Futaba 6DA User Manual

Instruction Manual

Thank you for purchasing the Futaba 6DA 6-channel with Flight Set radio system. Whether this is your first
R/C radio system, or you’re moving up or replacing a trusted old friend, we believe you’ll be pleased with
your 6DA. Futaba is the leader in R/C radio technology.
Please read this instruction manual carefully and use the 6DA radio system safely. If you are unfamiliar with
some of the terms in this instruction manual, take a few minutes to read the glossary. It contains useful
information about terms that will help you understand the functions and features of this radio. Save this
manual for future reference and, most of all, have fun!

Entire Contents © Copyright 2001 FUTZ8570 V1.0

Safety Information ......................2

Features & Specifications ............6

Battery Care ................................7

Installing Servos ..........................7

Setting Up Your Radio Gear ........8

Transmitter Operation...............10

Servo Reversing.........................11

Throttle EPA ..............................12

AST's .........................................13

Dual Rates.................................14

Aileron-to-Rudder Mixing .........15

Dual Aileron Servos/Flaperons ..16

Aileron Differential ...................17

Retractable Landing Gear..........18

Flaps..........................................19

Flap-to-Elevator Mixing .............19

Trainer Function........................20

Prepare to Fly............................20

Glossary ....................................21

Troubleshooting Guide..............23

Radio System

•No part of this manual may be reproduced in any form without prior permission.

•The contents of this manual are subject to change without prior notice.

•This manual has been carefully written. Please write to Futaba if you feel that any corrections or clarifications should be made.

•Futaba is not responsible for the misuse of this product.

Warranty

The US Futaba Service Center will warranty this radio for one year after the purchase date from defects
in materials or workmanship. Please read the enclosed Futaba Warranty Card for full details of this
radio’s warranty.

Make sure you save the receipt or invoice you were given when you bought your radio! It is your
proof of purchase and we must see it before we can honor the warranty.

To return your radio for repairs covered under the warranty, or for non-warranty service, please ship it with
a detailed explanation of your concerns to the address listed below. Please include as many means of
contact as possible. Daytime fax number and email address will allow us to provide you automated
information updates, and will assist the service team in contacting you as quickly as possible.

Futaba Service Center
1610 Interstate Drive
Champaign IL 61822

www.futaba-rc.com

phone: [phone]

8:00am - 5:00 pm Central Time M-F

fax: [phone]

email: [e-mail]

2 23

To ensure safe use, observe the following precautions.

Precautions During Flight

• Do not fly or turn on simultaneously with

another radio on the same frequency.

Interference will cause
a crash. Use of the
same frequency will
cause interference
even if the modulation
method (AM, FM,
PCM) is different.

• Do not fly on rainy or

windy days, or at night.

Water will penetrate into the
transmitter (Tx) and cause
faulty operation, or loss of
control, and cause a crash.

Do not fly in the following places:

• Near other R/C flying fields (within about

2.5 miles [4km]).

• Near people on the ground, or objects in

the air.

• Near homes, schools, hospitals, or other

places where there are a lot of people.

• Near high tension lines, high structures,
or communication facilities. Radiowave

interference and obstructions may cause a crash. A
crash caused by trouble in the R/C set, or the model
itself, may cause death or property damage.

Other Precautions

• Do not fly when you are tired, sick, or
intoxicated. Fatigue, illness, or intoxication will

cause a loss of concentration or normal judgment
and result in operation errors and a crash.

• Extend the antenna to its full
length. If the antenna is shortened,
the effective range of the radio signal
will be shorter.

• Check that the transmitter (Tx) antenna is
not loose. If the transmitter antenna comes off
during use, control will be lost and the model
will crash.

• Always test the R/C set before use. Any
abnormality in the R/C set, or model, may cause a
crash. Before starting the engine, check that the
direction of operation of each servo matches the
operation of its control stick. If a servo does not move
in the proper direction, or operation is abnormal, do
not fly the plane.

