Automatic Flaps

Plane can control flaps in autonomous modes based on an airspeed schedule and/or during autotakeoffs and landings. Simply put you can specify two speeds and two flap settings. If your target speed (not your actual speed) is above the specified speeds then your flaps are set to the default (trim) position. If your target speed is lowered below the first flap speed, then flaps are deployed to the first position, and if your target speed is lowered below the second flap speed, then flaps are deployed to the second position.

The target speed can be commanded by changing the value of cruise_speed in the parameter interface, by using the Do_Set_Speed command in a mission, or by the throttle stick position in FBW-B.

Flaps can be configured on any channel (in older versions flaps could only be configured on channel 5, 6, 7 or 8 with 8 not available for manual control).

Software configuration

The first step in setting up flaps is to set the parameter for the channel function for the channel you are using for flaps to a value of 3. For example, if you have flaps on channel 5 then set SERVO5_FUNCTION to 3.

Next set the parameters for your two flap speeds and flap values. These parameters are FLAP_1_PERCNT, FLAP_2_PERCNT, FLAP_1_SPEED, FLAP_2_SPEED

Redo your radio calibration. Be sure to set the flap switch to the zero flap position before finishing the radio calibration so that zero flaps is stored as the trim (default) position.

That is basically all the setup required for speed/manual controlled flaps. If you find that your flaps are moving backwards from what you expect, change the reversing parameter for your flap channel, for example SERVO5_REVERSED. Set it to 1 to reverse the flaps, set to 0 for normal operation.

In addition, you can independently have flap positions for automatic takeoffs and/:or landings using:

• LAND_FLAP_PERCNT

• TKOFF_FLAP_PCNT

Using flaps

In Manual, Stabilize, or FBW-A modes your flaps will operate manually and you can set them with your transmitter.

In FBW-B the target airspeed is set by the position of the throttle stick. If set up properly you should see flaps deploy as you lower the throttle stick through the two flap airspeed ranges.

In RTL, Guided, and Auto modes flaps settings are determined by the schedule in your parameters and the current value of cruise_speed. You can change cruise_speed to a value in one of the flap ranges from the GCS and should see the flaps deploy. Also, if you use the Do_Change_Speed command in mission flaps will be deployed when the target speed is changed into one of the flap speed ranges.

Using Flaperons

You can also setup flaperons. Please see the separate flaperon guide for details.