Boeing 747-8
Hydraulically powered controls with artificial yoke feel, autopilot backdrive and a stick shaker.
Aircraft and simulator scope
- Boeing 747-8 · MSFS 2024 · family starting point
- Boeing 747-8 · MSFS 2020 · family starting point
- Boeing 747-8 · X-Plane 11 · family starting point
- Boeing 747-8 · X-Plane 12 · family starting point
Compiled factory starter revision 4; documentary sources do not qualify every simulator add-on.
The simulator model and controls
The 747 first flew in 1969 and entered airline service in 1970. Its broad main deck transformed the scale of passenger flying, while the elevated cockpit also suited a freighter with a nose-loading door. Passenger and cargo developments remained important throughout the programme.
The factory starting point selects Boeing 747-8 across MSFS 2024, MSFS 2020, X-Plane 11, X-Plane 12.
How this profile feels
Spring resistance builds with the selected airspeed response. Directed aerodynamic loading is omitted.
Pitch-trim relief is off. Autopilot following is enabled for supported control references.
Controls and trim
The 747 family spans the classic -200, -400 and later -8, with separate avionics and engine installations. The cited -400 maintenance discussion reports breakout and full-aft column effort varying with trim; an early-747 handling account describes its wheel effort. These are related-type reports, not measured -8 force curves. Dreamlifter and Supertanker guides additionally describe specialized autopilot controls and mission configurations.
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 cited forum discussion relays 747-400 maintenance rigging values: approximately 8.6 lb breakout and full-aft column forces varying with trim. These are related-type values, not direct 747-8 measurements.
The cited handling book reports a light maximum wheel force for an early 747. Its aircraft scope is separate from the 747-400 maintenance discussion and from this 747-8 starting point.
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
Not yet reviewedThe factory starting point selects Boeing 747-8 across MSFS 2024, MSFS 2020, X-Plane 11, X-Plane 12.
Flight controls
ReviewedThe 747 family spans the classic -200, -400 and later -8, with separate avionics and engine installations. The cited -400 maintenance discussion reports breakout and full-aft column effort varying with trim; an early-747 handling account describes its wheel effort. These are related-type reports, not measured -8 force curves. Dreamlifter and Supertanker guides additionally describe specialized autopilot controls and mission configurations.
Trim
Not yet reviewedTrim-sensitive column effort is family mechanism context, while the profile's exact trim authority remains a selected approximation. Pitch relief is off, with stored authority 0.3; roll authority is 0.09.
Autopilot and stability
Not yet reviewedFollowing is on at 1 authority when a supported, valid autopilot control reference is available.
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, xplane11, xplane12. 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 value0.2 | What it controls and whyThe powered-control response uses qualitative family feel context; older maintenance and handling accounts do not calibrate every -8 axis. The baseline spring is 0.2. Low-speed spring blending is off. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.95 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe 0 gain omits sustained directed airspeed loading. Spring resistance remains independent. |
| Force tuning speed/reference | Starting value300 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 value122 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 value1.55 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 1.55 and 0.9, respectively. These stored weights do not create directed aerodynamic loading while that term is inactive. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.9 | 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 valueEnabled | What it controls and whyFollowing is on at 1 authority when a supported, valid autopilot control reference is available. |
| 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 value0.65 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
All 49 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 value0.2 | What it controls and whyThe powered-control response uses qualitative family feel context; older maintenance and handling accounts do not calibrate every -8 axis. The baseline spring is 0.2. Low-speed spring blending is off. |
| Spring deadband | Starting value0 | What it controls and whySets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner. |
| Starting centering force | Starting value0.12 | What it controls and whyAdds smoothly ramped resistance outside the centre deadband. Zero removes this preload. |
| Profile force gain | Starting value0 | What it controls and whyThe 0 gain omits sustained directed airspeed loading. Spring resistance remains independent. |
| Master force gain | Starting value0.95 | What it controls and whyScales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits. |
| Spring response reference speed | Starting value122 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 value1 | What it controls and whyThe high-speed spring-stiffening gain is 1. It strengthens the permitted spring response above 122 KIAS, with the squared-speed ratio capped at 7.8. |
| Airspeed spring stiffening limit | Starting value7.8 | 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 value1.55 | What it controls and whyRoll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 1.55 and 0.9, respectively. These stored weights do not create directed aerodynamic loading while that term is inactive. No custom spring-travel curve is enabled. |
| Elevator force scale | Starting value0.9 | What it controls and whyScales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings. |
| Output force limit | Starting value0.65 | What it controls and whyCaps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate. |
| Autopilot follow | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyFollowing is on at 1 authority when a supported, valid autopilot control reference is available. |
| Autopilot follow authority | Starting value1 | 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 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. |
| Maximum flap index | Starting value6 | 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 value0.9 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Center Starting Force Transition | Starting value0.05 | What it controls and whySets the travel used to ramp in centre preload. Wider intervals make its onset more gradual. |
| QBlend Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyAllows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it. |
| QSpring Minimum Factor | Starting value0.45 | 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 value0 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 value300 kt | What it controls and whySets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit. |
| Travel Enabled | Starting valueDisabled | What it controls and whyApplies the configured pitch and roll spring travel curves. |
| Output | Starting value1 | What it controls and whySets response at the second pitch-curve point; it is an endpoint only if its input position is full travel. |
| Output | Starting value1 | What it controls and whySets response at the second roll-curve point; its input position and other points determine the travel law. |
| Elevator Authority | Starting value0.3 | What it controls and whyTrim-sensitive column effort is family mechanism context, while the profile's exact trim authority remains a selected approximation. Pitch relief is off, with stored authority 0.3; roll authority is 0.09. |
| Aileron Authority | Starting value0.09 | 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 valueDisabled | 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 valueDisabled | 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 value0.18 | What it controls and whySets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings. |
| Gain | Starting value0.48 | What it controls and whySets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate. |
| Gain | Starting value0.34 | What it controls and whySets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate. |
| Gain | Starting value0.34 | 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. |
| Enabled | Starting valueEnabled | What it controls and whyEnables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry. |
| Gain | Starting value0.42 | What it controls and whySets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration. |
| Gain | Starting value0.38 | What it controls and whySets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact. |
| Gain | Starting value0.95 | What it controls and whySets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse. |
| Gain | Starting value0.55 | 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 value0.11 | 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 value0.28 | 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.