FUTABA T18SZ User manual

Magnus Hedlund Page 1
Email: [e-mail] [2022-08-10] v3.5
FUTABA –F5J
Latest version: Link
SA = Motor On/Off This switch arms the motor.
SB = Motor speed: High –Mid –Low This switch selects between 3 different motor speeds.
LS = Variable thermal setting in condition Thermal Adjustable thermal setting.
SH = Extra thermal setting (not variable) in condition Thermal 2 (non-returning switch) A fixed thermal setting.
SC = Select Condition: Distance <–> Cruise <-> Thermal Select Flight Condition.
SF = Motor speed: Turbo*) (spring-loading returning switch) Turbo is for max motor speed.
*)Optional
(I have changed the physical position between SF and SH switches, see last page.)
SF = Turbo

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INFO
Basic settings is the settings in the radio before adjusting the values for your selected glider (model).
Settings –New Model is the adjustments to be done on a new glider based on the basic settings.
Start by selecting ‘Model Type’ in the Linkage menu. When changing model type, all settings will be lost.
Mixer info:
INH = Mixer function is not activated.
OFF = Mixer function is activated, but it is off.
ON = Mixer function is activated, and it is on.
Group = ‘Gr’i.e. = ‘Group’: The mix settings are for all flight conditions (default).
Group = ‘Sngl’i.e. = ‘Single’: The mix settings are only for the selected flight condition.
When Group = ‘Gr’, all the flight conditions will have the same mix settings as the selected flight condition.
When Group = ‘Sngl’ the selected flight condition will have it’s own separate mix settings.
16sz, 18sz: When settings for the mix is ‘Gr’ all flight conditions have the same mix settings.
18mz, 32mz: When settings for the mix is ‘Gr’, only selected flight conditions have the same mix settings.
(which means some flight conditions can have the same mix settings ‘Gr’,
and the other flight condition can have individual mix settings ‘Sngl’.)
Use the Servo monitor menu to see the values for the output channels.
Linkage –Servo reverse: Motor output is often reversed due to the ESC (Motor controller).
Flight Conditions (example):

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BASIC SETTINGS ”GLIDER”
LINKAGE –FUNCTION (Channel output, control, trim)
Output Control Trim Info
1: ELEVATOR J2 T2 Elevator (alt. V-Tail)
2: RUDDER J4 T4 Rudder (alt. V-Tail)
3: AILERON J1 T1 Aileron Left
4: AILERON2 - - - - Aileron Right
5: FLAP - - - - Flap Left
6: FLAP2 - - - - Flap Right
7: MOTOR SB (T3) Motor
8: AUX1 - - - -
9: AUX2 - - - -
10: AUX3 - - - -
11: AUX4 - - - -
12: AUX5 - - - -
13: AUX6 - - - -
14: AUX7 - - - -
15: BUTTERLY J3 - - Brake
16: CAMBER LS - -
DG1: - -
DG2: - -
The above is an example of where to set the channel outputs. (SB is chosen as Motor control.)
LINKAGE –SUB TRIM
All = 0 Change neutral position for the servo.
LINKAGE –SERVO REVERSE
All = NORMal (MOTOR = REVerse)
LINKAGE –END POINT
ELE, RUD, AIL, AIL2, MOT: 155, 100, 100, 155
FLAP, FLP2: 155, 140, 140, 155 (for max brake possibility)
GLIDER –COND. SELECT (Flight Conditions, example)
CONDIT1,Rename to CRUISE (Lowest priority)
ADD CONDIT2,Rename to THERMAL
ADD CONDIT3,Rename to THERMAL2
ADD CONDIT4,Rename to DISTANCE
ADD CONDIT5,Rename to LANDING
ADD CONDIT6, Rename to MOTOR ON (Highest priority)
MOTOR ON Switch = “SA” On = down
LANDING Switch = ”J3”, Normal, Linear, Hysteresis, Off = -92, On = -90
DISTANCE Switch = ”SC” On = up
THERMAL2 Switch = Logic: ”SC” and “SH”, SC On = down, ”SH” On = down
THERMAL Switch = ”SC”, On = down
LINKAGE –TRIM SETTING (18mz, 32mz: Needs to be set individually for all flight conditions)
T2: Mode = Separ (Elevator trim (T2) is separated for all flight conditions)
T1, T4, T3: Mode = Comb (Other trims (T1, T4, T3) are the same for all flight conditions)
T1-T6: Step = 2
LINKAGE –FUNCTION - Trim
T1-T6: Rate = 100
GLIDER –DUAL RATE (Activate Dual Rate for every flight condition, if used)
1 D/R INH Elevator Not used
2 D/R INH Rudder Not used
3 D/R INH Aileron Not used

