Do you have a switch for High/Low Rates or do you have full rates and just have more expo added so this way you dont have to switch between high and low. what method do you guys use and why? Thanks!

I used all three to some degree. On low rates I use very little expo. On high rates I usually use around 25%-35% expo.

I use both high & low rates, plus expo.

I use all 3. I have flight modes in my radio

Mode 1 is low with hardly any expo
Mode 2 is high rates with a bunch of expo
Mode 3 is 3D rates with expo on only certain surfaces

The amount of expo depends on the plane

I use dual rates with expo on high rate.

I use Expo with no D/R unless it's a 3-D plane, then I will use D/R also

The reason I avoid using D/R is because I'm smart enough to know that I'm stupid enough to crash due to not having my full rates on when pulling out of a loop.

Since we are in the beginners forum, I'm going to answer with that in mind. For new pilots that are learning, or are still pretty fresh from their solo or second plane, I feel that they can use low/high rates be shy away from expo on their planes. I feel that the pilot needs to get experience on flying the plane without all the "gadgets" first. If they need to make it less sensitive on a control then I will recommend that they use low/high rates to adjust the sensitivity of that control, and not use the expo for that. You have to remember that what somebody learns while they are training will have more impact on their flying for the rest of their life than anything else. Heck, I've been flying for 9 years now and I still have a couple of bad habits that I learned while training and can't seem to get rid of. Expo is a setting that really requires some good working knowledge of the plane and how to fly it to be set up properly. IMHO new pilots shouldn't worry about using expo until they get some experience under their belt. Plus, new pilots have enough to worry about than trying to decide if their expo curve is good or not. Concentrate on sharpening your piloting skills now and worry about expo down the road.

That's my 2° worth

Ken

Good point I have never set up my elevator on dual rates, just ailerons.

This will vary based on personal tastes, flying style(s) and plane.

First, you should set your control surfaces such that you have the total throw you need. No more, no less. This is an important step in setting up D/R and expo.

Think about what you want in stick control. Most precision flying is done around center, be it take off, landing, level flight, traditional aerobatics, etc. For these maneuvers, you want precise control over the control surface, i.e nice soft sticks where large stick movements give small and precise surface response. Aggressive flight (Snaps, spins, tumbles, 3D) requires larger throws, but by the very nature of more aggressive maneuvers, the precision of the throw isn't as critical as other types of flight.

When a typical radial arm servo is coupled with a control surface in the typical way, the setup is most aggressive around neutral. This makes the control surface sensitive around center position and more precise at full throw. This is opposite of what is typically desired. For this reason, expo is typically beneficial for any setup.

As for expo amount, I believe a figure around 15% will give linear response. Since there is a benefit to softening the center beyond linear in most cases, a good starting expo is at least 30%. I typically crank expo up so that the stick feel for the less aggressive flying feels nice and smooth, and then when I want full throw, it comes in quickly. If you put in too little expo, the sticks will feel "twitchy" around center. If you put in too much expo, the sticks will feel "out of control" or "too aggressive" at 3/4 stick or higher. The key is to find the expo sweet spot. This will probably vary by surface and may even vary by deflection direction.

As for D/R, I used to use them all the time. Now I basically never use them. With D/R, you can easily get into trouble if you try a maneuver in the wrong rate. The only time I can see D/R being useful is if you cannot find a good expo setting due to too much throw needed, such as possibly 3D flight. Even if you do use D/R, you should still dial in expo for both high and low rates to soften the center.

As for quantity... I found that I like very similar expo between planes, regardless of intended flying. I.E., I use basically the same expo on my 2M pattern ship as I do on 3D planes. At first I found this strange, but it does makes sense as my personal taste for control feel would be the same across multiple planes, i.e. I need the same expo across multiple planes. I do however use a 3D rate on 3D planes.

Expo I use on all planes is around the following. Aileron - 50%, Elevator - 50%, Rudder - 60%. I found that for me, this gives a very nice feel. Out to about 3/4 stick, plane response is very precise and smooth. When I need full or very high throw, it shows up quickly past 3/4 stick, but no so quickly as to be a suprise.

