AgustaWestland · Helicopter

AgustaWestland AW109

A compact twin-engine transport helicopter with retractable gear and a long development history.

Meet the aircraft

The A109 originated with Agusta in Italy and continued through AgustaWestland into Leonardo. Its streamlined cabin, four-bladed main rotor and retractable undercarriage suited executive transport as well as emergency-service and other utility work.

Later developments changed engines, cabin details and avionics. The AW109SP represented by X-Trident is a particular modern version, with its own engine-management and automatic flight-control systems. The photographs include earlier A109 variants, with their model captions retained.

Read the full aircraft reference →

Catalogue programme-20261022-v1

FFB-BRIDGE BUILT-IN PROFILE

X-Rotors AW109 Power Elite E (XP12)

Free and ProRevision 3Inherited starting point

X-Rotors AW109 Power Elite E (XP12): Configured cyclic centering is nominal; neither the four-blade rotor nor the aircraft's retractable gear establishes a cyclic force schedule.

Aircraft and simulator scope

  • X-Rotors AW109 Power Elite E (XP12) · X-Rotors · X-Plane 12 · Add-on starting point

The simulator model and controls

The A109 originated with Agusta in Italy and continued through AgustaWestland into Leonardo. Its streamlined cabin, four-bladed main rotor and retractable undercarriage suited executive transport as well as emergency-service and other utility work.

This profile selects X-Rotors AW109 Power Elite E (XP12) for X-Plane 12.

How this profile feels

The spring stays independent of airspeed. Directed aerodynamic loading is omitted.

Local force trim is off. Autopilot following is off.

Cyclic damping is on. Its configured gain is 0.12; it resists hardware motion separately from the spring and aircraft stabilization.

Controls and trim

AW109 variants share a four-bladed rotor and retractable wheeled layout but differ in automatic flight controls. X-Trident's AW109SP has FADEC, four-channel SAS and upper modes, including hover and transition guidance. X-Rotors' Power Elite E has its own three-axis autopilot and Helipilot equipment. Guidance bars and engine torque limits are not cyclic movement targets, and the two products' AFCS behavior remains distinct.

The selected implementation

Power Elite E is distinct from X-Trident SP. Its three-axis AP/Helipilot equipment and conflicting1.11/1.10 labels remain explicit; rotor endpoints do not derive an exact nominal 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
Inherited

This profile selects X-Rotors AW109 Power Elite E (XP12) for X-Plane 12.

Flight controls
Inherited

AW109 variants share a four-bladed rotor and retractable wheeled layout but differ in automatic flight controls. X-Trident's AW109SP has FADEC, four-channel SAS and upper modes, including hover and transition guidance. X-Rotors' Power Elite E has its own three-axis autopilot and Helipilot equipment. Guidance bars and engine torque limits are not cyclic movement targets, and the two products' AFCS behavior remains distinct.

Trim
Inherited

Cyclic damping is on. Its configured gain is 0.12; it resists hardware motion separately from the spring and aircraft stabilization.

Autopilot and stability
Inherited

Autopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.

Equipment
Inherited

Power Elite E is distinct from X-Trident SP. Its three-axis AP/Helipilot equipment and conflicting1.11/1.10 labels remain explicit; rotor endpoints do not derive an exact nominal RPM.

Speeds and limits
Inherited

The indicated-speed references set the profile response scale; they are separate from aircraft operating limits.

Simulator integration
Inherited

The profile targets xplane12. Add-on-specific controls use only the supported references configured by this profile.

Force-feedback settings
Inherited

The 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.

Estimated starting settings · revision 3
SettingStarting valueWhat it controls and why
Spring strengthStarting value0.1 What it controls and whyConfigured cyclic centering is nominal; neither the four-blade rotor nor the aircraft's retractable gear establishes a cyclic force schedule. The baseline spring is 0.1. Low-speed spring blending is off.
Master force gainStarting value0.65 What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits.
Profile force gainStarting value0 What it controls and whyThe 0 gain omits sustained directed airspeed loading. Spring resistance remains independent.
Force tuning speed/referenceStarting value135 ktWhat 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 speedStarting value70.0 ktWhat it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it.
Aileron force scaleStarting 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 scaleStarting value1 What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings.
Trim feelStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement.
Trim reliefStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount.
Autopilot followStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Autopilot neutral holdStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target.
Output force limitStarting 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.

