I remember back in the day BEFORE dual rates and expo, mixing etc. were ever on the transmitters. I don't know how I managed to stay in this hobby. I lost many balsa kit - built planes. If I wanted low rates, they were set mechanically on the horns. But then, that's how you would have to fly until changing the whole setup. Or I could set the linkages for high rates - usually ended disastrously. Have we come a long way... or what!!
Thank you for this vid! I’ve been using rates on individual control surfaces for decades. A lot to think about based on air speed and maneuver. Your suggestion to put multiple surfaces on ONE rate setting is Huge! Great hint!! Thanks Michael.
What helped me with rolling harriers was more elevator expo to begin with and after a while managed to reduce all expo's and now after 2 seasons can steer both directions and rolling loops but it took a lot of SIM practice and field practice...love learning new maneuvers on the SIM then trying them out at the field it's the best way to improve.
The problem with using a lot of throw and compensating with expo to to tame things around center stick is you lose a lot of resolution due the the long servo arms unless you spend BIG money of servos! Just make sure you are at full servo travel in your radio (125 or 150%) when on high rates. This means you can use a shorter servo arm and retain more resolution and mechanical torque.
On spectrum and Futaba it is easily done on the radio to assign additional rates on another switch. On my spectrum, I added the bottom right switch normally people assign to throttle cut. When it is up, and regular switch is in middle position I get the fourth rate. I believe 5 different rates is possible.
I use two switches to get 5 rates using flight modes. The first switch is the B switch. The second switch is the stick position switch (SPS) on the rudder stick. I set the SPS so that it switches at 85% on either side of center. When switch B is in position 0, everything is in low rates. With B in position 1 and the rudder stick is deflected less than 85%, everything remains in low rates. But when I go beyond 85%, the ailerons and elevator go to high rates. This lets me fly smoothly as long as I don’t use all of the rudder, but when I peg the rudder I get full throw. Essentially, I can take off in low rates, flip B to the center, fly the whole flight without having to flip a switch, and flip B back to low rates when I’m ready to land. Position 2 of B switch puts all of the controls into 3D mode. Also, when switch B is in positions 1 and 2, I use an idle-up mix on the throttle so that my electric motors blow a little air past the tail feathers like a glow or gas engine would.
@@txkflier Clevver use of the radio... I like it! IN all my videos I discuss why we should always take off and land in high rates, although I take off on lower rates for special take off maneuvers.
@@MichaelWargo On most of my planes, low rates is 70 to 80 percent. On 3D planes, I might set the low rates to 50% and the highest rates to 125%. My servo travel is always 100% unless I tweak it a few percent to match multiple servos on a single surface. I try to use as much of my radio’s resolution as possible.
@@txkflier One of the most important things in setting a plane up is travel adjust. IF you set all of your travel to 100% it is categorically wrong. This is not an opinion, it is an absolute fact. I have my setup guides you can find on the Hobbyking and PA websites as well as rc groups or in the manuals on the wargo design planes, I explain in great detail. Also there are several setup videos clearly describing radio setup. Travel adjust is set when rates at 100%. Travel adjust actually establishes what is 100%. Go to travel adjust... Then deflect surface all the way. Move the stick all the way and hold it. Then adjust until the surface cannot move any more. then back off 2 clicks. This maximizes resolution and establishes 100% of your surfaces potential. USually want to move to the surfaces physical limits. They will always be uneven. Best if between 120 and 145% Normally, up elevator for instance would be 138, then down elevator will be 129 something like that. Never exactly the same. IF you set to even degrees both sides move 1 side to max and match other. The adjust how far they move for your flying with the rates.
Can you give me your advice on setting elevator trim for a high wing plane please. Would you trim for straight and level at full throttle or at a cruising speed?
Really rates depend on the plane. But A good starting expo might be 20%. Give a bit of soft at the center. But often the controls are not very effective. Be careful above that unless it has a lot of throw. Like the Tundras and things it has a good roll rate as opposed to the bixler or something.
I would think they would interfere.....like say you were in flight mode 2 and it already has a rate so if you program rates to another switch does it just flight mode 2 rate go away if it's switchd I into the "4th rate"
Not sure what radio you have, but you probably have the option for an additional rate switch. Up to 5. Look at the flight MOde menu. you should find it.
