Meet Shorts 360
The Shorts 360 is the larger civil transport represented alongside the 330 in BlackBox’s Regional Series. Twin turboprops, a high wing and a rectangular cabin give it a utility-oriented shape, with a flight deck built around yokes, engine and propeller management, trim and retractable landing gear. Its systems tables distinguish it from the smaller 330.
Primary control rods and cables carry pilot commands directly, and tabs provide pitch, roll and yaw trim. The manual lists three nonzero flap positions for the 360. Both control columns have stick shakers, adding a warning function to the manually controlled cockpit.
History & design
Six more seats and a new tail
The 360 developed the 330 through a fuselage stretch, redesigned tail and more powerful engines. NASA's contemporary review describes room for two additional seat rows, raising capacity to thirty-six passengers. It also identifies reduced tail drag and a revised propulsion installation as parts of the development. The 360 was a further step in the Shorts regional family, rather than simply a different seating layout inside the same 330 airframe.
ntrs.nasa.gov · Dornier 228 — aircraft background and systems ↗Systems & details
The 360’s configuration table
BlackBox’s systems manual lists the 360’s flap gates as 0, 5, 15 and 30 degrees. Its separate tutorial mentions an intermediate 10-degree setting, a difference between the two documents. The systems table is the source for the flap positions presented here.
Custom automatic flight
The rendition uses a Collins FC65 flight-director/autopilot and Garmin AS400 navigation system. The developer packages that cockpit with separately described 330, 360 and military C-23 variants.
The family manual still separates the airframes
BlackBox supplies different main and overhead panel diagrams for the 330 and 360. The shared description covers the turboprop controls, electrical and hydraulic systems, while the general-aircraft chapter keeps their dimensions separate. Those differences remain relevant when using one profile from the combined Regional Series package.
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 · Systems manual p. 90; tutorial contains a different intermediate value. 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 Shorts Regional product features.Aircraft documentation
Dornier 228 — aircraft background and systemsntrs.nasa.gov · NASA Small Transport Aircraft Technology, early-1980s review, printed page 20.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 · 2 profile choices
BlackBox Shorts SD3-60 (passenger / cargo)
BlackBox Simulation · Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Inherited starting point
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024
The Shorts 360 is the larger civil transport represented alongside the 330 in BlackBox’s Regional Series.
Shorts 360
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
MSFS 2020 · MSFS 2024 · X-Plane 12
The Shorts 360 is the larger civil transport represented alongside the 330 in BlackBox’s Regional Series.
Shorts 360
The Shorts 360 is the larger civil transport represented alongside the 330 in BlackBox’s Regional Series.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Shorts 360 · MSFS 2020 · Variant starting point
- Shorts 360 · MSFS 2024 · Variant starting point
- Shorts 360 · X-Plane 12 · Variant starting point
Universal named airframe/configuration; intended MSFS2020/MSFS2024/XP12 starting point, not add-on or edition acceptance. · Physical facts and prior documentary review are reused from their archived dated sources; new market availability is not inferred.
The simulator model and controls
The Shorts 360 is the larger civil transport represented alongside the 330 in BlackBox’s Regional Series.
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
Twin PT6 turboprops, retractable tricycle gear, reverse thrust, trim tabs and documented stall warning equipment.
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.
What the documentation establishes
Shorts 360: Twin PT6 turboprops, retractable tricycle gear, reverse thrust, trim tabs and documented stall warning equipment.
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 Shorts 360 is the larger civil transport represented alongside the 330 in BlackBox’s Regional Series.
Flight controls
InheritedThe Shorts 360 is the larger civil transport represented alongside the 330 in BlackBox’s Regional Series.
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
ReviewedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
InheritedTwin PT6 turboprops, retractable tricycle gear, reverse thrust, trim tabs and documented stall warning equipment.
Speeds and limits
InheritedThe indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.
Simulator integration
ReviewedThe profile targets msfs2020, msfs2024, 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 value0.78 | What it controls and whyPrimary controls: Manual rods and cables. The baseline spring is 0.78. 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 165 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value165 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 value0.78 | What it controls and whyPrimary controls: Manual rods and cables. The baseline spring is 0.78. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 85 KIAS. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.62 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.62 with an indicated-speed reference of 165 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value1.0 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| 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. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.55 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
Shorts 360: Elevator and aileron trim-tab authority enabled as estimates; no automatic input compensation or FC65 servo mapping. Estimated pitch/roll trim authorities 0.32/0.16; exact add-on sign, travel, units and build-specific neutral remain unqualified. Rudder trim never substitutes for roll trim.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| 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. |
Shorts 360: 165 KIAS is the retained estimated tuning reference. It is not published cruise TAS, VNE, a new flight limit or a measured force threshold. Source-specific operating quantities remain attached to their original configuration and conditions.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value165 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
Engine and shaker vibration frequency are not measured; retained texture scales are estimates.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Gain | Starting value0.05 | What it controls and whyEngine and shaker vibration frequency are not measured; retained texture scales are estimates. |
Exact configured values with software explanations. Force magnitudes remain editable estimates; disabled features retain inactive values.
| Setting | Starting value | What it controls and why |
|---|---|---|
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.05 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 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 value3 | What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3. |
| Minimum flap index | Starting value3 | 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. |
| 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
- Shorts 360 is a universal starting point; exact add-on matching, edition operation and physical hand-force calibration remain unqualified.
- Autopilot movement and unknown custom trim, failure or force-input signals are disabled. Confirm the selected equipment fit and trim direction for the implementation in use.
- Force magnitudes and speed tuning are editable inherited estimates. Owner physical and installed-aircraft acceptance remain pending.
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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