Flight Velocity Trim Wheel

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After years of asking, "why doesn't someone make a trim wheel?", we decided we would! Introducing the first-ever, Flight Velocity Trim Wheel.

Our elevator trim wheel is fully compatible with Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020, X-Plane, Prepar3D, and FSX and has the exact form factor of the original to which it pays homage. In fact, it has the same mounting holes as the original which means its compatible with all of our panels as well as older Saitek mounting brackets.

Take your flight sim to the next level with this simple, yet integral part of the flight sim experience.

Dimensions: 3.5" wide, 4.3" tall, 4.3" deep

Installation Instructions

Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020:

For the moment, FS2020 doesn't know how to map the trim wheel to the elevator pitch trim, but it does see the hardware. That means you just have to map the buttons yourself - here's how:

Click Options >Controls

Next, select "FLIGHT VELOCITY TRIM WHEEL"

Then under the filter options, be sure to show 'all" controls, not just "assigned"

In the search box type "elevator trim" to show the elevator trim options as seen below

Next, we'll assign the nose up and nose down commands to the trim wheel up and down motions. For nose up, select input 1 from the drop down, then click validate.

For nose down, select input 2 from the drop down, then click validate.

The resulting configuration should look like the screen below

Then click the "Save and Apply" button. You're done, now go fly!

X-Plane:

UPDATE - The files shown below will be included with X-Plane 11 beginning with version 11.50. This means that once 11.50 is released, you will no longer need to follow these instructions (The files are already in the latest betas).

Plug the trim wheel into an available USB port, preferably into the computer directly or a powered USB hub. Do not use the USB ports on the back of the Logitech/Saitek yoke. The computer will automatically recognize the trim wheel.
Download these two files and copy them into your "\X-Plane 11\Resources\joystick configs" folder. (NOTE: your X-Plane folder could be on your desktop, in your C:\ drive, or some other location you specified during the X-Plane installation process)

Flight Velocity Elevator Trim.joy
Flight Velocity Elevator Trim.png (right-click > Save link as...)

Start X-Plane, it should recognize the new hardware and prompt you to configure it (If not, click on Settings > Joystick). If desired, you can change the assignments at this time. Search for "Pitch trim" in the search box, then assign the pitch trim up and down to the direction of the wheel you wish to assign those actions.
Click Apply, Done, then go fly!

Prepar3D:

Plug the trim wheel into an available USB port, preferably into the computer directly or a powered USB hub. Do not use the USB ports on the back of the Logitech/Saitek yoke. The computer will automatically recognize the trim wheel.
Start Prepar3D and click Options > Key Assignments
Ensure that you have "Flight Velocity Trim Wheel" selected as your controller, then search for "Elevator Trim" in the search box.
Assign the pitch trim up and down to the direction of the wheel you wish to assign those actions.
Click Ok > Ok, then go fly!

About trim wheel speed / sensitivity

The trim wheel itself does not have user-configurable sensitivity adjustments. However, you can adjust the trim wheel speed in the configuration of the particular aircraft you're flying. You will need to make this adjustment for every aircraft you fly, this is not a global adjustment. Here's how:

X-Plane:

To adjust the trim speed in the just edit the "trim_time" variable in the .acf file of the aircraft you're flying.

For example, to change the elevator trim speed in the default 172, follow these steps:

Navigate to "Your File Path"\X-Plane 11\Aircraft\Laminar Research\Cessna 172SP"
Open the file "Cessna_172SP.acf" with a text editor and search for the variable "acf/_elev_trim_time" in the file
Adjust the number smaller to increase the sensitivity of the elevator trim
Save the file and restart the simulator.

Prepar3D/FSX:

To adjust the trim speed in the just edit the "elevator_trim_effectiveness" variable in the aircraft.cfg file of the aircraft you're flying.

For example, to change the elevator trim speed in the default Mooney Acclaim (P3D), follow these steps:

Navigate to "C:\Program Files\Lockheed Martin\Prepar3D v5\SimObjects\Airplanes\Mooney_Acclaim"
Open the file "aircraft.cfg" with a text editor and search for the variable "elevator_trim_effectiveness" in the file
Adjust the number smaller to increase the sensitivity of the elevator trim.
Save the file and restart the simulator.

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