Helicopters

Set up cyclic damping, force trim and rotor cues in a Rotorcraft profile, then assign the controls you use on your own hardware.

Start with a Rotorcraft profile

Select the included profile closest to your helicopter, or create an editable copy. Set Control system to Rotorcraft (helicopter), then choose the appropriate trim style below.

Choose the helicopter trim style

Select the helicopter profile, then open Tuning → Helicopter → Force trim → Trim style. Choose the system used by the aircraft. Changing trim architecture ends the current force session; check the new mode before arming again and save the profile to keep it.

• Classic force trim holds a captured cyclic position. Hold the assigned Force Trim Release (FTR) button to release the hold, move the cyclic, then release the button to capture the new position. The optional force-trim on/off assignment controls this system.
• AFCS trim adds follow-up trim below 40 kt to the release-and-capture workflow. Use it for the matching aircraft profile. Aircraft-specific control integrations can own the cyclic reference instead of local trim.
• Electric cyclic trim uses a spring-held centre moved by beep trim. It ignores FTR and the force-trim on/off switch and does not use AFCS follow-up. Assign beep trim under Hardware → Helicopter; an optional trim-reset button remains available.
• No force trim leaves the profile without a movable local trim hold. Choose it for aircraft that do not use one, rather than assigning a release button that their control system does not need.

The included Guimbal Cabri G2 and VSKYLABS Cabri profiles use Electric cyclic trim. Existing saved profiles keep their settings. To update a saved Cabri profile, select Electric cyclic trim explicitly and save it.

Assign only the controls you want

Under Hardware → Helicopter, use Set up… for the controls your trim mode needs: FTR, optional force-trim on/off and optional trim reset. Set up 4-way control… assigns beep trim as one POV hat or four buttons, independently of FTR. Assignments belong to the device and do not change simulator keybindings.

• FTR releases the held point while pressed and establishes the current cyclic position when released.
• Beep trim can establish the held point from the current control position and move it while an assigned direction is held, without a prior FTR press.
• Use one physical hat-shaped control for top, bottom, left, and right. FFB-Bridge listens to both input formats and saves either one POV hat or four buttons—whichever the device actually reports. The tested AY210 uses four buttons. Cancel or failed verification restores the previous assignment.

Balance a helicopter grip or extension →

Set up and use beep trim

Under Hardware → Helicopter, select Set up 4-way control… and complete the direction checks using one POV hat or four buttons. FTR does not have to be assigned. With a supported trim mode active, the first trim input captures the current control position and then moves the held centre. Arming alone does not establish that hold.

Adjust trim strength in the aircraft profile, then save. In Classic or AFCS mode, beep trim is inhibited while FTR is held or the force-trim system is switched off. Disarming clears the captured reference. Hardware Base resistance and other enabled forces are separate from the trim hold.

Tune the control system, then the rotor cues

Establish cyclic damping and trim behavior first. Add rotor-state cues afterward so a vibration never hides a control-system problem.

• Cyclic damping resists motion in proportion to movement, adding stability without dragging the stick back to an artificial fixed centre.
• Holding FTR releases the trim hold. Releasing the button captures the current cyclic position; beep trim moves that held position gradually. Base resistance, hydraulic-loss resistance and other active effects can remain while FTR is held.
• ETL, VRS, two-per-revolution, retreating-blade stall, rotor rumble, and skid contact arrive as distinct cues you can tune or disable.

The AB6 force-trim release path now suspends firmware hold while FTR is held and captures the new position before re-engaging. Release removes the trim hold; configured base resistance and other active effects can still be felt.

Hydraulic loss loading

Hydraulic loss loading can now add resistance to cyclic movement on the ground and in hover, including with force trim active or FTR held. It requires valid hydraulic-loss telemetry and an enabled profile setting. The extra resistance is felt when moving the cyclic. X-Plane hydraulic-loss detection is not yet supported.

For an MSFS hydraulic-loss check, confirm that the aircraft or add-on reports the failure through telemetry Bridge supports. Move the cyclic to feel the additional load; do not judge it only by the force at a stationary centre. An aircraft’s cockpit switch animation alone does not establish that usable hydraulic-loss telemetry is present.

Validate the complete setup on the bench

The guided helicopter finale runs the full rotorcraft sequence on the bench. Individual steps isolate damping, force trim, beep trim, and every rotor cue using repeatable temporary settings.