Estimated starting settings · revision 3
SettingStarting valueWhat it controls and why
Spring strengthStarting value0.1 What it controls and whyConfigured cyclic centering is nominal; neither the four-blade rotor nor the aircraft's retractable gear establishes a cyclic force schedule. The baseline spring is 0.1. Low-speed spring blending is off.
Spring deadbandStarting value0.02 What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner.
Profile force gainStarting value0 What it controls and whyThe 0 gain omits sustained directed airspeed loading. Spring resistance remains independent.
Master force gainStarting value0.65 What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits.
QBlend EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it.
QSpring Minimum FactorStarting value1 What it controls and whySets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength.
QSpring Start KnotsStarting value19.6 ktWhat 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 speedStarting value70.0 ktWhat it controls and whySets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it.
Force tuning speed/referenceStarting value135 ktWhat 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 gainStarting value0 What it controls and whyAdds permitted spring resistance above the full-blend speed. Zero removes this high-speed increase.
Airspeed spring stiffening limitStarting 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 scaleStarting 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 scaleStarting value1 What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings.
Output force limitStarting value0.55 What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate.
Trim feelStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyRetained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement.
Trim reliefStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAllows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount.
Elevator AuthorityStarting value0 What it controls and whyScales supported pitch-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes pitch response.
Aileron AuthorityStarting value0 What it controls and whyScales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response.
Force Trim EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyLocal trim can retain a chosen hardware centre, while the SP and Power Elite automatic-trim and stabilization arrangements remain separately scoped. Local force trim is off. The stored latch parameters are inactive; the profile does not supply a local hold-where-left neutral.
GLoad EnabledStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyAllows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it.
Rate Damping EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyEnables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law.
Autopilot followStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyAutopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Autopilot follow authorityStarting 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 holdStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyPermits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target.
Autopilot neutral hold strengthStarting value0.6 What it controls and whySets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled.
EnabledStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyEnables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate.
Maximum flap indexStarting value1 What it controls and whySets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3.
Minimum flap indexStarting value1 What it controls and whySets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate.
Shaker EnabledStarting valueDisabled What it controls and whyPermits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment.
Stick shaker amplitudeStarting value0.5 What it controls and whySets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled.
EnabledStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry.
GainStarting value0.1 What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration.
GainStarting value0.08 What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact.
GainStarting value0.2 What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue.
EnabledStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyEnables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration.
EnabledStarting valueEnabled What it controls and whyEnables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement.
GainStarting value0 What it controls and whySets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue.
GainStarting value0.02 What it controls and whySets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects.
Limits and open questions
  • Cyclic resistance, damping and airframe textures are editable estimates, not measured grip forces. Installed-product and physical acceptance remain deferred.
  • Fixed physical neutral is an approximation. Add-on trim, force-trim release, virtual centering, SAS and autopilot servo outputs are not synchronized with hardware. Local FTR, follow-up trim, both fixed-wing trim paths and AP follow/hold are disabled.
  • No invented hydraulic-failure force, mast moment, collective-force axis, tail-rotor force, variable VNE or retreating-blade-stall warning. Reported custom sound or visual vibration does not establish a force telemetry contract.
  • ETL and low-speed descent cues, where enabled, use generic heuristics and are not aircraft-specific warnings. All speed references are tuning choices, not operating limits.
  • Documentary title patterns require a developer/configuration identifier. When identity is ambiguous or omitted, select the applicable profile and save it as the aircraft default.
  • XP12 read-only native RPM and actual gear motion. Included reference guide is not publicly acquired; custom FD/SAS/FTR signals remain open. XP11 excluded.
  • 384RPM approximate reference within publishedA109Eband;135KIAS tuning reference, not VNE. No fixed RBS or warning threshold.
  • Standard XP12 main-rotor angular speed is converted to RPM and normalized by the stated reference. Rotor index applicability requires installed verification. Missing RPM silences rotor rumble; the forward-flight n/rev channel can fall back to combustion and a default frequency.

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.

FFB-Bridge maintains this profile’s revisions and tuning discussion.

Revision 3 and download availability in FFB-Bridge ↗
Exact profile identity
Profile
addon-xrotors-aw109e
Artifact SHA-256
8457b68a5d1c5055feaec1bc1a7ee9240c2d4baf3f321630290087d26c53c586
Bytes
35749
Spring strength
Forces.SpringStrength
Spring deadband
Forces.SpringDeadband
Profile force gain
Forces.ForceGain
Master force gain
Forces.MasterGain
QBlend Enabled
Forces.QBlendEnabled
QSpring Minimum Factor
Forces.QSpringMinimumFactor
QSpring Start Knots
Forces.QSpringStartKnots
Spring response reference speed
Forces.QSpringFullKnots
Force tuning speed/reference
Forces.CruiseSpeedRefKnots
Airspeed spring stiffening gain
Forces.SpringAirspeedStiffenGain
Airspeed spring stiffening limit
Forces.SpringAirspeedStiffenCap
Aileron force scale
Forces.AileronForceScale
Elevator force scale
Forces.ElevatorForceScale
Output force limit
Forces.MaxOutputForce
Trim feel
StickFeel.TrimFeelEnabled
Trim relief
StickFeel.TrimReliefEnabled
Elevator Authority
StickFeel.TrimRelief.ElevatorAuthority
Aileron Authority
StickFeel.TrimRelief.AileronAuthority
Force Trim Enabled
StickFeel.ForceTrimEnabled
GLoad Enabled
StickFeel.GLoadEnabled
Rate Damping Enabled
StickFeel.RateDampingEnabled
Autopilot follow
Autopilot.FollowEnabled
Autopilot follow authority
Autopilot.FollowAuthority
Autopilot neutral hold
Autopilot.NeutralHoldEnabled
Autopilot neutral hold strength
Autopilot.NeutralHoldStrength
Enabled
Aero.Enabled
Gain
Aero.Stall.Gain
Gain
Aero.Mach.Gain
Gain
Aero.Flap.Gain
Maximum flap index
Aero.Flap.MaxFlapIndex
Minimum flap index
Aero.Flap.MinFlapIndex
Gain
Aero.Gear.Gain
Shaker Enabled
Aero.ShakerEnabled
Stick shaker amplitude
Aero.Shaker.Amplitude
Enabled
Ground.Enabled
Gain
Ground.Rumble.Gain
Gain
Ground.Bumps.Gain
Gain
Ground.Thump.Gain
Gain
Ground.Reverse.Gain
Enabled
Engine.Enabled
Gain
Engine.Rumble.Gain
Enabled
Mechanical.Enabled
Gain
Mechanical.FlapMotion.Gain
Gain
Mechanical.GearMotion.Gain