Three throttle meanings
The same physical stick can represent manual motor collective, an assisted climb/descent command or signed 3D thrust. Calibration measures the device; the active flight mode decides what its input means.
Before activating, center yaw, pitch and roll and release buttons, keys and action switches. Put throttle at the safe position below. These instructions describe the Universal Controller update; activation still leaves the aircraft disarmed.
All nine selectable modes
| Mode | Flight behavior | Throttle meaning | Safe throttle for activation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acro | Manual rotation/rate control; no automatic leveling | Manual collective | Motor-off / low end |
| Angle | Stick input sets tilt; self-leveling attitude | Manual collective | Motor-off / low end |
| Horizon | Leveling near center, freer rotation toward full stick | Manual collective | Motor-off / low end |
| 3D | Reversible thrust on a compatible aircraft build | Signed thrust, zero at neutral | Calibrated center |
| Cine | Slow, smooth assisted camera flight | Centered vertical command | Calibrated center |
| Normal | Assisted position/altitude control and braking | Centered vertical command | Calibrated center |
| Sport | Faster assisted flight with stronger braking | Centered vertical command | Calibrated center |
| ATTI | Assisted attitude/altitude without position hold | Centered vertical command | Calibrated center |
| Tripod | Very slow assisted movement for precision | Centered vertical command | Calibrated center |
Mode descriptions refer to simulator behavior. “DJI assisted” is a flight-style family, not a requirement to own a DJI controller or a certification of DJI firmware.
Manual throttle: low means motor-off
In Acro, Angle and Horizon, increasing throttle increases collective thrust. There is no universal stick position that means hover: it depends on the aircraft and the flight situation. Releasing a non-centering stick does not return it to motor-off.
Calibration maps the measured low and high endpoints across the manual travel. The diagnostic output uses −1 at motor-off and +1 at maximum. Start low, arm through the game's existing interlock and increase gradually.
Assisted throttle: center is a neutral vertical command
Cine, Normal, Sport, ATTI and Tripod use centered vertical input. Above neutral commands ascent; below neutral commands descent. Center returns the vertical command to neutral within the assisted controller's behavior. In ATTI, neutral does not create position hold.
A ratcheted RC throttle needs deliberate placement at its calibrated midpoint. A self-centering stick returns there mechanically. The game does not reinterpret a bottomed-out assisted throttle as the manual mode's motor-off position.
3D throttle: center is zero thrust
When the installed aircraft supports active 3D flight, the calibrated center is zero signed thrust, one side commands forward thrust and the other reverse thrust. The bottom of the stick can command strong reverse thrust; it is not the safe neutral position used to activate 3D input.
The actual aircraft parts/capability govern whether 3D is available. A saved 3D preference does not make an incompatible build reversible. If the game displays an Acro fallback, use manual low-throttle behavior and the displayed active mode, not the stored preference.
Take Off is an action subject to mode and aircraft rules. It does not promise an automatic climb in manual 3D or bypass neutral/arming checks.
Switching modes safely
Land and disarm before changing flight mode or style. A change that alters active input semantics releases controller ownership, disarms and pauses active flight. Recheck the throttle meaning, set the new safe position and explicitly activate before resuming.
The same precaution applies to profile changes and touch/controller source changes. Do not carry a previous manual throttle position into centered-throttle flying. Follow safe resume if the game asks for confirmation.