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Caution
Note, during the setup process, sticks and knob will have too high of a response. Be careful to not exceed servo or mechanical limits when moving the sticks or knob. Once the setup is completed, this will not be an issue.
Model channel settings:
channel 1 - AIL1 right aileron
channel 2 - ELE elevator
channel 3 - ABK not used (or power from receiver pack)
channel 4 - RUD rudder
channel 5 - FLP2 right flap
channel 6 - FLP1 left flap
channel 7 - AIL2 left aileron
channel 8 - CH8 not used (or power from receiver pack)
If vtail:
channel 2 - ELE1 RUD2 - right ruddervator
channel 4 - ELE2 RUD1 - left ruddervator
Transmitter special controls:
Throttle stick): (ABK - air brake).
SWA up - camber
SWA down - butterfly/crow
Launch mode: Three position switch.
Switch E (left) on 8UH, switch G (right) on 8UA.
start/normal/speed modes.
Flap Knob: only used during setup.
Initial transmitter setup
Set transmitter model type to GLD2FLP, enable aileron differential (if it isn't already) 100% up/100% down for now. If you have a v-tail enable it now also, setting all values to +/- 50% or so. Use pmix2 and pmix3 to offset flap servos center position:
pmix2: OFS->CH5 = +40%, link off, SWA null
pmix3: OFS->CH6 = +40%, link off, SWA null
40% setting is suggested, you can change this as desired. The 8U butterfly function results in "135%" throw (even though it displays only 100%), or from +40% to -95%. This is about 60 degrees of servo throw instead of just 45 degrees. You can adjust both the offset value in pmix2 and pmix3, and decrease throw in butterfly setup as desired. The flap trim knob could be used to set offset instead of using pmix2 and pmix3, but using the mixes allows the flap trim knob function to be disabled (one less thing to go wrong).
Wiggle sticks, and turn flap knob small amounts (it's sensitive); and reverse any channel for any throw that is backwards. Note, the flap knob is turned clockwise to lower flaps.Mechanical setup
Mechanically center and adjust linkages so that throws exceed recommended values a bit, preferably just slightly, with ATV values at 100%. Don't adjust the ATV values yet; leave them at 100%. The ATV values will be "tweaked" later on in order to get equal trailing edge movements, and later still, other mixes will be used to set the actual throws. For now all that's needed is to set the throws so that they exceed (just a bit if possible) the desired throws. Use the 8U's sub-trim settings to complete centering of the control surfaces.Avoid exceeding mechanical limitations with too much stick or knob movement. Excessive mechanical throw can be compensated for, but there will be some loss of precision and servo leverage (strength). Use the kit recommend values, or use the values shown below as a starting point.
The term chord is used here to mean the distance from front to back of the wing (ailerons, flaps), or tail (elevator, rudder).
Ailerons: thermal models up/down 25% chord
sport models up/down 40% chord
For now, leave the ailerons with equal up/down throws. If the ailerons mechanically can't go down as far as up, then adjust aileron differential "down" percentages to 50%, so that you can move the stick enough to set the up throws without bottoming out the opposing aileron. After throws are verified adjust all aileron differential values back to +/- 100%.
Flaps: up = half the aileron up throw (pilot preference)
down = inhibit pmix2 and pmix3 (flaps move move down a bit)
set throw to as much as 90 degrees down
reenable pmix2 and pmix3 (flaps will move up a bit)
To get this much differential in the flap throw, set the servo control horns so they're angled towards the flaps (assuming servo rods move under wing). Use the flap (CH6, left) knob (carefully) to check flap throw.
Elevator: +/- 25% chord
Rudder: +/- 25% chord to +/-50% chord (hard to have too much rudder).
With vtail, +/- 25% chord (same as elevator).
Set ATV values for tail surfaces.
Adjust the ATV values for elevator and rudder to get desired throws. Use the values from above as a guide if you don't have recommended values available. Adjust V-tail %'s if needed.
Set ATV values for ailerons and flaps.
