Aircraft libraryAirbus H160
Airbus H160Berg2 · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Airbus Helicopters H160 pictured

Airbus H160

A modern medium twin-engine helicopter developed as a successor to the Dauphin line.
Helicopter2 profile choices

Know the plane

Airbus launched the H160 programme publicly in 2015, with the first flight that year. The design combines a composite-intensive airframe with distinctive swept main-rotor tips and an enclosed tail rotor. Its roles include passenger transport and public-service work.

HPG's simulator implementation places particular emphasis on its automatic flight-control system. Its four-axis AFCS and backup stability functions manage flight control; the developer manual describes their modes.

Aircraft / family

Propulsion
Twin turboshaft↗
Configuration
Medium utility helicopter↗

Airbus Helicopters H160 · Specifications (H160) · real aircraft; source units retained

Length
13.96 m (45 ft 10 in)↗
Height
4.91 m (16 ft 1 in)↗
Empty weight
4,050 kg (8,929 lb)↗
Max takeoff weight
6,050 kg (13,338 lb)↗
Powerplant
2 × Safran Arrano 1A turboshaft engines, 955 kW (1,280 shp) each↗
Main rotor diameter
13.40 m (43.96 ft)↗
Main rotor area
141 m² (1,520 sq ft)↗
Cruise speed
255 km/h (158 mph, 138 kn)↗
Range
880 km (550 mi, 475 nmi)↗
Service ceiling
6,096 m (20,000 ft) , 9,300 ft (2,835 m) hover ceiling IGE↗

More about this aircraft on AirframeDB

Snow nearly cancels a Las Vegas demonstration

A winter snow shower was an unexpected obstacle to Bourke’s Las Vegas flight. The camera helicopter was stranded at another airport, and the H160 had to enter the exhibition hall the following morning. While waiting, he talked with the engineers and test crew working from a modest rented hangar. A break in the weather finally made the flight possible.

The changing light sent the two helicopters searching for suitable photographic backgrounds around the mountains. Gensse flew the close formation while Bourke handled radios and lookout. Later, Bourke tried the controls himself, landing at a ridge site and exploring the aircraft before returning for supervised circuit work. Visibility and responsive handling made the helicopter feel smaller than its size suggested. The day combined a demanding promotional schedule with a memorable opportunity to learn from its test pilot.

The test pilot wants complexity to do useful work

Having worked on the H160 from its beginnings, Gensse admitted that his enthusiasm was personal. Customer demonstrations gave him a particular reward: watching experienced pilots and passengers react after a flight. He saw those reactions as an encouraging response to years spent developing the aircraft.

His account repeatedly returns to the pilot’s attention. More equipment would have little value, he argued, if it merely created more buttons and monitoring work. The cockpit needed to present relevant information and make the automation useful enough that pilots would actually choose it. Passenger comfort also shaped the work, from windows to cabin temperature. He expressed pride in the result and acknowledged his attachment to the programme.

Experiencing the cabin before taking the controls

Mabille began his H160 introduction in the passenger cabin. Wide windows and a quiet environment made an immediate impression, even with the prototype’s test equipment and temporary interior. After watching demonstrations in flight, he landed with the crew at Berre La Fare and moved into the cockpit for his own evaluation.

His naval flying background made visibility during hoisting work a particular interest. He explored the view from a hover and tried supervised handling and simulated emergencies, then let Gensse demonstrate more demanding manoeuvres. On the return to Marignane, the approach and electric brakes supplied further impressions. Afterward, Mabille realised how much time he had spent looking outside instead of being drawn into the displays. The account describes a prototype demonstration, including equipment and expectations that still belonged to the development programme.

