A practical, step-by-step tutorial for South African RC heli flyers with a Quick list at the bottom of the page

Introduction

The Century Swift 16 is a classic 500-class electric flybar helicopter that uses a 120 CCPM swashplate. This means swash mixing is done mechanically by the three servos working together. When using a FlySky i6X flashed with OpenI6X, the default heli settings don’t match the Swift 16’s geometry, and most pilots find that pitch curves, cyclic directions, or collective mixing do not behave correctly.

This article provides a fully working, tested, repeatable setup method, based on:

• Correct 120 CCPM swash type
• Correct servo → cyclic assignment
• Correct OpenTX-style mixes (CYC1 / CYC2 / CYC3)
• Throttle curves in Inputs
• Pitch curves in Mixer using a phantom CH10 collective channel
• Safe throttle hold override
• Flight modes FM0–FM3
• Proper swash AFR weights for flybar helis

This is written in a practical, easy-to-follow blog/tutorial style—perfect for hobbyists, repair shops, and heli beginners upgrading to OpenI6X.

1. Hardware Overview

Century Swift 16

• 500-class electric helicopter
• Flybar head
• 120 CCPM swash
• Standard analog/metal gear servos
• Direct mechanical collective mixing

Transmitter: FlySky i6X with OpenI6X

OpenI6X unlocks:

• Full helicopter mixing
• 10 channels
• Curves & flight modes
• Safety overrides
• Flexible mixers
• CCPM swash menu

Receiver: FlySky IA6B

Typical channel wiring:

• CH1 → Front-Right servo
• CH2 → Front-Left servo
• CH3 → ESC / Throttle
• CH4 → Rudder
• CH5 → Gyro gain
• CH6 → Rear CCPM servo

2. Start With a Clean Model

1. Create a new model
2. Type: Heli
3. Swash Type: 120 CCPM
4. Channels: 10

Calibrate sticks/switches before continuing.

3. Correct CCPM Servo Mapping (Critical!)

This is the mapping shown in this video and confirmed working:

Cyclic Mapping (OpenTX Style)

This is the correct 120 CCPM geometry for the Century Swift 16.

4. Swash AFR (Swash Mix) Settings

In the Heli Setup screen:

• Aileron: +60
• Elevator: –60 ← This is the important one
• Pitch: +60

These values match the Swift 16’s mechanical layout and give correct phasing.

5. Servo Setup

Subtrim

• Level swash at mid-stick
• All horns as close as possible to 90°

Travel / Endpoints

• Start: 100 / 100
• Adjust only to eliminate binding

Do not use huge endpoints—fix mechanically if needed.

6. Throttle Curves (INPUTS Menu)

Throttle must be stored in the Inputs screen or FM modes won’t switch correctly.

FM0 – Normal Mode

0, 50, 75, 85, 100

FM1 – Idle Up 1

80, 80, 80, 80, 80

FM2 – Idle Up 2

90, 90, 90, 90, 90

FM3 – Idle Up 3

100, 100, 100, 100, 100

7. Pitch Curves (MIXER → CH10 Phantom Collective)

OpenI6X cannot apply pitch curves directly to a swash channel.
They must be applied to a fake channel (CH10) that becomes your collective source.

FM0 – Normal

40, 45, 50, 75, 100

FM1 / FM2 / FM3

0, 25, 50, 75, 100

This gives proper –12° to +12° range.

8. Mixer Setup

Aileron (CH1 → CYC2)

• Source: AIL
• Weight: 100
• Active: All flight modes

Elevator (CH2 → CYC1)

• Source: ELE
• Weight: 100
• Active: All flight modes

Collective (CH6 → CYC3)

Do NOT put pitch curves here.
CH6 receives the collective final output automatically from swash mixing.

8.1 Phantom CH10 – Collective Pitch Curves

CH10 feeds the swash mix with the correct pitch curve source.

8.2 Throttle (CH3)

Add one line per FM:

• Line 1: thr0 (FM0)
• Line 2: thr1 (FM1)
• Line 3: thr2 (FM2)
• Line 4: thr2 (FM3)

Throttle Hold / Motor Cut (last mix line)

• Source: MAX
• Weight: –100
• Switch: SA↑ (or your choice)
• Type: Override

This instantly kills the ESC output.

