Force Feedback

Firepower aircraft are set up to get good results from force-feedback joysticks.  The stick response and force feedback factors have been tuned for each aircraft.  Forces will realistically increase and decrease with airspeed, so at landing speed there may be very little stick force for smaller aircraft such as fighters.  This is accurate; at low airspeeds and high angles of attack, full or nearly full control deflection is often needed to control the aircraft.  One pilot we interviewed characterized the stick response in this configuration as "like a wet noodle."

Some, if not all, FFB joysticks in CFS3 will "kick back" if the stick is moved too abruptly from side to side or front to back.  If you find this happening, make sure all your control movements are smooth.  "Yank and bank" sounds great, but precise, controlled movements are much better and will give greater control of the aircraft and all but eliminate the "kick back" issue.