Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

Hi All,

I'm looking for best practices / setup tips on using flight conditions for jets. I used the search function, but could not find anything (although I'm sure there is).

I'm thinking a 'fly' mode and a 'landing' mode switched by the gear retract switch will be a basic setup.

Thanks for your feedback,
Edgar

RE: Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

the only fly/land setup is the left stick :D at the top it's in FLY mode, at the bottom it's in LAND.

I've got my flaps on a 3 pos switch but only use full for landings only, gear switch only activates the gear. the only changes that the flaps cause other then the flaps deploying are they have trim functions built in so there are no pitch changes when deployed.

RE: Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

Flight modes (as they are called in JR parlance) can be very handy, especially in a complex model. You can have different rates, expo settings, throw, mixing, etc all activated by the flip of a single switch. Much easier to flip one switch to set up for landing (gear down, set flaps and elevavor compensation, increase rudder and elevator throw), go from precision to 3D mode (change throws and expo rates for IMAC flying), etc. than flipping lots of various switches.

Having said that, I have only recently started using FM's, so hopefully someone with more experience can jump in. I am currently only using two modes on an IMAC model, basically just changing from precision to freestyle on the flap switch.

Just curious, KC36330...do you ever change the throttle setting during a flight? It is a proportional control, after all.... ;)

barry

RE: Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

I'm fully aware of flight modes and i use them on all my helis (for throttle/pitch curves) but on the jets i haven't found a need for them. i don't use flaps on every gear down situation as well as i don't want gear down just because flaps are down. as far as expo/dual rates i have those built into my fingers and i don't use them from the radio. i took about 10 yrs off of flying jets and flew helis exclusively during that time so I'm fully aware of where every switch is on my TX and i don't have to think twice about flipping one so for me it's much easier to have what i want when i want it at a switch rather then having to mix this and that to lighten the pilot load.

Oh and i do occasionally check the throttle to make sure it still functions proportionally.

RE: Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

I use flight modes all the time on my jets, usually Take Off, Cruise and Landing modes. This enables me to ensure that for example the flaps are pre set to take off position just by setting one switch, and that my gear will be down, brakes enabled, and handbrake on as the default setting. Also any slight trim changes that are necessary can be taken care of. It is not only about lowering pilot workload although it certainly does that, its about repeatability. Knowing that each time I flick that switch, exactly the same set of things will occur as last time is not only reassuring but it allows me to really get in the groove with a model. Does that make sense?

RE: Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

Hello Edgar,
Flight conditions (Futaba) for some aircraft are essential. My BVM Mig-15 is a great example! I did leave each major accessory function... i.e. Gear, Flap, speed doors, and pre-set brakes manual.... but my MIG needed slight re-trim for flap, and gear... slightly different pitch & roll trims for normal flight... takeoff flaps & landing flaps!

Try re-trimming all of those and keeping ahead of the aircraft each time you do a touch-n-go:D

Flight Modes (JR) can function in a similar manor... with a few restrictions / limitations.

Futaba's conditions are virtually wide open... each condition can control / re-set or trim every function available. When using the older 9Z Futaba transmitters you have to be very careful because each function for every condition is totally separate. Example: if you change ATV limits for one condition you must click to each other condition if you want the same travel change. Slightly confusing and something easily screwed up. The newer 12 and 14 channel Futaba software has resolved that problem by allowing functions to be grouped or not.
Lee H. DeMary
AMA 36099

RE: Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

my JR PCM 10X automatically sets trims for every flight mode, it will also automatically set rates/expo/etc.... for each flight mode, so i hardly see where you think JR is restricted/limited.

RE: Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

I use flight modes on all models of all types, and Jets IMHO have the most need for them. Even my Bobcat XL with no flaps and everything else in between with flaps spoilers etc, I use the same best practice use of Flight modes.

When turning on the radio it beeps to insure your at position FM0 on JR so I use this as flying in the air setup for safe reasonable controls on surfaces.

I then use FM 1 as logical 15% flap deployement and anything controls surface needed for takeoffs.