Aileron and flap ATV values will be set (tweaked) to equalize trailing edge control (flap knob, elevator->flap, camber) throw response of flaps and ailerons. The other mixes will then be used to set the actual desired throws for ailerons and flaps. The reason for this is that the Futaba's trailing edge mixes don't allow values greater than 100%. Normally this would result in less aileron than flap response to trailing edge mixes. So the idea here is to use the ATV values to get these throws even for trailing edge mixes, and use the other mixes later on to set actual desired throws. Don't worry, there's enough "programmability" left in the other mixes to compensate for these "tweaked" ATV values to set desired aileron and flap throws, even if you need to adjust the aileron ATV values 1.4 times as much as the flap values to get them equal.
Enable FLP->AIL mix, set left value to +100%, select right value, and with the flap (CH6) knob centered, press both + and - keys to set flap knob offset to 0% for this mix. Carefully twist the flap knob small amounts, so that the flaps move up and down about half the desired aileron up throw distance (pilot preference here), ailerons will be moving also, but the ailerons will probably move less than the flaps. If this is the case, increase ATV values for the ailerons up to 140%, until entire trailing edge, both flaps and ailerons, all move equally (or close enough) in response to twisting the flap knob enough to move all of them up and down half the desired aileron up throw distance. You can decrease flap ATV values, but this will reduce the maximum down throw of the flaps. Avoid twisting the flap knob too much (don't exceed throws).
Set aileron differential
Adjust both up and down values for each aileron to get desired throw response from the ailerons. Typical up/down differntial ratios range from 2:1 to 4:1.
Set butterfly flap mix(es)
Caution, on some models, full down flaps droop below the fuselage. Skegs can be mounted on bottom of fuselage to prevent this. If this is the first model you fly where the flaps can snag during landings, you may consider reducing the amount of droop on butterfly mode to prevent this until you get use to retracting flaps a bit during landing.
Flip Switch A down, and set offset to near top of throttle stick throw, 95%. Adjust flap throw value, usually a large negative percentage to get desired droop. Do not adjust the ATV values.
At this point all the control throws should be set. The tweaked aileron and flap values have been compensated for with the mixing procedure above. The rest of the setup is fairly standard.
Set butterfly elevator mix
bfly: try initial value of -10%, adjust during initial flights.
Set butterfly aileron mixes
For standard butterfly aileron mix:
bfly: ABK->AIL, 1/5th to 1/3rd of aileron differential up value
To get ailerons to only deploy near bottom end of stick travel:
bfly: ABK->AIL, 0%
pmix6: ABK->AIL, POS1 0% POS2 0% POS3 0% POS4 0%
POS5 (-1/5 to -1/3 of right aileron (CH1) differential up value)
SWA down
pmix7: ABK->CH7, POS1 0% POS2 0% POS3 0% POS4 0%
POS5 (+1/5 tp +1/3 of left aileron (CH7) differential up value)
SWA down
Turn switch A down, pull throttle stick down, flaps should droop,
ailerons should rise slightly.
Set up Camber mix:
pmix4: ABK->FLP 0% -10% link on trim off ofst 95% SWA up
Adjust % so that trailing edge droops about 5 degrees (9% chord).
pmix5: ABK->ELE 0% +5% link on trim off ofst 95% SWA up
Adjust elevator trim during initial flights for level glide.
Pmix5 only needs link on for vtails.
(adjust %'s as desired, entire trailing edge will move).
Set up ELE->FLP mix:
try an initial values of -15% / -15% readjust on initial flights.
(note entire trailing edge will move).
Set up Pmix1: AIL->RUD mix:
Pilot preference here, some prefer none, others 50%.
Readjust during initial flights.
Set up AIL->FLP mix:
+50% +50% (pilot preference, improves roll response).
Start
Droop flaps a bit more than ailerons, possibly raise elevator a tad.
Be conservative on first few launches while adjusting this.
Speed (reflex)
Raise flaps and ailerons a bit (1/16 inch or so).
Adjust elevator during initial flights.
Disable flap knob
Enable FLPTRM and set percentage to 0%.
That's it, ready for first flight. When trimming, avoid modifying ATV values (only if throws get unequal). Use the mix values instead. Typically you'll be adjusting aileron differential, rudder mixing, elevator setting for various modes, start and speed modes during the initial flights.