In this page you will find:
- Simulation Rate when flying RCE
- G-REF camera and Field of View
- Setting RC Pilot Position:
- Test-Pilot Mode (Advanced Feature):
- Sound settings:
1. Simulation Rate when flying RCE
This is the most important setting. In X-Plane's General settings, set the Flight Models per Frame value to somewhere between 5-10 (maximum).
X-Plane's default (minimum) value is optimized for full-scale aircraft. At lower values, the physics engine cannot keep up with the fast, lightweight dynamics of RC scale models, resulting in shaking, instability, or crashes on the ground immediately after loading.
It is highly recommended to set it to 5-10 before flying any RCE model.
If you use X-Plane for full-scale aircraft as well, remember to set it back to your preferred value (typically 2 to 4) when switching back.
2. G-REF camera and Field of View
One of the real challenges of RC flying is maintaining visual contact with the aircraft and reading its spatial orientation, especially when it's flying toward you from a distance. On a monitor, this becomes even harder as the model shrinks quickly with range.
In full-scale sim flying, on standard 2-d display of up to ~43",comfortable Lateral FOV is typically set between 85 and 115 degrees. While this setup provides good cockpit and spatial orientation, it is not optimized for flying RC models.
RCE handles Lateral FOV automatically via the built-in G-REF camera plugin. In external views, G-REF manages FOV dynamically, adjusting it in real time based on the aircraft's distance and the pilot's head tilt above the horizon, exactly as a real RC pilot's eye would track the model.
You can enable or disable the G-REF camera on-the-fly:
- By manually enabling X-Plane G-Loaded camera (see image below).
- By assigning a key/button/switch in the dedicated VSKYLABS Assignment system,
and switch is on the fly.
Pro-Tip:
If you have a spare channel in your remote, you can assign it to 'VSL RCE (Camera) GREF Hold' command (or other command from that list, depending on your controller). Then, while flying, you can hit the switch/button and switch the camera in-flight, instantly. This allows you to 'open' and 'close' the view and it is handy form general orientation.
When loading a standard X-Plane aircraft after flying RCE, FOV may default to 100-115 degrees. You may want to adjust it back to your preferred full-scale setting.
3. Setting RC Pilot Position:
RCE initiates flight with the RC Pilot positioned close to the RC model. After 2 second initiation, you are able to tune your ground position using the arrows and the fwd/aft keys, as shown in the image below.
The recommended views for RC Flying are:
- Shift+2 (External Still Spot) - this is the default RCE view.
- Shift +3 (External Runway)
- Shift + 5 (External Tower) - the view is set to the airport tower. In dedicated RC airports this view is useful. In general aviation airports it will set the view in the control tower.
4. Test-Pilot Mode (Advanced Feature):
For pilots who want real stakes. Enable Test Pilot Mode and the rules change. The aircraft now has real structural limits, and exceeding them has consequences. Push too hard, fly too fast or ignore your Buddy's warnings. Systems fail unpredictably over time, from engine failures to control surface degradation and gear malfunctions. Designed for experienced pilots who want to be challenged with emergencies. Disable at any time to reset and fly clean.
To enable Test-Pilot mode, go to General settings, and hit the checkbox, as seen in the following screenshot:
5. Sound settings:
For RC flying, it is highly recommended to disable all ATC voice messages. You can do this in the Sound Settings screen, as shown in the screenshot below.
For setting the Pilot-Buddy alerts volume, use the 'Copilot' sound channel / bar.
For setting the TX Voice-callouts, use the User Interface sound channel / bar.
