does using exponential help to make hovering easier? I've never used it before for hovering but I hear talk about it, just curious what you guys think.

I use less expo and/or more throw when hovering because the plane has zero airspeed and the surfaces are less effective compared to when the plane is flying. I like to have the plane react quickly, without having to move the stick too far.

It really helped me on the rudder because I was over correcting.

I have had several people recommend what geoharry said.

I agree, I have a huge amount of throw and I fly slow all the time so for me it helped tone it down a little because with out a little expo. I was getting a lot of throw with little stick movement.

If you are over-correcting to much you could just flip to low-rates.

Sounds cool I'll have to give it a try, Geoharry what percentage are you using, and are you only using it on rudder and elevator?

i had expo and only 100% rates to learn, but the flight after i "got" it i went to 120% and halved the expo to make it do exactly what my thumbs told it now they knew what to do.
just enough expo to make smooth normal flight possible

I am with you phillybaby, you still get all the throw when you want but it doesn't fly like a Bat because it's is so touchy.

The % expo depends on the plane. Some planes have tons of rudder and/or elevator authority by design (eg Morris Knife, Goldberg Extreme).

A typical starting point I use on a new plane is:

35 degrees throw and -20 Expo all around on low rate
50 degrees throw and -20 Expo all around on high rate

That said, all my planes have different expo on each surface depending on that surface's authority. So it's just a starting point.

My Global Freestyle has +10 expo on its huge rudder because it lacks authority.

Hey hoverit, where do you fly? I fly on weekends when at the lake at the Nappanee clubs (Flying Dutchman) field. Maybe we could hook up. It's a great field maybe you would like to join if you need a place to fly.

I normally set my planes up with 25% on everything. Then increase form there. Because you will need to be able to pull up on the elevator without your alierons moving. Same thing on throttle, you want to be able to jiggle your throttle w/o your rudder twitching.

Flipper I'm a member of Flight Masters here in Elkhart, but when it's gets warmer I'll be clearing some tree's here at home, We just bought 14 acres and built a house. Will that make me a backyard flyer lol?
It would be great to hook up and do some flyin'/hoverin' (when it gets warmer). I usually only fly with one other guy around here, it seems like of the 4 clubs around here we are the only 2 that do any hovering or have interest in it.

My wife and I just moved into a farm house with acres and I am going to put in my own field beside the house this spring myself. The field at the Nappanee site would not be that far for you and I am sure we can find a place to do some flying. I will shoot you an email with my name and number.