Hate to be a sourpuss

[Osprey]

1. Have you bound the quadrant axis to controls which the aircraft actually uses in game? There are loads of redundant controls. Just try it by binding to roll/pitch/yaw.
2. FFB does come and go, it always goes if you alt+tab to desktop and back. You can 'restore' it with a hi yo-yo since it kicks in again once you've slowed down. OK, it's a silly move for no reason but take the chance to check your 6