Public sources 9
  1. Airbus Helicopters H160Research background · Wikipedia revision 1374236182 · retrieved 2026-09-12
  2. H160 quick-start
  3. Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft manuals
  4. HPG products
  5. H160Official developer / designated store catalogue · checked 2026-09-12Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
  6. Inside the H160, middleweight contenderJon Bourke · 26 April 2018
  7. A conversation with experimental test pilot Olivier GensseOlivier Gensse · 17 April 2019
  8. H160 flight test: a generation aheadOlivier Mabille · 11 October 2018
  9. ICAO Doc 8643 — aircraft type designatorsPublic search data retrieved 2026-09-14; authority update 2026-09-03

How the profile models it

HPG H160

Free + Pro
MSFS 2020MSFS 2024Hype Performance Group

Airbus launched the H160 programme publicly in 2015, with the first flight that year. The design combines a composite-intensive airframe with distinctive swept main-rotor tips and an enclosed tail rotor. Its roles include passenger transport and public-service work.

This profile selects HPG H160 for MSFS 2020, MSFS 2024.

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 0.35; it resists hardware motion separately from the spring and aircraft stabilization.

Controls and trim

HPG's H160 guide connects automatic trim with dual autopilots and backup stabilization. Rotor trim reset pauses AFCS logic for manual cyclic input, and beep trim depends on the active context. FADEC manages the engine throttles. EASA type data separately describes retractable hydraulic tricycle gear. None of these systems is reduced to a single moving hardware-spring centre.

H160 quick-startExact product and documentation researchwww.hypeperformancegroup.comEASA H160 type certificate rotor references

The selected implementation

HPG separates civil/luxury fits and luxury emergency floats. Its documented 2024 activation path applies to the earlier product and its own AFCS/trim-reset logic.

H160 quick-startExact product and documentation researchwww.hypeperformancegroup.com

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.

Master gain & control system

Master gain65%

The final overall output scale applied to everything the model produces, before the device cap.

More: everything (spring, loads, effects) gets stronger together.

Less: everything softens together.

Why here: Scales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits.

Forces

Spring strength16%

The base centring force that pulls the stick back to centre. Every other force stacks on it. Too low and the stick feels limp in normal flight; too high and it fights your hand and masks the smaller cues layered above it.

More: firmer centring that resists your hand at all times.

Less: a limper stick that leans on aerodynamic load alone.

Why here: Nominal cyclic spring and damping provide the chosen baseline while the add-on manages AFCS and automatic trim. The baseline spring is 0.16. Low-speed spring blending is off.

H160 quick-startExact product and documentation researchwww.hypeperformancegroup.comEASA H160 type certificate rotor references
Spring deadband2%

A small neutral zone around centre where the spring stays quiet, so tiny movements at rest don't chatter. Wider is calmer but looser; narrower is more precise but can twitch around centre.

More: a calmer but looser centre with more free play.

Less: a tighter centre that may chatter at rest.

Why here: Sets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner.

Overall aerodynamic load0%

A master scale over both sustained axis loads, applied before their independent balance. Profiles normally leave this alone and tune the two axis loads instead.

More: both axes load up harder.

Less: both axes lighten together.

Why here: The 0 gain omits sustained directed airspeed loading. Spring resistance remains independent.

Airspeed blendingFalse

Enables the low-speed spring engagement window (start/full knots above). Off, the spring is constant at all speeds.

Why here: Allows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it.

Low-speed spring floor100%

How much of the spring survives at a standstill, before airspeed can build any aerodynamic force. A high floor keeps the parked stick firm; a low floor gives the loose, cable-slack feel of a parked light aircraft.

More: a firmer stick while parked and taxiing.

Less: a floppier parked stick that only wakes up with airspeed.

Why here: Sets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength.

Spring engagement start8 kt

The airspeed where the spring begins climbing from its low-speed floor toward full strength: the controls "coming alive" on the takeoff roll.

Why here: Sets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit.

Spring engagement full65 kt

The airspeed where the spring reaches full strength. Between the start and this point, centring firms up progressively as airflow builds over the controls.

Why here: Sets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it.

Force tuning speed140

The indicated airspeed where aerodynamic load reaches its designed full level. It anchors the whole load curve to the aircraft's real speed range: a 172 loads up by 110 knots, a jet much later.

More: loads arrive later; the stick stays light up to a higher speed.

Less: loads arrive earlier and cruise feels heavier.

Why here: Sets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit.

Centre firmness vs speed0%

How much the centring itself stiffens with speed, on top of the deflection loads. Zero keeps centre feel constant; more makes the stick centre harder at cruise and looser in the pattern.