• When placing the transmitter (Tx) on the

ground during flight preparations, be sure
that the wind cannot knock it over. If it is

knocked over, the throttle stick may be pushed to full
throttle, the engine will speed up and may create a
very dangerous situation.

• When adjusting the R/C set, always stop
the engine. If the engine suddenly goes to full
throttle, it may cause an injury.

• Do not get fuel, oil, etc. on plastic parts.
The plastic may melt, discolor, become brittle and fail
to function.

• Always use Genuine Futaba transmitters,

receivers, servos, ESCs, NiCd batteries,
and other optional parts. Futaba is not

responsible for damage, etc. caused by the use of
parts other than Genuine Futaba parts. Use the parts
described in the instruction manual and catalogs.

NiCd Battery Charging Precautions

Always charge the NiCd batteries before
each flight. If the battery goes dead during flight, the

plane may crash or fly away.

Charge the R/C NiCd battery with the
standard charger, or fast field charger (sold
separately). Overcharging may cause burns, fire,

injury, blindness, etc. due to overheating, breakage,
electrolyte leakage, etc.

Do not short the NiCd battery connector
terminals. Shorting the terminals will cause sparking

and overheating and result in burns or fire.

Do not drop or apply strong shock to NiCd
battery. The battery may short out and cause

overheating or breakage and electrolyte leakage,
resulting in burns or damage from chemical contents.

SAFETY INFORMATION

Problem Possible causes Solution

Short range

Collapsed or loose Tx antenna...........Fully extend the antenna and make sure it is

securely attached

Interference.........................................Check frequencies in area and

check Rx installation

Rx antenna poorly routed ...................Reroute antenna away from other wiring

Severed Rx antenna ...........................Send to Futaba service center for new antenna

Tx or Rx battery not fully charged ......Fully charge batteries prior to use

Rx or Tx out of tune............................Send to Futaba service center for retuning

Crash damage ....................................Send to Futaba service center for inspection and repair

Faulty Rx or Tx crystal ........................Install new crystal and perform range check

Sluggish servo response

Low Tx or Rx batteries........................Fully charge batteries prior to use, may need cycling

(you must remove the batteries from the TX to cycle,
and this requires opening the Tx case.)

Binding servos causing

excess battery drain............................Check pushrods and free binding

Too many servos.................................Use fewer servos if possible, or use a higher capacity

battery pack

Tx meter low

Tx batteries are discharged ................Fully charge batteries prior to use

Tx meter above red zone

but servos do not function

Rx batteries are discharged................Fully charge batteries prior to use

No power to receiver...........................Move Rx switch harness to “ON” position

Switch harness incorrect ....................Make sure all leads are in the proper positions

Reversing switch stuck in-between

positions..............................................Move switch fully to one side or the other

Interference or servos glitching

Another Tx is on your channel............Turn off immediately and do not operate your system

until other user is finished

Outside interference............................Check local R/C club to learn of dangerous frequencies

in your area

Engine or motor electrical noise .........Reroute antenna or servo leads as far away from

engine or motor as possible

One glitching servo

Malfunctioning servo...........................Replace servo

Other interference...............................Check quality and installation of servo lead or extension

Servo movement not as expected

Mix accidentally activated ...................Check all mix dip switches

Servos connected incorrectly..............Check all servo connections

Interference.........................................See above

Too much/Too little throw....................Check AST and D/R settings and switches

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

22 3

Retractable Gear - Landing gear which can

be drawn up into the aircraft during flight.

Retract Servo - A specialized servo which

only travels to full deflection and is not
proportional. When input is given, the servo
moves from one extreme to the other, which,
when installed properly, will either bring the
retractable gear all the way up and hold it in place,
or lower it completely and hold it down.

Rudder (RUD) - Tail control surface, attached

to the vertical fin, that controls the direction of
the aircraft.

Reverse (REV) - For the servo reversing

function, this refers to the reverse side. The
opposite side of reverse is the normal side.