Hi Michael - this Video comes 1 week to late for me - i crashed my katana on the Maiden - prepared like always - full Rate and 75% Expo in elevator and aileron with the suggested cg- but this Baby was to "hibbelig" - and the Maiden was about 10 seconds..... after first Frustration now i decided to repair it - next attempt with a cg much more to the nose 10mm - and dualrate 50-60 percent - what do you think about that ? - dont get me wrong i am not a beginner but also not a good 3d Pilot....(quod erat demonstrandum) - greetings from germany and thank you for your good videos
Make sure your expo is setup correctly. If it is 75% in the wrong direction, it will be nearly unflyable. Example: With Futaba and Spektrum negative and positive expo points have completely opposite outputs on the control surface. Flyer Beware!
I would never use more the 50% expo. Make sure the expo causes the graph trace to get flatter in the center, not steeper. Spektrum uses positive numbers; Futaba uses negative numbers.
I still think landing on high rates is a bad idea. I can always tell someone is landing on high rates by the jerkiness and overcorrecting high rates causes. Landing on low rates smooths the entire landing sequence out. Not only does the landing look better, it's just plain easier to fly.
That looks like. A Florida flight field....laot like space coast aeromodelers club....please lete find out you loved to Florida and are flying at fields within 30 min of my house
best thing i've seen on WHY and WHAT rates should be!! Made the changes and gonna play on the sim tonight and see how much of difference it makes!!
Thanks Mike I just found your videos on utube and have learned more in the few I have watched than all the others put together Thank You
Made my day! Thnks for the comment
Thanks Mike, you ARE the man in RC training,,,,
Thank you for the Tips. Greetings from Germany
I remember back in the day BEFORE dual rates and expo, mixing etc. were ever on the transmitters. I don't know how I managed to stay in this hobby. I lost many balsa kit - built planes. If I wanted low rates, they were set mechanically on the horns. But then, that's how you would have to fly until changing the whole setup. Or I could set the linkages for high rates - usually ended disastrously. Have we come a long way... or what!!
Thank you for this. Can I suggest you guys invest in a good lapelled mic?
Thank you for this vid! I’ve been using rates on individual control surfaces for decades. A lot to think about based on air speed and maneuver. Your suggestion to put multiple surfaces on ONE rate setting is Huge! Great hint!! Thanks Michael.
Rates and expo are what I use to remove too much throw and expo for the sticks.
Great video, thanks for this ! But the audio ....
Sorry about the strange audio drops... I just didn't want to discard the content.
Nice video, like your tips. Would love to have your nice weather here in Sweden right now and 🙃
What helped me with rolling harriers was more elevator expo to begin with and after a while managed to reduce all expo's and now after 2 seasons can steer both directions and rolling loops but it took a lot of SIM practice and field practice...love learning new maneuvers on the SIM then trying them out at the field it's the best way to improve.
Thanks for the information!
The problem with using a lot of throw and compensating with expo to to tame things around center stick is you lose a lot of resolution due the the long servo arms unless you spend BIG money of servos! Just make sure you are at full servo travel in your radio (125 or 150%) when on high rates. This means you can use a shorter servo arm and retain more resolution and mechanical torque.
Love your videos, you mention 4 rates how is this possible on a three position switch.
On spectrum and Futaba it is easily done on the radio to assign additional rates on another switch. On my spectrum, I added the bottom right switch normally people assign to throttle cut. When it is up, and regular switch is in middle position I get the fourth rate. I believe 5 different rates is possible.
I use two switches to get 5 rates using flight modes. The first switch is the B switch. The second switch is the stick position switch (SPS) on the rudder stick. I set the SPS so that it switches at 85% on either side of center. When switch B is in position 0, everything is in low rates. With B in position 1 and the rudder stick is deflected less than 85%, everything remains in low rates. But when I go beyond 85%, the ailerons and elevator go to high rates. This lets me fly smoothly as long as I don’t use all of the rudder, but when I peg the rudder I get full throw. Essentially, I can take off in low rates, flip B to the center, fly the whole flight without having to flip a switch, and flip B back to low rates when I’m ready to land. Position 2 of B switch puts all of the controls into 3D mode. Also, when switch B is in positions 1 and 2, I use an idle-up mix on the throttle so that my electric motors blow a little air past the tail feathers like a glow or gas engine would.