More: a centre that hardens noticeably as you go faster.

Less: constant centre feel at every speed.

Why here: Adds permitted spring resistance above the full-blend speed. Zero removes this high-speed increase.

Centre stiffening cap5

The upper limit on speed-driven centre stiffening, so very fast flight can't wind the spring up without bound.

More: more total stiffening allowed at high speed.

Less: stiffening clamps off sooner.

Why here: Limits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap.

Aileron load72%

The sustained roll load from aileron deflection and airspeed, balanced independently of pitch. Together with the elevator load it sets the control-harmony ratio reviewers talk about.

More: heavier roll forces.

Less: lighter, quicker-feeling ailerons.

Why here: Roll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 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 load100%

The sustained pitch load from elevator deflection and airspeed, balanced independently of roll. This is the main lever behind a type's pitch weight. It does not touch aileron, spring, trim, or buffet forces.

More: heavier sustained pitch forces at speed.

Less: a lighter elevator that takes less muscle to hold.

Why here: Scales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings.

Max output force55%

A cap on each steady pitch or roll force before it reaches the device, guarding against slamming or saturating the hardware in strong maneuvers.

More: stronger peak steady forces before clipping.

Less: a gentler ceiling; hard maneuvers flatten out sooner.

Why here: Caps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate.

Trim

Trim relief (elevator)0%

How strongly elevator trim relieves held pitch force and shifts where the stick settles. At 100%, a properly trimmed aircraft needs no held pressure, the trim-away-the-load workflow of real flying.

More: trim removes more of the held pitch force; at 100% full trim zeroes it.

Less: you keep holding force even when trimmed.

Why here: Scales supported pitch-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes pitch response.

Trim relief (aileron)0%

The same relief for roll trim. Most GA types have no real aileron trim, so this stays at zero; types with roll trim get a matching value.

More: roll trim removes more held roll force.

Less: roll trim does less.

Why here: Scales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response.

Effect gains · ground

Runway rumble15%

Rolling surface vibration from wheel speed and surface type: pavement, grass, or gravel under the gear.

More: louder surface texture through the stick.

Less: a smoother taxi.

Why here: Sets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration.

Gear bumps0%

Short discrete bumps from expansion joints, ruts, and rough surface, punctuating the continuous rumble.

More: sharper hits from joints and ruts.

Less: softer ground detail.

Why here: Sets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact.

Effect gains · airframe

Stall buffet0%

Airframe shake approaching the stall and while the stall warning is active: how loudly this wing announces it is unhappy. Types with a crisp break get modest buffet and let the horn carry the warning.

More: a louder pre-stall shake.

Less: a quieter wing; the horn carries the warning.

Why here: Sets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings.

Mach buffet0%

Transonic buffet approaching the Mach limit. Meaningful for jets near MMO, zero for pistons and turboprops that never get there.

More: stronger transonic buffet near the Mach limit.

Less: a smoother high-Mach ride.

Why here: Sets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate.

Flap buffet0%

Low-frequency airframe vibration with flaps extended into the airflow, in the speed window where they actually work the air.

More: a rougher ride with flaps working the air.

Less: smoother approach flap.

Why here: Sets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate.

Gear buffet0%

Airframe drumming from retractable gear hanging in the airstream. Zero for fixed-gear types, where the airframe never changes shape.

More: more drumming with the wheels hanging out.

Less: cleaner gear-down flight.

Why here: Sets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate.

Stick shaker50%

The dedicated stall stick-shaker buzz, fired by the aircraft's own stall-warning system. Only types with a real shaker get a value; everything else relies on aerodynamic buffet and the horn.

More: a harder stick-shaker buzz.

Less: a subtler shaker.

Why here: Sets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled.

Effect gains · engine, mechanical & drag

Touchdown thump50%

The one-shot kick when the wheels meet the runway, scaled by sink rate: a greaser whispers, a firm arrival thumps.

More: a harder kick at touchdown.

Less: softer arrivals.

Why here: Sets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse.

Reverse rumble0%

Rollout vibration while reverse thrust or beta-range props are working. Zero for types without reverse.