Roll

- The rotation of the aircraft’s wing tips up or

down.

Servo Horn - A plastic part installed to the shaft of

a servo which changes the rotating motion of the
servo to linear motion. A linkage is hooked to this to
transmit motion to the surface.

Servo Reversing - Changes the direction in

which the servo travels.

Stick - A Control providing input to the transmitter.

Throttle (THR) - Controls the fuel/air mixture of

the engine. When opened (throttle high position), a
large fuel/air mixture is sucked in and the engine
speed increases. When closed (throttle low position),
the engine speed decreases.

Throw - The distance a control surface moves in

response to movement of the transmitter stick.

Trainer Function - An electronic feature which

allows two transmitters to be connected by an
optional cord. Allows instructor to give and regain
control from the student.

Trim - A device that adjusts the neutral point of

each servo. In the case of the throttle, the trim
adjusts only the low end of the travel.

Up - (“up” elevator) The direction in which the

trailing edge of the control surface moves.

Yaw - The rotation of the aircraft’s nose to the left

or right.

Storage and Disposal Precautions

Do not leave the R/C set, battery, model
airplane, etc. within the reach of small
children. Touching and operating the R/C set, or

licking the battery, may cause injury or damage due to
chemical content.

Do not throw the NiCd battery into a fire or
heat the NiCd battery. Also, do not
disassemble or rebuild the NiCd battery.

Breakage, overheating, and electrolyte leakage may
cause injury, burns, or blindness.

NiCd Battery Electrolyte

The electrolyte in a NiCd battery is a strong alkali and
can cause blindness if it gets in the eyes. If you get the
electrolyte in your eyes, immediately wash your eyes
with water and see a doctor. If you get the electrolyte on
your skin or clothes, it may cause a burn. Immediately
wash it off with water.

Do not store the R/C set in the following
places:

• Where it is very hot (75°F [40C] or more)

or very cold (18°F [-10C] or less).

• Where the set will be exposed to

direct sunlight.

• Where the humidity is high.

• Where there is strong vibration.

• Where it is dusty.

• Where there is steam and heat.
Storing the R/C set in the places listed above may
cause distortion, corrosion and product failure.

If the R/C set will not be used for a long
time, remove the NiCd batteries from the
transmitter and the model and store them
in a dry place.

If the batteries are left in the transmitter and model, the
battery electrolyte may leak out and damage the
system, degrade the performance and shorten the life of
the transmitter and model.

NiCd Battery Recycling
(for North America only)

Used NiCd batteries are an important resource. Stick
tape over the terminals and take the used batteries to a
NiCd battery recycling center.

The RBRC Battery Recycling Seal on

the nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery

that should be used in our product

indicates Futaba is voluntarily

participating in an industry program

to collect and recycle these batteries

at the end of their useful life, when

taken out of service in the United States or Canada. The

RBRC program provides a convenient alternative to placing

used NiCd batteries into the trash or the municipal waste

system, which is illegal in some areas. Please call 1-800-822-

8837 for information on NiCd battery recycling in your area.

Futaba’s involvement in this program is part of our

commitment to preserving our environment and conserving

our natural resources.

21

Adjustable Servo Travel (AST) - An

electronic adjustment of how far a servo moves when
full inputs are given. Allows fine-tuning of the
deflection provided to the control surface after
adjusting the linkages as closely as possible.
Sometimes called ATV. Note: AST has only one pot
which adjusts both ends of travel simultaneously.

Aileron (AIL) - Control surfaces on the left and

right sides of the main wing. These surfaces
control banking (rolling) of the aircraft.

Aileron Differential (AIL/DIFF)- An electronic

or mechanical setup which results in less down travel
than up travel on each aileron servo to correct for
unwanted yawing or “barrel rolling” effects when
aileron input is given.

Binding - A problem with control linkages where

the surface does not move freely or where the
servo is attempting to push the surface farther
than it can physically go. This problem is frequently
noticeable due to a loud humming or “buzzing” of
the servo.

