The sidestick made by FlightSimProjects and I use it with the Thrustmaster magnetic base. So it already has the Thrustmaster adaptor on it. I believe I can request the VPforce base to be delivered with the Thrustmaster adaptor, though I am not 100% sure.
I have never seen any video online of people using a force feedback (FFB) system with MSFS. Are you able to explain what it feels with / without FFB? I learnt to fly 20 years ago in Cessna 152 & 172's. When I use my Honeycomb Alpha and Bravo for setting trim, it is horrible, feels nothing like the real thing. As soon as I take off IRL I would hold the yoke and trim to climb, you get zero feedback with the Alpha & Bravo in MSFS. I stopped flying the Cessna's in MSFS because of the lack of feeling through the controls. They are still great controls, but the zero feedback is no fun for me at least. I have jumped into airliners and never looked back, I love the Fenix & FBW.
That's good to know. Thank you. I'm not too worried about the sidestick itself, the airbus is pretty basic with regards to button / trigger functions. As long as it can be connected to the VPforce base which you have confirmed it will, so it's all good!
Yes, I know what you mean. I'll explain how I feel. In very short and mega simplified : The base produces vibrations that simulate real effects (vibration of engines, wheels on the ground, etc...) so when you play, the VPForce software reproduces the effects coming from the game. Basic example. You land an airplane, and well, the wheels will produce a force in the game that will be transmitted to your joystick. Basically, the landing sensation will be 100Γ more realistic than without FFB. As soon as you play 1x with FFB, you'll immediately understand these brief explanations. A helicopter VRS or a stall, well, you'll feel it. If you've ever flown a plane or a car (....), you'll get the feel of it! In fact, I've stopped playing with my Honeycomb Alpha because 0 sensations and you feel more like shaking a stick than controlling a plane. Sorry for these light explanations, but we're really talking about improving in-game sensations. For example, my base transmits the start-up of my H145 and my whole frame vibrates (slightly). So you add a VR headset and you almost feel like you're in the aircraft. I wouldn't go back for anything! It's just incredible!
The Kiowa has 8.8β total travel and the resistance is 1+-0.5 lbs. Iβm going to print a 10 degree limiter to cut down my total travel. How do I ensure Iβm marching the resistance? Is there a math formulae based on all the effects in the setting tab for example spring ?
I saw the Flite Sim presentation at the recent expo and I also watched the youtube video you are referring to. Very exciting times for flight simming. I have just started to build an A320 home cockpit. Pedastal is 99% completed. Going to work on the Capt sidestick pedastal next and then the Captains chair. I am taking a break from flying the Cessna's and I am loving the learning curve / process of the Airbus family. I am torn between building a full size home cockpit of the A320 or the A380...
Thereβs a number of Rhino MSFS videos on YouTube. You are aware though that Airbus airliners are fly-by-wire so to be realistic you would set up a FFB stick to not move on its own based on air over the control surfaces like you would most aircraft, which is where FFB really comes into its own.
In this case you would set it up so it would give you vibrations, the correct weight to push it and the feel of damping etc, but it wonβt be fighting you based on whatβs happening with the aircraft through the air.
To be honest, if you are only going to be using a FFB stick for the Fenix A320 or any other fly-by-wire aircraft like it you will get a lot less benefit from it compared to other aircraft. A normal spring based stick base with clutch dampers would be sufficient, and you can add a transducer and use a piece of software like Sim Shaker to add the vibrations as I currently do. The only thing FFB will give you with that type of aircraft is more control of the stick movement feel and damping.
i fly msfs 100%, the ffb is great for trimming. you hold the sick back to climb and trim to relieve pressure. also the stick force increases with airflow over the control surfaces. pedals too. this is all in GA craft, i dont do airliners so i dont know how those would feel.
Awesome information. Thank you. I will look out for more videos on youtube. Any videos I have seen to date are people with little experience flying, so they are overwhelmed with the joy of trying something new (just like trying VR for the first time). That wears off quickly and you begin to work out the pro's and con's of the device you are controlling / wearing. What I am truly after is the most realistic feeling of flying the Airbus aircraft. I imagine the magic is in the software. So if the software has not been written yet to mimic the fly by wire feeling, then I'm sure it's only a matter of time before that happens.
I do join in group flights occasionally so having the FFB base for the Spitfire and Messerschmitt Bf 109 would be amazing. I have not tried flying helicopters yet, I feel very intimidated by the learning curve, but who knows, maybe in the future...
FFB will def improve your feeling in the warbirds! With helo's, I suggest watching a few of Camso's videos (link below). He explains helo flying in a very easy to understand way. Couple that with the FFB and I think you'll quickly pickup and enjoy helo's https://youtube.com/@casmotv?si=upJGAbPCFIOizSbd
I think you are right that the Airbus magic is in their software, but as I understand it, that doesn't change the feel of their side stick. I don't believe there is any feedback in the stick, except maybe a stick shaker. Aside from that, I this it's just a sprung joystick like you would feel with a stock Winwing, VKB, or Virpil.
With airliners it is all over the place. In a 737, not trimming might result in forces that are not controllable due to mechanical linkage. If your engines are under the wing, you theoretically also need to trim out thrust moment changes. In pure hydraulic planes it depends on design. In the 777, you trim for speed but not for thrust. In the MD11, it will automatically trim away small forces but not large ones. And Airbus FBW involves no trimming while flying at all. Any planes that are pure hydraulic will not feed back aerodynamic forces, but usually implement some kind of spring rate that depends on indicated airspeed (even with unreliable airspeed).
So a FFB stick for the airbus would make sense in that way that the simulated "spring strength" could be increased and decreased according to the indicated airspeed?
But the airbus FBW stick has a very hydraulic feel, which you can not replicate with just a spring. I fly a320 fleet IRL, but have a VKB sidestick with a stiffer spring, it is close enough for my budget. But it is not perfect.
No, I never looked, but I am certain there are people on this forum who have all the technical documentation. There are people here that know pretty much everything about controls
Having said that, I think it also depends on the needs expressed by @AV8. Does he just want the feel of the stick (close to the real Airbus stick) or is he looking for greater immersion? (And the choice is getting bigger: VR, motion system, etc.).
As some have said, an FFB just for the feel of the stick might be a bit much when cheaper alternatives exist. Whatever the case, he should find what he's looking for, whether in FFB or other systems
I just read somewhere that when you activate the autopilot solenoids would immobilize the stick (up to a point), that's something only FFB can do in a home simulator
What u cant see: that plane is currently at 38k and bro just put it into a right left snaproll followed by a zoomclimb and then a weightless dive :Jeremiahmeme: