User manual for force feedback yoke (english) - Flight illusion

Introduction 

The HW- FFB-737/GA Flight yoke has been designed to give the user the sturdy and robust 

feeling like flying a real aircraft. The concept was to develop a reliable control loading yoke 

as can be found in many professional trainers, but also at a price that keeps it in reach for the 

dedicated flightsim enthusiasts and home cockpit builders. 

By using standard available but at the same time heavy duty components we think we’ve 

succeeded in creating one of the best control yokes available in it’s class. Once you take 

control of your virtual plane with this yoke, it will feel as if you actually have a real aircraft in 

your hands. 

The Flight Illusion team 

Safety 

Please remember that the force feedback yoke is not a toy. Make sure it is firmly 

attached to your desk before use. As the forces can be significant in some cases, it’s not 

recommended to be used by small children. 

Do not open the casing when the yoke is in use and switch the power off when leaving 

the yoke unattended. 

Although the yoke has a safety feature to prevent it from overheating (it will 

automatically switch of after a couple of minutes when not in use) it is recommended to 

check it from time to time for overheating. 

Never leave the power supply unattended when on, as it can generate heat. Also make 

sure the power supply is operated in a ventilated area so it’s able to release its heat to 

the surrounding air. 

Be careful after switching on the yoke, in some cases it can make an abrupt movement 

towards its centre position. 

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Index 

- Installation Page 4 

- Software Page 5 

Main (opening) screen Page 6 

Configuration screen Page 7 

Default configuration files Page 8 

Yoke configuration screen Page 8 

- Maintenance Page 13 

- Technical Specs Page 16 

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Installation 

Step 1. Make sure the yoke is firmly attached to your desk. This can be done by using the two 

mounting holes on the bottom side of the yoke housing (see illustration below) You can use 

the two supplied bolts for it or use your own (metric: M6) You can also use the two square 

holes that are on the lower front of the casing by using two small clamps. 

Step 2. Connect the yoke to your PC using the USB cable. 

Step 3. Install the following software on your PC: 

- USB Driver 

- FFB Yoke Control (you can download the latest version on www.flightillusion.com) 

Note: FSUIPC is required to run the yoke with Microsoft Flight Simulator. 

Step 4. Connect the power supply 

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Software 

After starting the control program the opening screen appears: 

Here you can select a configuration file for a specific type of airplane or select your own 

configuration files. You can also check if the control software is connected to Flight 

Simulator (FS link status) 

After clicking on ‘Continue’, the yoke is ready to be used and the main screen will appear. 

When using the yoke for the first time, click on ‘Configure’ to adjust the basic settings for 

the yoke. 

Note: we’re always working to improve our software and this is an ongoing process. If you 

have any suggestions or tips that might improve our software we like to hear from you! You 

can send your e-mail to info@flightillusion.com or support@flightillusion.com. 

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The main screen: 

In the main screen the current configuration file is showed and the mode the yoke is in. The 

status of a second yoke is also shown as it is possible to connect two yokes. Yoke one is 

standard set to be the master yoke and is in force feedback mode. 

The yoke can be used in different modes: 

1. Force Feedback Mode (FFB Mode): the yoke follows and reacts to values coming 

out of Flight Simulator 

2. Centre Mode: the yoke will return to centre (like a yoke or joystick with springs) 

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3. Servo Mode: the yoke will follow the movements of a second yoke as if mechanically 

linked (if it is assigned as ‘slave’) 

4. Follow AP Mode: the yoke follows inputs as given by the autopilot in Flight 

Simulator. 

Click on ‘Run’ to activate the yoke, or click on ‘Configuration’ to adjust the basic settings 

for the yoke. 

The configuration screen: 

In the general configuration screen you can set the correct port settings and save or load a 

configuration file. To access the advanced settings you can click on ‘Configure Yoke #1’ or 

‘Configure Yoke #2’ 

Note: Due to the complexity of the advanced settings it is recommended to save the 

configuration file under a new name or make a backup of the standard configuration files. 

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Default configuration files 

There are 4 standard configuration files in the control program, and they are largely based on 

the airspeed ranges and weight that different types of aircraft have: 

- Single piston engine (GA lightweight planes like the Cessna 172 or Mooney Bravo) 

- Twin turboprop (Dual engine planes like e.g. the Beechcraft Kingair 350) 

- Airliner (Larger aircraft like the Boeing 737) 

To define your own settings, click on ‘show yoke #1’ (or yoke #2) in the main screen or 

click on ‘configure yoke #1’ or 2 in the configuration screen. 

After opening the yoke configuration file you should see the following screen: 

The yoke configuration screen 

Here you are able to tweak the forces that effect the yoke and set multiple options like 

switches, autopilot settings etc. Make sure the ‘Control Mode (1)’ is on the right setting 

because these are the settings you’re able to change for that particular mode. 

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You can click on ‘Save settings for (particular) mode’ to save your setting temporary for 

testing. To save the settings permanent as a configuration file you’ll need to click on ‘File’ 

and name it. 

Overview of the functions in the Yoke Configuration Screen (see illustration above) 

1. Control Mode 

The Yoke can work in several modes. 

- Centre mode: In this mode the Force Control mechanism behaves as two springs. 

- FFB Mode: The forces on the Yoke depend on the status of the aircraft. The forces 

depend on airflow along the Ailerons and Elevator surfaces. Also Turbulence and 

wheel shocks -when rolling- are send to the yoke. 

- Follow Autopilot: The Yoke follows the controls as commanded by the Autopilot. 

Up/Down follows the vertical trim and Left/right follows the horizontal trim 

- Servo mode: In case two yokes are connected, the Yoke will follow the position of the 

other Yoke. Or, in case the other control is another device it will follow the values read 

from the Simulator 

- Switch Off Forces: The forces are switched Off. 

2. Simulator Interface: 

This part shows the status and action read from or written to the simulator. Ailerons and 

Elevator position is given in a percentage from -100% to +100%. Centre position is 0. 

Trim values are the integer values as read from the simulator. The Read ad Write 

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indicators show the Read/Write actions on the Simulator interface. Warnings are read 

from the simulator. 

3. Trim Switch. 

In case the trim switch for trim Up/Down trim is selected, the function can de enabled and 

disabled here. When the Trim switch is kept in the Up or Down position the Trim will be 

increased or decreased at a certain speed. This speed is adjustable by the slider in this part. 

Trim position is shown as send to the Simulator. This value can vary from -16383 to 

+16383. 

4. Connection and Activation Yoke Control 

This frame shows the actual status of the interface between the Yoke and the Control 

Program. It shows the status of the connection, the actual forces and position of the Yoke 

and the number of updates per second. 

5. Power Mgt. 

The Yoke has a protection mechanisms to prevent Overheating and permanent forces to 

one of its mechanical limits. If a force is constant within a certain limit (the threshold 

percentage) for a certain time (the value in seconds) the force of that direction will be 

switched off and go to Stand By mode. As soon as the force changes over the given 

threshold, the force will be switched on again. 

6. Configuration File 

The Control Program can be set to one or more Aircraft types using a configuration File. 

Each mode (see 1) has its own set of parameters and can be saved or loaded. The settings 

are saved in memory and can be saved in a particular Configuration File. In case two 

yokes are connected, you can (to prevent double work) copy the basic settings from the 

other yoke. The Control Program can automatically start when activated. In this case it 

will select the file named: Default.cfg. So in case that is wanted, the file –or copy thereof- 

must be saved under that name. 

7. Auto Pilot Status 

This frame shows the status of the switches of the Simulator Auto Pilot. In the check box 

the automatic switch between Force Feedback Mode and Follow Autopilot mode can be 

selected. 

8. Setting Configuration Variables Force Feedback Mode. 

In this frame the behaviour of the Yoke in Force Feedback Mode can be configured. 

• The Wheel Shock Force. When on ground and wheels rolling over the strip, both 

Wheel Shock Force and Wheel Shock Frequency are used to simulate the feedback of 

rolling wheels to the Yoke. The Force defines the strength of the force, whilst the 

frequency defines the frequency of the shocks. The latter one will depend on the speed 

of the aircraft. As soon as Aircraft will be airborne the wheel shock simulation will be 

disabled 

• Turbulence Effect. By turbulence the Aircraft can roll or go up/down by changing 

airflow. The Up/Down movements will give forces on the Elevator, whilst roll will 

give forces on the ailerons. The level of these forces transferred to the Yoke can be set 

by both sliders. 

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• Elevator Weight correction. When on ground and no airflow along the elevator will 

drop down the elevator by gravity. The effect thereof can be simulated by the Elevator 

Weight correction slider. 

• FFB Effect. Depending on aircraft type the flow of air along the surfaces will result in 

a force needed to move the surfaces from middle position. By using both sliders, the 

effect thereof can be adjusted. The force needed will depend on the airspeed. In the 

box below in this frame the effects and the results of these calculations is shown. 

Force increases by the square of the airspeed. 

