Start here
A few places to begin, from the aircraft’s story to the people who fly it.
Meet the aircraft
The Wright brothers’ early powered aircraft, with a forward elevator and a biplane wing. Microsoft lists Wright Flyer in the Standard tier. Aviator includes the lower edition tiers. The simulator edition is recorded separately from the real aircraft’s development or certification status.
Wright Flyer
Microsoft · Read more ↗Meet Wright Flyer
The Wright Flyer has a forward elevator and a biplane wing. Microsoft includes it in the MSFS 2024 Standard roster and higher edition tiers, including Aviator.
Wright Flyer
Aircraft type designators
No type code selected for this entry yet.
History & design
Four years of experiments
The Wright brothers reached powered flight through successive gliders and wind-tunnel experiments. Their successful 1902 glider established a controllable aircraft before they added an engine and propellers.
National Air and Space Museum · 1903 Wright Flyer ↗Original 1903 Flyer: Smithsonian object record
Four flights at Kitty Hawk
On 17 December 1903, Orville made the first powered flight: 120 feet in twelve seconds. The brothers alternated through four flights that morning, with Wilbur covering 852 feet in 59 seconds on the last.
National Air and Space Museum · 1903 Wright Flyer ↗Original 1903 Flyer: Smithsonian object record
Control came before the engine
The Wrights tested wing warping with an 1899 kite, then built full-size gliders in 1900 and 1901. The Smithsonian describes how disappointing lift compared with their calculations led them to build a wind tunnel and test wing shapes themselves. Kitty Hawk supplied wind and open sandy ground unavailable at their Dayton home. The powered Flyer therefore followed a sequence of control and aerodynamic experiments, rather than beginning with an engine attached to an otherwise finished aircraft.
National Air and Space Museum · 1903 Wright Flyer ↗Smithsonian Wright Flyer collection history
Systems & details
An aircraft built around its own propulsion system
Charles Taylor helped build the engine. The brothers treated propellers as rotating wings, driving the two pushers through chains and sprockets. The canard biplane landed on skids rather than wheels.
In your simulator
Systems, equipment and documentation for each developer’s aircraft.
Compare simulator versions →MSFS 2024Wright Flyer
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
Wright Flyer
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
MSFS 2020Wright Flyer
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
Wright Flyer
Microsoft Flight Simulator · Released
Manuals & resources
Read the original documentation from the people who created it. Manuals open on their publisher’s website.
Resource
MSFS 2024 official aircraft rosterMicrosoft · Official catalogue reviewed 15 September 2026 MSFS 2020 official aircraft rosterMicrosoft · Official catalogue reviewed 15 September 2026Museum aircraft record
1903 Wright FlyerNational Air and Space Museum · Original 1903 Flyer: Smithsonian object recordBuilt-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 · 1 profile choice
Wright Flyer
Free and Pro · Revision 1 · Partial review
MSFS 2024 · MSFS 2020
Wright Flyer: The selected response accompanies the historical control arrangement.
Wright Flyer
Wright Flyer: The selected response accompanies the historical control arrangement.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Wright Flyer · MSFS 2024 · family starting point
- Wright Flyer · MSFS 2020 · family starting point
Wright Flyer · Family sources identify only the variants and product versions described above.
The simulator model and controls
The Wright Flyer has a forward elevator and a biplane wing. Microsoft includes it in the MSFS 2024 Standard roster and higher edition tiers, including Aviator.
This starting point selects Wright Flyer. Its aircraft-level settings do not select a particular developer’s custom systems.
How this profile feels
The selected response accompanies the historical control arrangement. Spring resistance builds with the selected airspeed response. A separate aerodynamic term adds speed-dependent control load.
Configured trim is a simulator starting point for the early aircraft representation. Pitch-trim relief is off. Autopilot following is off.
Controls and trim
The Wright Flyer has a forward elevator and a biplane wing around its early powered-flight configuration. The simulator representation retains that historical aircraft rather than a later conventional elevator/aileron layout.
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
National Park Service replica demonstrations identify the 1903 Wright Flyer history.
The account describes wing warping for roll and yaw, with separate pitch control; modern pitch and roll axes approximate that interface.
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
ReviewedThis starting point selects Wright Flyer. Its aircraft-level settings do not select a particular developer’s custom systems.
Flight controls
ReviewedThe Wright Flyer has a forward elevator and a biplane wing around its early powered-flight configuration. The simulator representation retains that historical aircraft rather than a later conventional elevator/aileron layout.
Trim
Not yet reviewedConfigured trim is a simulator starting point for the early aircraft representation. Pitch relief is off, with stored authority 0.3; roll authority is 0.
Autopilot and stability
Not yet reviewedAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Equipment
Not yet 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 msfs2024, msfs2020. 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 value0.64 | What it controls and whyThe selected response accompanies the historical control arrangement. The baseline spring is 0.64. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 12.5 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 value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 25 KIAS. This supplies speed-dependent loading alongside the spring. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value25.0 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 value12.5 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 value0.6 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.6 and 0.78, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.78 | 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 value0.64 | What it controls and whyThe selected response accompanies the historical control arrangement. The baseline spring is 0.64. Its low-speed blend reaches baseline strength at 12.5 KIAS. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0.045 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0.8 | What it controls and whyThe aerodynamic-load gain is 0.8 with an indicated-speed reference of 25 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 value0.5 | 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 value3.5 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 value12.5 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 value25.0 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 value0.15 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 0.15. It strengthens the permitted spring response above 12.5 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 value0.6 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.6 and 0.78, respectively. They set the aerodynamic axis balance. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.78 | 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 value0.3 | What it controls and whyConfigured trim is a simulator starting point for the early aircraft representation. Pitch relief is off, with stored authority 0.3; roll authority is 0. |
| 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 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 value0.35 | 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 value0.65 | 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 value0.12 | 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
- Trim is off; no conventional trim-tab hardware is attributed.
- Follow is off; no modern servo system is attributed.
- The replica page does not establish conventional flap, brake or gear settings.
- No Flyer indicated-airspeed force curve was established.
- Mapped modern axes do not recreate the historical pilot controls.
- Low-force starting feel does not measure wing-warping or canard forces.
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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