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GLIDER –AIL DIFF (Aileron differential, less movement down)
LEFT RIGHT
AIL 100 100 (will then be changed to used differential rate)
AIL2 100 100
GROUP = ‘Grp’ (same aileron diff in all flight conditions)
or GROUP = ‘Sngl’(when not the same aileron diff used in all
flight conditions)
GLIDER –FLAP SETTING (Set the flap neutral position with the J3 Brake stick is up, i.e. no brake)
GROUP = ‘Grp’
FLAP FLAP2
UP 100 100 (Don’t change)
DOWN 100 100 (Don’t change)
OFFSET -40 -40 (Change “-40” to set the flap neutral position
when the glider is ready. Fine tune with Sub-trim.
“-40” is the best value for max brake.)
GLIDER –AIL -> CAMB FLAP (Aileron to flap mix)
Menu 2: LEFT RIGHT
FLAP 30 30 (Set the amount of flap mix)
FLAP2 30 30 (Set the amount of flap mix)
STATUS = ON or INH (INH = no aileron to flap mix)
GROUP = ‘Grp’(when the mix is same for all flight conditions)
or GROUP = “Sngl” (when the mix is different between flight
conditions)
GLIDER –AIL -> RUD (Aileron to rudder mix)
Menu 1: RATE A = 40
RATE B = 40 (Set the amount of rudder mix)
Menu 2: STATUS = ON or INH (INH = no aileron to rudder mix)
GROUP = “Grp’(when the mix is same for all flight conditions)
or GROUP = “Sngl” (when the mix is different between flight
conditions)
GLIDER –BUTTERFLY (Brake)
Menu 1: GROUP = ‘Grp’ (Start with common settings)
STATUS = INH (Set INH in flight conditions for no Butterfly
Then set flight condition = ‘LANDING’
GROUP = ‘Sngl’(Only for flight condition ‘LANDING’)
STATUS = ON (Set ON in flight condition ‘LANDING’)
OFFSET = 8 (Set pos for Brake stick J3 activates ‘LANDING’)
Menu 2: AIL= -10 AIL2 = -10 (Aileron brake up, or down)
FLAP = +140 FLAP2= +140 (Flap brake down, with the Brake stick J3 down
“+140” is the best value for max brake.)
ELE SETTING: (Elevator down compensation when braking)
RATE 1 = 0 (Not used, when no brake eq. J3 = up
RATE 2= +60 (Gain for elevator down, affects the whole curve)
CURVE = Point The curve needs to be set during flight test:
Position Rate (This curve is a good start to begin with.)
152 0
83 0
70 -70
40 -110
0 -135
-40 -145
-100 -150
-152 -150

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GLIDER –TRIM MIX 1 (Set aileron/flap neutral position for selected flight conditions)
GROUP = ‘Sngl’
STATUS = INH (INH = for flight condition ‘CRUISE’, ‘LANDING’
and ‘MOTOR ON’)
STATUS = ON (ON = for the other flight conditions)
AIL AIL2
OFFSET 00(Set aileron neutral position, down or up)
FLAP FLAP2
OFFSET 00(Set flap neutral position, down or up)
OFFSET ELEVATOR
0(Set elevator neutral compensation, if needed)
GLIDER –V-TAIL (V-Tail)
Group = ‘Grp’
Can be used for V-tail rudder differential,
or for adjusting the V-tail movement.
VARIABEL NEUTRAL POSITION FOR FLIGHT CONDITION –‘THERMAL’
1. LS control the variable position. Check that LS is active:
Linkage - Function: CH 16 ”CAMBER LS”
2. To set the function, go to
Glider - Camber mixing
3. In flight condition = ‘THERMAL’.
GROUP = ‘Sngl’, (Only in ‘THERMAL’)
STATUS = ON (Mix is on)
4. With LS in the middle, neutral position is not changed. (Neutral position set by Trim Mix 1.)
Glider - Camber mixing: Curve:
For Aileron and Flap and Elevator
Rate A and Rate B = +50
Offset = 0
5. Glider - Camber mixing: Travel Set camber mixing end positions:
AIL = AIL2 = +10 max travel up/down (Rate 1, 2)
FLAP = FLAP2 = +10 max travel up/down (Rate 1, 2)
ELE = +10 max elevator compensation (Rate 1, 2)