9. Configuration Variables Centre Mode. 

The sliders Ailerons and Elevator Centre are to match the mechanical and electrical 

centres of the Yoke. Centre is factory adjusted so in general the sliders can be set to zero. 

Range of the sliders is -100% to +100% 

10. Stick Shaker enable/disable. 

Yoke has a stick shaker function. In the selection boxes can be selected to activate this at 

stall and/or over speed (see Frame 10) 

11. Generic Yoke Configuration Variables. 

• Sensitivities. 

The sensitivity is the relation between force and the divergence from the position the 

Yoke wants to go to. E.g. at high sensitivity a small rotation will quickly result in the 

maximum force.. It is the “steepness” of the relation between the rotation from wanted 

position and the force that must be exercised to move it from that position. 

• Dead band. 

The Yoke mechanism is designed to be equipped with many yokes. Depending on the 

mass of the actual Yoke type there is a chance that the mechanism will oscillate due to 

the inertia of the yoke. By setting dead band to a higher value there will be some 

margin to stop that oscillation. In general these sliders can be kept zero. 

• Force Threshold. 

Force Threshold is also used in case yoke is oscillating. In general these sliders can be 

kept zero. 

• Maximum Force. 

By these sliders the maximum force of the yokes can be limited to a certain value. The 

value can be set from zero to maximum (100%) 

12. Configuration Variables Follow Autopilot. 

Autopilot Ailerons and Elevator swing. To enable more aircraft types the values generated 

by the auto pilot that control heading and altitude settings, the translation from the auto 

pilot outputs and related swings of the Yoke is made configurable by sliders. Depending 

on the setting of these sliders the values generated by the autopilot will be translated into a 

roll- and pitch-swing of the Yoke. The best setting must be found by getting the 

maximum outputs of the autopilot ( which is Aileron and Elevator trim). This maximum 

should correspond with the limits of the Yoke or somewhat lower. 

Autopilot overrule. By forcing the yoke to another position than commanded by the auto 

pilot, the auto pilot can be switched off. In that case the check box Enable Overrule must 

be set. The auto pilot will be switched of when a certain counter force (slider Overrule 

force) is maintained during a certain time (slider Overrule time). 

13. Switch Assignments 

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The Yoke has at maximum 6 switches. When a switch is activated in Running mode, the 

square of the related switch will change from green to red. Using the Pull Down menue a 

function can be assigned to that switch. To save the switch setting it is needed to pust the 

Set switch in this frame 

14. Follow AP/Servo Mode Status 

This frame shows the actual status of the Yoke when externally controlled. It can follow 

the auto pilot, the master yoke in case it is in slave mode or the simulator when controls 

are done in another manner. The commanded position (where the yoke should go) is given 

in the + and – percentages. 

15. Configuration Servo Mode 

In this frame can be selected what the yoke should do when in Slave mode. It can either 

follow the master yoke or follow the autopilot. 

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Maintenance 

The Flight Illusion Force Feedback Yoke is a sturdy construction. Where needed axial and 

linear ball bearings are used and the shifting mechanism is constructed from high precision 

silver steel bars. Also a metal chain is part of this mechanism. 

Although very solid, it needs like other mechanical constructions some maintenance. 

Over time the components need some greasing and after some time it will be needed to adjust 

the chain tension. 

The following regular maintenance is advised: 

- Greasing the silver steel bars. 

- Greasing the main steering axle. 

- Adjusting the chain tension. 

- Inspecting the mechanics. 

For opening the case to get access to the mechanical parts only a screwdriver is needed. After 

removing one of the four metal corner profiles you can shift the top- and side plate out (see 

illustration below) Make sure that when you close the casing again, all the parts are lined up 

correctly. Note: opening the case will not void warranty. 

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The main steering axle that holds the control yoke has to be lubricated most often. There’s 

no need to open the casing for this as you can apply it from the outside. The silver steel 

bars that guide the linear motion only need greasing once in a while or when you notice 

the motion gets less smooth. See illustration below for the main axle and the silver steel 

guiding bars. 

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To adjust the chain tension you’ll need to turn the nuts that are on the two long screw rods 

(see illustration below) Tension on the chain is right when the yoke moves smooth 

without rattling noises. Never tighten the chain tension too much. 

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Technical Specs: 

Power supply: 24V/5A 

Linear mechanical range: approx. 17 cm / 6.7 Inch 

Rotational range: approx. 90 degrees left / 90 degrees right 

Interface: USB 

Dimensions (excluding control wheel): 

For further technical questions or support you can contact Flight Illusion at: 

support@flightillusion.com or info@flightillusion.com 

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User manual for force feedback yoke (english) - Flight illusion

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