SIM001 › Flying the VTOL › Flying with a radio
Forward flight with self-levelling
FBWA is the self-levelling mode of the VTOL, and button 3 of the radio selects it. In FBWA, the sticks set the angle of bank and pitch. When you release the sticks, the plane levels its wings and nose by itself. Thus you can learn to fly the plane on its wing, with no risk of a roll-over. From a hover, FBWA also starts the transition: the wing motors tilt forward and the plane speeds up. In FBWA the throttle stick sets the power, so push it all the way up. At cruise speed, the wing needs a little nose up to hold the height: pull the elevator stick back a little.
FBWA changes a hover into forward flight
If put the arm switch on, press button 2 and push the throttle stick up. Wait until the plane is 15 m above the field. Keep the throttle stick up, push the throttle stick all the way up, pull the elevator stick back a little, and press button 3 on the front of the radio. The wing motors tilt forward and the plane speeds up. The speed in the PFD is above 11 m/s, and the plane flies forward. The FBWA button lights up. The height above home is at least 15 m.
See it in Flying a VTOL with self-levelling, Flying a VTOL with the TX15.
How this is tested untested
Given the VTOL is hovering over the field When the pilot switches to forward flight Then the flight is cruising And the autopilot mode is FBWA And the height above home is at least 15 m
In FBWA, the aileron stick banks the plane
If lift off as above. Push the throttle stick all the way up, pull the elevator stick back a little, and press button 3. The wing motors tilt forward. Wait until the plane flies on its wing, move the aileron stick right: all the way left, in the middle, or all the way right. The horizon in the PFD is tilted, and the roll reading is more than 10° from 0.
See it in Flying a VTOL with self-levelling, Flying a VTOL with the TX15.
How this is tested untested
Given the VTOL is cruising in FBWA When the aileron stick is right Then the VTOL's wings are banked
In FBWA, the wings become level again
Release the stick, and the plane levels its wings by itself.
If lift off as above. Push the throttle stick all the way up, pull the elevator stick back a little, and press button 3. The wing motors tilt forward. Wait until the plane flies on its wing, the aileron stick is right and the VTOL's wings are banked, move the aileron stick centred: all the way left, in the middle, or all the way right. The horizon in the PFD is flat, and the roll reading is near 0.
See it in Flying a VTOL with self-levelling, Flying a VTOL with the TX15.
How this is tested untested
Given the VTOL is cruising in FBWA And the aileron stick is right And the VTOL's wings are banked When the aileron stick is centred Then the VTOL's wings are level
Button 2 brings the plane out of FBWA and back to a hover
If lift off as above. Push the throttle stick all the way up, pull the elevator stick back a little, and press button 3. The wing motors tilt forward. Wait until the plane flies on its wing, centre the elevator stick, put the throttle stick in the middle, and press button 2 on the front of the radio. The plane slows down and the wing motors tilt up. The plane stays at one place in the air, and the speed in the PFD is near 0. The QLOITER button lights up. The height above home is at least 15 m.
See it in Flying a VTOL with self-levelling, Flying a VTOL with the TX15.
How this is tested untested
Given the VTOL is cruising in FBWA When the pilot switches back to a hover Then the flight is hovering And the autopilot mode is QLOITER And the height above home is at least 15 m