I then use FM2 for full flaps and deploy sometime on final as I usually fly the pattern in FM 1 with 15% lifting flaps versus drag. I also activate my spoileron to throttle mix in this mode as proportional to throttle. using point mixes it can appear to be fixed as do the flaps however if I go to say 75%+ throttle while in this FM2 I can then be 15% flaps, no spoilerons and do a go around without hitting a switch or going after a retract gear switch.

As for the gear switch I find it important to mix braking features to throttle mixing, also disable brake valve to a safe known position to minimize air leak down. I also insure the extra channel if used for steering servo can be disabled straight away in the retracted position.

So there are quite a bit of oppurtunities to standardize your entire fleet on a single Flight mode plateform. I also find it useful to standardize on channel assignment such as AUX 3 is brakes, Gear is AUX 4 to free up Aux 1 for mixing strategy.

RE: Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

KC36330,

I don’t really want to start a who’s got more argument... but Objective differences do exist.

Just to give you an example of some objective differences / limitations I'll list a few:

1. JR Modes...Control inputs / switches for selecting up to 5 Modes... You must use one of three, 3-position switches and the two-position mix switch. When modes are active the other two rate switches are unavailable for any function!
Futaba Conditions...Control inputs / switches for selecting up to 8 Conditions...Any switch and or stick or lever position on the transmitter can select a condition. When multiple conditions are programmed, their operating priority can also be changed.

2. With Futaba all programming functions & settings can be included or not in each of the 8 conditions. That includes 10 free mixes and over 22 specialized functions. Each condition can include none, any or all functions, trims & settings linked to any other condition.
JR on the other hand allows the user to include about 10 specialized functions, and 8 free mixes, but does not allow inclusion or exclusion of all other settings.

For less sophisticated pilots like myself… Modes provided by JR are all most of us will ever use. But for the more sophisticated / professional demonstration pilots who demand complete aircraft re-configuration sometimes within a given maneuver Futaba’s conditions feature is limitless.

Maybe some real experts would jump in here… and give all of us a few real world examples.

As I said I’m no expert on Modes or Conditions…But one aircraft configuration that would be easy to setup using conditions…would be for Up / positive stick and trim settings for inverted flight. I am a stick and rudder pilot so I would never want to actually do this. But, I don’t believe it can be done using flight Modes. Possibly if you are very creative with a free mix or two… you could get the reversed stick elevator action.. But, what about flight trim reversal?
Lee H. DeMary
AMA 36099

RE: Flight Conditions Best Practices?
 

i wasn't trying to start a pissing contest simply stating the facts. i said My 10X, the heli version, changes all those features with just a single 3 position switch (which mine only has 2 of and i had to have one of those custom installed for turbine control). i can select dual rates from any of the three single position switches for ail/ele/rud dual rate or i can have them selected automatically when i select flight mode N, 1, and 2. in my setups flight mode 3 activates smoke ONLY with it being proportional to throttle and has no effect on flight mode N, 1, or 2. I've been flying All my aircraft (helis/jets/props) with this TX for the last 9 yrs (and JR radios for the past 20+) so i think I've got all the In's and Out's of it figured out. as always YMMV. you can boast about your Futaba all you'd like, along with the help of Futaba's customer service back in the late 80s i made my decision to go with JR and I've never regretted it and your JR bashing won't change my mind now.

EDIT: if all you're looking for is a mode for inverted flight, JR has this wonderful feature on some of their older TXs called, get this now, Invert............. it made allot of heli pilots allot more dangerous then they already were because it required that you flip that switch as you went inverted and when you got in trouble you had to flip it again as you rolled back upright and that got a little too confusing for allot of them so JR removed the feature in latter TXs.

i could also set it up on mine by eliminating take off flaps in mode 1 and making mode 1 landing flaps (i don't use take off flaps on any of my jets) and make mode 2 inverted flight, but i don't have a problem holding a little up stick when inverted, if it's such a big problem for you, add a little negative expo to down stick and it'll help.