More: a rougher rollout under reverse.

Less: quieter reverse.

Why here: Sets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue.

Engine rumble0%

Continuous powerplant vibration following RPM between idle and full power, the ever-present reminder that something is burning fuel up front.

More: more engine through the stick.

Less: a quieter powerplant.

Why here: Sets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration.

Flap motion0%

Continuous vibration only while the sim reports the flap surfaces actually travelling. It follows real actuator motion and failures, not an estimated timer.

More: more vibration while the flap surfaces travel.

Less: quieter flap runs.

Why here: Sets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue.

Autopilot follow

AP follow authority5%

How far autopilot commands may physically move the stick. Kept tiny in MSFS, where a moved axis can read back as pilot input; zero disables following entirely.

More: the autopilot visibly moves your stick further.

Less: a barely perceptible follow.

Why here: Sets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply.

Stick feel

StickFeel · Trim feel enabledFalse

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Retained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement.

StickFeel · Trim relief enabledFalse

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Allows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount.

StickFeel · G load enabledFalse

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Allows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it.

StickFeel · Rate damping enabledFalse

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Enables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law.

Autopilot

Autopilot · Follow enabledFalse

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

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

Autopilot · Neutral hold enabledFalse

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Permits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target.

Autopilot · Neutral hold strength0.6

Why here: Sets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled.

Aero

Aero · EnabledTrue

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Enables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions.

Aero · Max flap index1

Where this effect reaches full strength (or has fully faded, for washouts).

More: a more gradual build to a later peak.

Less: a quicker build.

Why here: Sets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3.

Aero · Min flap index1

Where this effect begins fading in.

More: the effect begins later.

Less: it begins earlier.

Why here: Sets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees.

Aero · Shaker enabledFalse

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Permits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment.

Ground

Ground · EnabledTrue

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Enables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry.

Engine

Engine · EnabledTrue

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Enables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry.

Mechanical

Mechanical · EnabledTrue

Whether this feature is active in this profile.

Why here: Enables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement.

Mechanical · Gain0.025

The strength of this effect.

More: a stronger effect.

Less: a weaker one.

Why here: Sets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects.

