Model menu
Airbrake -> elevator mixer
F X - 4 0
18.6 AIRBRAKE -> ELEVATOR MIXER
This menu is
used to set up a
mixer which
causes the ele-
vator to deflect
when the airbra-
kes are exten-
ded.
When the airb-
rakes are
deployed, a
pitch trim
change often occurs - this applies to many models. Without a
suitable mixer, the pilot then has to compensate for this by
applying down-elevator manually. The FX-40 includes a mixer
which carries out this correction automatically.
The exact mixer values for each elevator servo(s) can be
adjusted separately. The function can be activated using a
switch which you can select. As with many functions, it is also
possible to determine whether the settings are to apply to all
flight modes (Glob) or only to the currently activated flight
mode (Sepa). It is possible to assign an auxiliary control for
fine-tuning the function.
This mixer is only available if you have already programmed a
wing type with airbrakes; this is carried out in the model type
select section of the Base menu.
Mark the ‘Airbrake ? elevator’ mixer in the Model menu. The
screen display now looks like this:
As ever, this mixer function must first be activated: mark the
left field in the first line, and the screen will display ‘On’ or
‘OFF’, according to the current switch position.
Use the familiar method to define a switch for triggering the
mixer: mark the appropriate field and define the correct switch
and its direction of operation in the switch select menu which
now appears. The default is ‘NONE’, i.e. the mixer is con-
stantly switched on.
The effects and method of setting the ‘Glob’ or ‘Sepa’ mode
have already been described; the function is programmed
using the appropriate switch field.
Once you have activated this mixer, you can use the arrow
buttons to enter the mixer rates for the elevators in the usual
way.
• Programming the curve
A curve can be programmed to define the effect of the Airb-
rake ? elevator mixer. In addition to selecting the curve type
for each side (Rate A and Rate B), you can also enter a per-
centage value. The settings are adjusted exactly as descri-
bed for programming the Dual Rate curves. Please refer to
this in Section 17.2 on page 58.
• Selecting the fine-tuning settings
It is possible to assign a switch or other transmitter control
to the task of fine-tuning this mixer. Mark this field, and the
transmitter control / switch select menu appears; now you
can select the transmitter control you wish to use for this
purpose. The default setting is ‘NONE’. Any of the auxiliary
transmitter controls can be selected. Your selection is dis-
played in the field.
You can now select your preferred display mode in the ‘Dis-
play’ field: the alternatives are to show all flight modes (All
modes), the currently active mode (Separate) or the fine-
tuning display (Fine). The mode is selected in the usual way.
Once you have selected a transmitter control for fine-
tuning, and programmed your preferred mode, you should
determine the effect range for the fine-tuning procedure.
The first step here is to mark the right field in the ‘Fine-
tuning’ frame. The arrow buttons now appear at the right
margin of the screen, and they are used to enter the effect
range as a percentage figure; the set value is displayed in
the appropriate field. The direction of effect can be reversed
if necessary by altering the prefix in the central field.
If you now operate the selected transmitter control, the
function is adjusted within the pre-defined range. The value
currently set is shown by a fine line superimposed on the
programmed curve.
The next step is to define the operating mode for the trans-
mitter control you have chosen; this is carried out using the
now familiar procedure: mark the field containing the sym-
bol for the effect of the transmitter control; the effect mode
changes each time you mark the field. You can choose from
a total of four modes, whose function is displayed in sche-
matic form on-screen. The meaning of the symbols and the
different modes is explained in the description on page 61.
This screen-shot shows the state of the display when you have
completed the programming of the Airbrake -> elevator mixer.
69
Left
airbrake
Right
airbrake
V-tail Ailvator
ELE
ELE
ELE2
ELE2