Another related issue is throttle curve. You will have the same servo issue with throttle, but this is compounded by engine response not being linear. On most engines, with the carb 1/2 open, the engine is already making 3/4 of its total power. A throttle cure will allow you to smooth out stick feel on throttle.

EDIT - I was side tracked writing this and I didn't see RCKens post until after my inital post. I'd agree that since trainers fly like wet sponges, expo is probably a waste. However, for most second planes, expo may be helpful. I really don't see the point in learning to fly with sticks that are agressive at center and soft at high throw when there is a simple fix. It would be a lot easier to learn if setup is more precise and easier to control. For this reason I don't see expo as a gadget, but rather an important flying tool. I have purest flying buddies that would disagree (some don't even trim thier plane), which is fine by me, but I'd go nuts without expo and a few simple mixes. However, expo can bite you if you set it up wrong, either too much throw to begin with, too much expo, or expo in the wrong direction. For this reason I would suggest no more than 30% to start and getting some help from a more experienced pilot at your local club. You don't just set expo and call it good. It may take many flights to dial in a comfortable feel. I typically need 20+ flights before I am happy with plane/radio configuration.


Cheers!

Ken has a great point.

On my Tiger 60, I was finding that it was lacking in maneuvers as I was getting better at them. Same with the Four Star 40. The loops and rolls were really sluggish. At first, I attributed it to prop size. Then, I changed the D/R a bit and put more into the ailerons and elevator and both planes sort of 'woke up'.

The reason I had them on low rate, well, actually, I had both high and low at 100% so they were both the same, was because I was not ready for dual rates, or high rates, or wondering what position the switches were in. Now, after a bit more experience, I always check the D/R in low then switch them in and out as needed.

DS.

I know im gonna get flamed for this. I just augered in a funtana .40 yesterday. uncommanded full throttle, controls unresponsive. we had to hit the deck at the field as she was heading no kidding right for us at top speed (75mph or so. i have a super Tigre G-51) then she rolled inverted and nosed over. I need a new carb. and plane. Yes the funtanna was my first plane, got a good deal on it built. $50. Im going to buy a hangar 9 solo trainer in about an hour. like i should have done in the first place.

I used both dual rates and expo set WAY low as its designed for 3D. like 50% elev. w/ less than 3d full rate throws. and 40% aileron. I had expo on both dialed in at -40 (futaba 6exa) it was really gentle near center, but i could still have fun with it.

I use triple rates with a little expo on low, a little more on mid and more than that on high can't give the %

I think i am on 50% for low rates 100% for mid and 140% for high. Yes 140% movement does rock.
-Chad

Exactly how much throw 140% would be depends on how all of the rest of the linkages are adjusted. Mechanically the throws can be adjusted so 100% is (let's say) 10 degree deflection or 70 degree defection, just to quickly throw out some random numbers. From there you determine where your various sub-rates take you. If you apply 130% to a 10 degree deflection on most planes it will still be minimally maneuverable whereas 140% of 70 degrees would be a pretty major event.

One persons "rocks" setting is another persons "docile" setting on the same plane.

I hope you are talking about throw percentages and not expo. In a perfect world you would have your throw percentages on your highest rates at 130% for JR and I hear 140% on Futaba which is what you have here assuming you are talking about throw percentages

Then adjust the other rates to suit your taste and the plane.

On a new plane, since I fly JR, I will set my 3rd flight mode to 130% 20% expo on all control surfaces but ONLY if I am completely positive I will not bind the servo because the control surface is hitting somewhere or the servo arm simply cannot provide that much throw.

On the 2nd flight mode I'll set the throws to the book max for the plane with around 40% expo.

On the 1st flight mode I'll set the throws to somewhere around 50% for everything but the rudder and maybe the elevator depending on the plane and the size of the surface and I will use either 5 - 110 percent expo or none at all.

After all of that is setup I'll fly the plane and starting with low rates, start adjusting the settings as I see fit for me and my style of flying and slowly move through the flight modes until I get them all setup the way I want. This can take several tanks to a full gallon or two depending on the plane and then I break out the trimming chart.

The reason why you want 130 to 140 percent is to get the max resolution from the servo(s).

Now all of this is for a more experienced pilot and although can be beneficial to the new pilot I agree that it's not something that is needed or should be used until a bunch of experience AND confidence is gained.