All profile settings
Estimated profile settings
ParameterValueWhat it controls and why
Spring strength0.16 Nominal cyclic spring and damping provide the chosen baseline while the add-on manages AFCS and automatic trim. The baseline spring is 0.16. Low-speed spring blending is off.
Spring deadband0.02 Sets travel around the centre before the baseline spring resists. Smaller values engage it sooner.
Force gain0 The 0 gain omits sustained directed airspeed loading. Spring resistance remains independent.
Master gain0.65 Scales overall profile strength while preserving effect balance, subject to device and output limits.
Dynamic-pressure blendFalse Allows baseline spring strength to rise with indicated airspeed where the control law permits it.
Minimum spring factor1 Sets low-speed spring strength as a fraction of baseline when blending is enabled. One keeps full strength.
Spring wake-up speed8 ktSets the IAS where the low-speed spring blend starts rising. This is a feel threshold, not a flight limit.
Spring full-strength speed65 ktSets the IAS where the low-speed blend reaches baseline strength; high-speed stiffening also uses it.
Force tuning speed140 ktSets the IAS reference for aerodynamic loading. It is an estimate, not published cruise TAS or a flight limit.
Airspeed spring stiffening0 Adds permitted spring resistance above the full-blend speed. Zero removes this high-speed increase.
Airspeed stiffening cap5 Limits the squared airspeed ratio used for high-speed spring stiffening; it is not a device-force cap.
Aileron force scale0.72 Roll and pitch aerodynamic scales are 0.72 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 scale1 Scales pitch aerodynamic loading; pitch spring travel and trim responses are separate settings.
Maximum output force0.55 Caps directed-force output. Native spring effects and device limits remain separate.
StickFeel · Trim feel enabledFalse Retained for compatibility and group membership. Trim relief, rather than this flag, controls centre movement.
StickFeel · Trim relief enabledFalse Allows trim relief with supported control law and valid telemetry. Axis authorities set its amount.
StickFeel · Elevator authority0 Scales supported pitch-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes pitch response.
StickFeel · Aileron authority0 Scales supported roll-trim relief and permitted centre movement. Zero removes roll response.
StickFeel · Force trim enabledFalse Local force trim is a limited hardware-neutral function; it does not recreate AFCS pause, upper modes or backup stabilization. Local force trim is off. The stored latch parameters are inactive; the profile does not supply a local hold-where-left neutral.
StickFeel · G load enabledFalse Allows load-factor changes to modify permitted spring laws. Passive fly-by-wire feel can suppress it.
StickFeel · Rate damping enabledFalse Enables rate damping with the configured coefficients and control law.
Autopilot · Follow enabledFalse Autopilot following is off; the configured spring and load retain the hardware feel.
Autopilot · Follow authority0.05 Sets admitted AP-follow gain, not a percentage of travel. Runtime ownership and input limits still apply.
Autopilot · Neutral hold enabledFalse Permits centering hold during a supported AP state, separate from following a moving target.
Autopilot · Neutral hold strength0.6 Sets admitted AP neutral-hold strength; inactive while neutral hold is disabled.
Aero · EnabledTrue Enables aerodynamic cues; each still needs nonzero strength and its simulator conditions.
Aero · Gain0 Sets stall-buffet strength. Zero removes the cue without changing simulator stalls or warnings.
Aero · Gain0 Sets high-Mach buffet strength; onset and full-strength thresholds are separate.
Aero · Gain0 Sets flap buffet at the configured position and speed gates. Flap movement texture is separate.
Aero · Max flap index1 Sets the final flap index for detent normalization. UP plus three detents uses maximum index3.
Aero · Min flap index1 Sets the first flap detent that admits buffet; this is a handle index, not degrees.
Aero · Gain0 Sets gear aerodynamic buffet; movement and ground-contact cues are separate.
Aero · Shaker enabledFalse Permits shaker at supported warning conditions; the switch does not establish aircraft equipment.
Aero · Amplitude0.5 Sets triggered shaker strength; inactive while the shaker feature is disabled.
Ground · EnabledTrue Enables ground effects; each still needs its own strength and contact or motion telemetry.
Ground · Gain0.15 Sets rolling texture strength, modified by speed, surface and undercarriage configuration.
Ground · Gain0 Sets gear-bump texture during ground motion, separate from touchdown impact.
Ground · Gain0.5 Sets landing-impact strength; landing telemetry and response shape determine the pulse.
Ground · Gain0 Sets reverse-thrust vibration with valid reverser and engine conditions. Zero removes the cue.
Engine · EnabledTrue Enables engine cues with nonzero settings and valid running-engine telemetry.
Engine · Gain0 Sets estimated engine vibration using configured telemetry and response, not measured cockpit vibration.
Mechanical · EnabledTrue Enables accessory cues with configured strengths and observed accessory movement.
Mechanical · Gain0 Sets texture from observed flap movement; a command without movement does not establish the cue.
Mechanical · Gain0.025 Sets texture from observed gear movement, separate from aerodynamic and touchdown effects.
Public sources 11
  1. Airbus Helicopters H160Research background · Wikipedia revision 1374236182 · retrieved 2026-09-12
  2. H160 quick-startHPG H160 quick start PDF pp.3/7
  3. Exact product and documentation researchH160 exact product and variantsOfficial developer / designated store catalogue · checked 2026-09-12Product listing captured 2026-09-30; edition scope from the reviewed catalogue
  4. www.hypeperformancegroup.comHPG installation and activation in2024; HPG2024 installation and activation
  5. EASA H160 type certificate rotor referencesAirbus H160
  6. Microsoft Flight Simulator aircraft manuals
  7. HPG products
  8. Inside the H160, middleweight contenderJon Bourke · 26 April 2018
  9. A conversation with experimental test pilot Olivier GensseOlivier Gensse · 17 April 2019
  10. H160 flight test: a generation aheadOlivier Mabille · 11 October 2018
  11. ICAO Doc 8643 — aircraft type designatorsPublic search data retrieved 2026-09-14; authority update 2026-09-03

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