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MOTOR CONTROL
Switch SA (= 3 pos switch) arms the motor control.
SA = ”up” or ”middle” = motor off.
SA = ”down” = motor on:
SB = ”up” = high speed.
SB = ”middle” = cruising speed.
SB = ”down” = low speed.
SF on = Turbo speed. (Option: Additional function for motor speed)
GLIDER –AFR
Menu 2: Set Function = Motor
Set GROUP = ‘Grp’
Set Rate A = Rate B = 0
Set Offset = -125 (Off) equals pulse width = 995 us.
For F5J height meter:
pulse width <1200 us for motor off.
Additional for Altis height meter:
pulse width <1000 us for emergency_on function.
Set flight condition = ‘MOTOR ON’.
Set GROUP = ‘Sngl’ (In flight condition ‘MOTOR ON’.)
Set Point: Pos Rate
-100 -65 (Low)equals pulse width = 1250 us.
For F5J meter:
pulse width >1200 us for motor on.
0 -15 (Mid)
+100 +70 (High)(Change to +100, when no optional Turbo speed.)
Example:
Low = The modelplane stays floating (no sinking/climbing).
Mid = Set the modelplane to a 10 m/s climb.
Max = Max horizontal speed.
Low and high speed needs to be adjusted depending on used ESC/Motor combination.
(Don’t set the ESC to ’Auto’, use programmed min/max positions,
min = 1250 us, max = 1900 us, brake <1250 us)

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TURBO SPEED
Dual Rate is used for the Turbo speed function (max motor), when used
GLIDER –DUAL RATE
Set flight condition = ‘MOTOR ON’
Status Function Switch
D/R 1 OFF/ON Motor SF (ON in flight condition ‘MOTOR ON’)
(Switch = “SF”, On = down)
GLIDER –AFR
Menu 2: Set Function = Motor
Menu 1: Motor –Dual rate
D/R 1 in flight condition ‘MOTOR ON’: (Set D/R 1 with SF)
Set Rate A = Rate B = 0
Set Offset = +100 equals pulse width = 1940 us.
MOTOR TO ELEVATOR COMPENSATION, when needed
GLIDER –PROGRAM MIXES
Select new mixer, Mode = Mixing
Menu 2:
Set Mixer to ‘ON’
Master: Motor
Slave: Elevator
Menu 1: Point: Position Rate (elevator compensation, usually down.)
-152.5 0
-125 0 = Off
-65 0 = Low
-15 +2 = Mid
+70 +3 = High
+100 +4 = Turbo (High)
+152.5 0
For V-Tail:
Set Slave - Elevator - Link to ‘+’.

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SETTINGS, NEW MODEL
1. Set all neutral positions in LINKAGE –SUB TRIM
Elevator, Rudder, Aileron
2. Set flap neutral position in GLIDER –FLAP SETTING
OFFSET-value (Brake stick = no brake, i.e. up)
3. Adjust elevator up/down in LINKAGE –END POINT
Travel …
4. Adjust rudder left/right in LINKAGE - END POINT
Travel …
5. Adjust aileron up/down in LINKAGE - END POINT Set the same position for up and down.
Travel … The differential position between up/down will be adjusted in AIL DIFF-mixer.
6. Adjust aileron down in GLIDER –AIL DIFF
LEFT RIGHT
AIL 100 …(Left aileron)
AIL2 …100 (Right aileron)
7. Adjust flap up/down in GLIDER –AIL -> CAMB FLAP
LEFT RIGHT
FLAP ... ... (Left flap)
FLAP2 ... …(Right flap)
8. Adjust brake with max brake, i.e brake stick down, in GLIDER –BUTTERFLY
AIL= … AIL2 = … (Aileron up)
FLAP = … FLAP2= … (Flap down)
9. Adjust elevator (down) compensation when braking in GLIDER –BUTTERFLY ELE SETTING
RATE 1 = 0
RATE 2= … (Set max elevator compensation)
10. Adjust aileron -> rudder mix in GLIDER - AIL -> RUD
RATE A = …
RATE B = …
11. Adjust neutral positions for flight conditions ‘THERMAL’, ‘THERMAL2’, ‘DISTANCE’
in GLIDER –TRIM MIX 1
AIL AIL2
OFFSET ……(Aileron position)
FLAP FLAP2
OFFSET ……(Flap position)
12. Adjust variable thermal position in flight condition ‘THERMAL’.
13. After flight test, adjust motor speed (low, mid and high)
14. After flight test, adjust elevator compensation when motor running (at different speed).
15. After flight test, adjust elevator compensation when braking (at different brake positions).

