Flight Modes & Features¶
WingFlight's flight modes are built around fixed-wing flight characteristics -- most were designed or adapted specifically for aircraft with fixed control surfaces, rather than inherited unchanged from Rotorflight's helicopter-focused mode set.
| Mode / Feature | Summary |
|---|---|
| Attitude Hold | Holds commanded attitude per axis when that stick is released |
| Thrust Vector Attitude Hold | Independent attitude/heading hold on the Thrust Vector loop only, decoupled from the main surfaces |
| Auto Trim | Captures trim automatically from sustained stick input |
| Trainer Mode | Rate control with pitch/bank limits, without self-leveling |
| Traditional | Zeroes the I-term for a snappy, no-hold rate-gyro feel, layered on top of any other stabilization |
| Passthrough and Manual | PASSTHROUGH sends raw stick to the surfaces at full travel, for setting throws; MANUAL keeps your rates and expo with stabilization off |
| Ready-to-Arm Wiggle | Visual servo-wiggle confirmation before arming |
| Cross-Axis Relax | Reduces unwanted coupling between control axes |
| Snap Relax | Stops the gyro fighting pop tops, pinwheels and snaps |
| Prop-Hang Relax | Lets the prop torque roll the model in a prop hang |
| GPS RTH and Loiter | Experimental fixed-wing return-to-home and orbit, by banking and pitching under Angle-mode leveling; also reachable as a Failsafe Stage 2 procedure |
| Governor | Idle-hold or RPM governing of motor throttle response, from Off through fixed idle to full RPM Range control |
| Backup RX Input | Instant backup receiver takeover from a second RX port if the main RF link is lost |
Most modes are enabled and mapped to a transmitter switch from the Modes tab. Backup RX Input is the exception -- it's enabled by assigning a serial port's function, not an aux switch; see its own page for setup.
Flight detection¶
While armed with a live receiver signal, the detector requires at least 10% roll or pitch stick input and a gyro response of at least 15°/s in the same direction, continuously for 250 ms on one axis. Yaw steering, throttle, static tilt and arming alone do not qualify. The existing armed GPS-rescue/failsafe override remains.
Once flight is detected it remains latched until disarm. Releasing the sticks, gliding at idle or losing receiver input does not reduce attitude correction. Disarm after landing to restore ground behavior; landing while still armed does not automatically clear the flight state.
This changes the flight evidence, not the controllers: ANGLE, Attitude Hold and TV hold retain their existing 25% correction before flight is detected. Normal rate/manual control and Trainer do not use this state. Normal rate stabilization is available before flight detection.
The thresholds need bench and flight validation. Hand movement following a stick command can imitate flight, while a launch without a qualifying command and response can remain undetected. Do not rely on this as a ground safety interlock.