9. Gyro Gain (CH5)

Example:

• SA↓ = 50% Rate
• SA→ = 75% HH

Use your gyro’s recommendations.

10. Flight Testing Checklist

1. Radio on, heli last
2. Move cyclic → swash must tilt correctly
3. Move throttle/collective → swash must rise and fall evenly
4. Motor must NOT start in SA↑ (throttle hold)
5. Spool up in FM0
6. Switch to FM1 in hover
7. FM2/F3 only for advanced flying

11. Full OpenI6X Model File (Updated for 120 CCPM + CYC1/CYC2/CYC3)

[model]
name=Swift16
type=heli
swash_type=120

[heli]
swash_ail=60
swash_ele=-60
swash_pitch=60

[channels]
map=AIL,ELE,THR,RUD,CH5,PIT

[curves]
pitch0=40,45,50,75,100
pitch1=0,25,50,75,100
pitch2=0,25,50,75,100

thr0=0,50,75,85,100
thr1=80,80,80,80,80
thr2=90,90,90,90,90

[flightmodes]
fm0=Normal
fm1=Idle1
fm2=Idle2
fm3=Idle3

[mixer]
# CYC2 - Aileron (CH1)
ch1_mix1=AIL,100,0,ALL

# CYC1 - Elevator (CH2)
ch2_mix1=ELE,100,0,ALL

# Collective Pitch (CH10 phantom)
ch10_mix1=THR,100,pitch0,FM0
ch10_mix2=THR,100,pitch1,FM1
ch10_mix3=THR,100,pitch1,FM2
ch10_mix4=THR,100,pitch1,FM3

# Throttle (CH3)
ch3_mix1=THR,100,thr0,FM0
ch3_mix2=THR,100,thr1,FM1
ch3_mix3=THR,100,thr2,FM2
ch3_mix4=THR,100,thr2,FM3
ch3_mix5=MAX,-100,0,SA↑

# Rudder
ch4_mix1=RUD,100,0,ALL

# Gyro Gain on CH5
ch5_mix1=MAX,50,0,SA↓
ch5_mix2=MAX,75,0,SA→

Conclusion

The Century Swift 16 works perfectly on the FlySky i6X with OpenI6X once the following are done correctly:

• Use 120 CCPM swash
• Apply correct CYC1/CYC2/CYC3 mapping
• Put pitch curves on CH10 phantom collective
• Put throttle curves in Inputs
• Set swash AFR to Ail +60 / Ele –60 / Pit +60
• Use override throttle hold
• Keep cyclic channels using RAW AIL/ELE inputs

Once set up this way, the heli behaves smooth, predictable, and stable—exactly like a traditional flybar machine should.

This post was inspired by this OpenTX guide

All credits to the writer – Craig Oakley

Quick list for the impatient

This is for those that know all about CCPM, but just want a checklist of what to do and where to change stuff.

1. Program Ail, Ele and Col independent of mixing (-100 to +100)
2. Assign phantom channel in Mixes to adjust weight of collective. (Col pitch/Col+Cyc pitch)
3. Change weight of Inputs for Ail and Ele. (Cyc pitch/Col+Cyc pitch)
4. In Heli screen set swash type (ie. 120), collective channel input and optionally swash ring.
5. In Mixes set 100 weights for Cyc1, Cyc2 and Cyc3 on the channels that control the cyclic servos. Cyc1 must be on the center line of the helicopter.
6. Bind to heli and on the Servo screen reverse one channel if there is an “odd man out” when moving collective.
7. Use the Heli page reverses to make the blade angles move in the expected manner for the controls (up/down, forwards/backwards, left/right).
8. Use the Servo page to set PPM center at mid collective so servo horns are 90 degrees to pushrods (zero out cyc1, cyc2 and cyc3 temporarily to assist with this).
9. Mechanically adjust swash height to mid-travel by altering servo/swash pushrod lengths.
10. Mechanically adjust mid-collective pitch by altering swash/grip pushrod lengths.
11. Use the Servo page to adjust min and max servo values for cyclic servos to obtain desired min and max collective pitch (remove the zeroing out of cyc1, cyc2 and cyc3).
12. Test the cyclic pitch is as expected at min, mid and max collective pitch. Adjust by changing the collective weight and the cyclic weights.