@@txkflier Clevver use of the radio... I like it! IN all my videos I discuss why we should always take off and land in high rates, although I take off on lower rates for special take off maneuvers.
@@MichaelWargo On most of my planes, low rates is 70 to 80 percent. On 3D planes, I might set the low rates to 50% and the highest rates to 125%. My servo travel is always 100% unless I tweak it a few percent to match multiple servos on a single surface. I try to use as much of my radio’s resolution as possible.
@@txkflier One of the most important things in setting a plane up is travel adjust. IF you set all of your travel to 100% it is categorically wrong. This is not an opinion, it is an absolute fact. I have my setup guides you can find on the Hobbyking and PA websites as well as rc groups or in the manuals on the wargo design planes, I explain in great detail. Also there are several setup videos clearly describing radio setup. Travel adjust is set when rates at 100%. Travel adjust actually establishes what is 100%. Go to travel adjust... Then deflect surface all the way. Move the stick all the way and hold it. Then adjust until the surface cannot move any more. then back off 2 clicks. This maximizes resolution and establishes 100% of your surfaces potential. USually want to move to the surfaces physical limits. They will always be uneven. Best if between 120 and 145% Normally, up elevator for instance would be 138, then down elevator will be 129 something like that. Never exactly the same. IF you set to even degrees both sides move 1 side to max and match other. The adjust how far they move for your flying with the rates.
Great tips. The audio was really bad though - not sure why.
Can you give me your advice on setting elevator trim for a high wing plane please. Would you trim for straight and level at full throttle or at a cruising speed?
GReat Question. Cruising Speed and put a Throttle Elevator Mix in for full throttle.
@@MichaelWargo Thank you very much I've seen many different answers but I trust yours 👍. I'll try this
Anyone knows what’s a good rate and expo on each surface for initial flight of 40 size high wing trainer?
Really rates depend on the plane. But A good starting expo might be 20%. Give a bit of soft at the center. But often the controls are not very effective. Be careful above that unless it has a lot of throw. Like the Tundras and things it has a good roll rate as opposed to the bixler or something.
What do you guys recommend for my first 3d plane.
How can you set a 4th rate.....I thought rates can only be set to 1 switch
Actually I've never tried so I don't know for sure
I would think they would interfere.....like say you were in flight mode 2 and it already has a rate so if you program rates to another switch does it just flight mode 2 rate go away if it's switchd I into the "4th rate"
Not sure what radio you have, but you probably have the option for an additional rate switch. Up to 5. Look at the flight MOde menu. you should find it.
Hi Michael - this Video comes 1 week to late for me - i crashed my katana on the Maiden - prepared like always - full Rate and 75% Expo in elevator and aileron with the suggested cg- but this Baby was to "hibbelig" - and the Maiden was about 10 seconds..... after first Frustration now i decided to repair it - next attempt with a cg much more to the nose 10mm - and dualrate 50-60 percent - what do you think about that ? - dont get me wrong i am not a beginner but also not a good 3d Pilot....(quod erat demonstrandum) - greetings from germany and thank you for your good videos
Make sure your expo is setup correctly. If it is 75% in the wrong direction, it will be nearly unflyable. Example: With Futaba and Spektrum negative and positive expo points have completely opposite outputs on the control surface. Flyer Beware!
I would never use more the 50% expo. Make sure the expo causes the graph trace to get flatter in the center, not steeper. Spektrum uses positive numbers; Futaba uses negative numbers.
Warbirds live and die on exponential. I use lots of it. Focke Wulfs and Spitfires are almost unflyable without it.
I still think landing on high rates is a bad idea. I can always tell someone is landing on high rates by the jerkiness and overcorrecting high rates causes. Landing on low rates smooths the entire landing sequence out. Not only does the landing look better, it's just plain easier to fly.
Same goes for me
That looks like. A Florida flight field....laot like space coast aeromodelers club....please lete find out you loved to Florida and are flying at fields within 30 min of my house
The audio in this video gave me a headache
aweful audio