Can anyone tell me if it is ok to fly with your transmitter in one of the items in the menu list?
I want to be able to adjust my flap elevator mix to the correct setting while flying, without numerous landings to make adjustments. However I am unsure whether the transmitter will function normally.

Regards

the transmitted should always function normally

i mean when you set up a plane on the ground, you are transmitting..

the problem is: wrong setting operation that may cause the settings/control trows/servo position go wrong..
a control loss...
plane crash..

What transmitter are you using. Multiplex gives examples of inflight programming in their manual. However you say take off with the transmitter ready to adjust say the elevator to rudder mix for knife edge...set it, land etc.

I am using a JR PCM9x transmitter. I plan on going into the flap/ elevator mix before take off, then all I have to do is turn a knob one way or the other to adjust the mix. There should be no danger of loss of control due to moving the wrong switch etc.

Regards

It takes only 2 or 3 flights to set up a flap/elevator mixing in most planes... so it is safer to not
tinker with the tx software while flying... I also don´t recommend a knob switch for adjusting the mix, this is the kind of thing that works ok on ground, but can lead you to problems while you are
flying, concentrated on the plane.

Enrique

Enrique, The knob switch is not a switch assigned to the mix. It is the adjustment knob that is used to alter all the settings depending on what menu item you are in.
Once the flap/elevator item was entered & the jet taken off, the knob would act like a trim to adjust the mix. once the adjustment was set, a single press on the knob locks the setting. I have had some scary moments trying to land jets when the mix was out & thought it would be good if the mix could be altered in flight at a safe height.

Regards

Hi Jim

Why dont you use flight modes or flight phase. The mode swich can also be your flap swich. When in any mode all you have to do is trim the model with the trims. Your transmitter will remember the trim settings for each flight mode, and you can set a delay so that the transition is smooth. I use it like that on my Javelin

Paul

Hi Paul, Yes, I must read up the manual on that. It seemed simpler to try my method if it was feasable. I will pick your brains next time I see you.

Regards

Yes, I know this switch you are talking about... but IMO is better to do this procedure:

1) do some half throttle horizontal circuits at a safe height, with the gear lowered to bleed off the plane speed.

2) when the plane is flying upwind, over the runway (still at a safe height) lower
the flap. and keep the finger in the switch. if a violent reaction happens flip the switch back and don´t use them at landing. (of course, LOL) Later mix some elevator compensation and try again until there is no great pitch change... however if at the first try there is a mild pitch variation, use the elevator trim to compensate it and land this way, and later dial this elevator adjustment in the mix. also remember that the trim pitch varies with the plane´s speed. even if you are using mixing on the flaps.

I always liked this procedure because if something wrong happens with the flap deployment, it
allows a quick restore of the flight trim condition (even if the pilot panics) and the plane has plenty of height to recover from any unusual atittude.

Digital trims "tinker with the tx software while flying" so, I don't see any reason why you can't adjust some mixing curves in flight.

This is because you should never took you eyes off the plane,, and it is hard to see what button or
option you are pressing while doing this.

You can calmly tinker with it as much as you want in the air. I do my setups in the air, with my old man standing next to me doing the adjusting while i'm flying. I tell him what i need and he punches it all in.

Get someone you trust and who knows his way around your radio and you can do all the finetuning right in the air. No problem :-)
Regards
Hank

PS: i fly Graupner/JR, but other brands should work just as well

You can also do it on buddy chord. Make the changes while hitting buddy chord switch. Then switch back,be ready to give it back to the trainer etc.

The buddy idea is a good one. I think I would prefer to do that and be secure in the knowledge if I messed up the mix there was a back up TX that could get the thing down on the ground.

I was also looking at the possibility of having various amounts of flap/elevator mixes on different switches and having someone with a list standing with me to remind me which one was which.

Anyone tell I am getting nervous about a maiden?

If you do get someone to make adjustments for you, make sure it is someone competent!!

I saw a guy trimming his new model (not a jet fortunately), which was proving almost unflyable, and asked for down elevator trim. The guy helping then moved the trim. The pilot lost control and it crashed. It turns out the helper was trimming down (i.e. up elevator). oops


If there are settings that need to be adjusted then I set them up as a mix on a switch or knob. This will prevent me from having to go into the menu (or pressing menu buttons). This is easy on the ZAP as all the switches are assignable.

I think your method would be ok but I probable wouldn't 'lock' the setting until on the ground after flight unless you can easily 'unlock' it again. I would also make sure that with the mix screen selected there are no buttons you could accidentally press that would ruin your day.

Many thanks for all the input. I tried out my idea today & it all went great. The flap/elevator mix is all sorted on both flap positions on one flight only. It makes all the difference when landing to have it spot on. Eight flights & each landing was so easy.

Regards