and permitted centre movement; roll authority is 0.16. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0.16 | 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. |
| 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 value0.18 | 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 value0.1 | What it controls and whySets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate. |
| 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 value4 | What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees. |
| Gain | Starting value0.08 | What it controls and whySets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate. |
| Shaker Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyPermits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment. |
| Stick shaker amplitude | Starting value0.25 | 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 value0.25 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.2 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.45 | What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Gain | Starting value0.16 | 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 value0.05 | 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 value0.12 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue. |
| Gain | Starting value0.09 | What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects. |
Limits and open questions
- Force amplitudes, damping and cue ranges are estimates, not measured hand forces. Installed-aircraft and physical acceptance remain deferred.
- Standard telemetry only. AP follow and neutral hold are disabled; no undocumented LVar, custom failure or trim-target interface is claimed.
- Match requires the developer and the reviewed aircraft identity. Save an aircraft-default binding when the simulator title omits that identity.
- SD3-30 military cargo/Sherpa/UTT and C23A only. C23B and C23C have separate reviewed profiles.
- Stick shaker uses the standard warning/AoA envelope; exact BlackBox ground-test, electrical and vane logic is unqualified.
- Systems-manual flap gates are used provisionally; the 360 tutorial has a conflicting intermediate angle. C23B/C23C remain unreviewed.
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.
Discuss this aircraft (0)
Questions, observations and useful sources from the community.
No published discussions yet. Bring a question or share a useful source.
Open aircraft discussions →Something missing or a source that needs attention?
Suggest a correction ↗