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Trim T5 as global elevator trim: (missing on 16SZ, use T3 instead):
Trim T2 is used ”as usual” for elevator trim, i.e. it sets elevator trim separate for every flight condition.
Trim T5 is used, at the same time, and adjusts the elevator trim for all (wanted) flight conditions.
This trim T5 is useful to set the elevator neutral position (when flying) for all flight conditions at the same time.
It is still possible to adjust every flight condition individually with trim T2.
Elevator Trim = T5 + T2
LINKAGE –FUNCTION
Channel 14, Auxilary7, Control = ”- -”, Trim = ”T5”
GLIDER –PROGRAM MIXES
Mode = Mixing
Mixing menu 2:
ON (not INH), Trim= ON
Master = Auxilary7
Slave = Elevator
Mixing menu 1:
Rate A, Rate B = +100)
For V-tail:
Set Slave - Elevator - Link to ‘+’.

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Timer 1 for motor on (Beeps when counting)
Reset switch: SA –up = Reset timer
. Start switch: SA - down = Start timer
Stop switch: SA –middle = Stop timer
LINKAGE –TIMER (Timer 1)
Alarm = 00:30, Elapsed, Buzzer, One time
Mode = Up
Reset switch, SA = On, Off, Off
Start switch, SA = Off, Off, On
Stop switch, SA = Off, On, Off
F5J: Timer 1 for motor on and Timer 2 for 10 sek after motor off (Speech when counting)
SA –down = Motor on (30 sek countdown) Flight mode = MOTOR ON
SA –middle = Motor off (10 sek countdown)
SA –up = Motor off (“Normal”, default)
LINKAGE –TIMER (Timer 1)
Alarm = 00:30, Remainder, Speech, One time
Mode = Down
Reset switch, SA = On, On, Off
Start switch, SA = Off, Off, On
Stop switch, - -
LINKAGE –TIMER (Timer 2)
Alarm = 00:30, Elapsed, Buzzer, One time
Mode = Down
Reset switch, SA = On, Off, On
Start switch, SA = Off, On, Off
Stop switch, - -

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Reduced rate for Elevator when Motor = Turbo:
GLIDER - DUAL RATE
Set flight condition = ‘MOTOR ON’
D/R 2 ON Elevator SF (ON in flight condition ‘MOTOR ON’)
GLIDER –AFR
(Elevator –Dual rate)
D/R 2 in flight condition ‘MOTOR ON’:
Set Rate A = Rate B = “reduced rate”
Adjust flap ”along the way” in Butterfly-mix (‘LANDING’):
GLIDER –PROGRAM MIXES
Mode = Mixing, Group = separate
Mixing menu 2:
ON (In flight condition ‘LANDING’, other = INH)
Master = J3
Slave = Flap (2) (Select the flap to be adjusted)
Mixing menu 1:
Offset = nnn (Set the value)
Rate A = - Rate B: (Set the position when Brake = max)

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How to change switches on Futaba 18sz:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?2550020-How-to-exchange-switches-on-Futaba-18SZ-
%288FG-14FG%29#post33304351
I have changed between SH and SF, ie I want the spring-loaded switch positioned on the left side.
Due to the switch PCB:s being designed for upper left or right side, I had to remove the two switches from the PCB,
and then re-solder them to the new positions.
Now it works as I wanted.
I couldn't find an easy way to change them, like in 18mz, where there also is a menu for when you have changed
switches.