Channel -

• The frequency on which an aircraft’s radio
equipment is transmitting.

(ex. Ch. 11 is 72.010MHz)

• The number of servos the radio can
independently control. The 6DA is a 6-channel
radio, so it can independently operate 6 servos
in a model.

• The receiver slot into which a servo is plugged
in a receiver to operate a particular function. For
example, a single aileron servo is plugged into
channel 1, also called slot 1. Its counterpart in a
dual aileron servo setup is plugged into channel
6, also called slot 6.

Control Surface - A moveable portion of the

Fin, Stabilizer or Wing that produces changes in
the aircraft’s path of flight.

Down - (“down” elevator) The direction in which the

trailing edge of the elevator moves.

Dual Rate (

D/R) - An electronic adjustment

which reduces servo travel when activated.

Elevator (ELE) - Control surface that moves up

and down on the horizontal stabilizer of an aircraft
and controls pitch.

End Point Adjustment (EPA)

- An

electronic function which allows for independent
adjustment at each end of servo travel. Sometimes
called ATV.

Flaperon - Twin aileron servo function, with one

servo operating each aileron, which provides
normal aileron function when aileron input is given
and also moves both ailerons in unison to operate
as flaps when flap input is given.

Flap (FLP)- A single control surface across the

center or a pair of matched control surfaces, one
on each side of the wing which, when lowered,
slows the aircraft down, increases lift and allows
the aircraft to fly at slower speeds.

Linkage - Mechanism that connects the servos

to the control surfaces. Includes pushrods,
clevises, control horns and servo arms.

Mix - An electronic action within a transmitter

which commands a second servo to operate in
direct proportion to the control movement of the
primary servo.

Normal (NOR) - For the servo reversing

function, it is the normal side. The opposite side is
the reverse side.

Pitch - The rotation of the aircraft’s nose up

or down.

4

GLOSSARY

Power switch: Turns the transmitter “On” or “Off.” In the
upper position, the power is “On”.

Voltage indicator: This is an expanded scale voltmeter. It is
not calibrated in volts. When the needle deflects to the
boundary between the silver and red zones or lower,
recharge or replace the battery. Do not operate the
transmitter if the needle descends into the red area.

Removable Antenna: Radiates signal to the receiver.
Never operate the transmitter without extending this
antenna or you may create interference to other modelers
and decrease your control of your model.

Aileron, Elevator,Throttle and Rudder sticks: Controls
designated function. See page 10 for the transmitter
operation instructions.

Aileron, Elevator,Throttle and Rudder trim levers: Used
to shift the neutral or idle position of each servo. (As the
throttle stick is moved up towards the high throttle position,
the throttle trim will have less effect.)

Carrying handle: Provides an easy means of transporting
the transmitter.

Neck strap hook: Secures the transmitter to the neck strap
(optional).

Rudder trim

lever

Flap/Elevator
Mix switch

Aileron/Rudder
Mix switch

Aileron Dual Rate
switch (Ail. D/R)

Voltage indicator

Removable antenna

Carrying handle

Elevator Dual Rate
switch (Elv. D/R)

Neck Strap hook

Retract switch
(On/Off)

(Ch.5)

Trainer System switch

Throttle (Ch.3)/Rudder (Ch.4)

stick

Elevator (Ch.2) /
Aileron (Ch.1) stick

Elevator trim lever

Throttle trim
lever

Power switch

Aileron trim lever

Flap knob (Ch.6)

NOTE: This graphic shows the
default assignments for a
Mode 2 aircraft system as
supplied by the factory.

Crystal: Determines operating frequency. (please see page 6.)

NiCd Charging port: Charging jack used when charging the transmitter
NiCd battery.

Back cover: Cover for Flight Set Control Center and Tx NiCd.

Trainer port: Connects the trainer cord when using the trainer function.
The trainer cord is sold separately. See page 20 for the trainer function
operation instructions.