Guide to Safe Mode, AS3X and setting up an Apprentice 15S for training:

What are Safe mode and AS3X and how do they work on the Apprentice 15 S:

Safe mode stands for Sensor Assisted Flight Envelope.   It limits the control surface deflection based on the flight mode the plane is in.

The specifically tuned AS3X System for airplanes helps invisibly correct for turbulence, torque and tip stalls when encountered. When you move the aircraft and the surfaces move the other direction, that’s AS3X in action, Its NOT Safe.

On the Apprentice 15 – “Safe” is only “off’ when in flight mode 3 – ( Position 2 of Switch B )
Which makes it critical that the student and trainer are able to correctly program TX to take advantage of the built in flight modes.
I couldn’t find specs that list the actual degrees,  but Safe appears to limit pitch and roll to about 30 degrees in Beginner mode, about 90 degrees in Intermediate mode and no limit in Experienced mode.  Beginner Mode includes Self-leveling: when the pitch and roll controls are returned to neutral, the aircraft returns to level flight

Setting up TX and RX for wireless buddy box w Apprentice:

The TX bound to the Apprentice ( Trainer TX )  MUST be setup to take advantage of the flight modes etc.  The trainee TX is then bound to the Trainer TX using the wireless setup steps below.  On the trainee TX, you just need to create a new blank Acro model.

The easiest way to setup the flight modes for the Apprentice for the Trainers TX is to use a premade SPM file if you and or the Trainee are using a DX6-DX9 or DX18.
Spektrum doesn’t offer a download for the Apprentice but Ive shared one here that I have used and works.
http://bosshelp.com/114th/Apprentice-15-S.SPM

As usual make sure the control surfaces are working as expected.

To transfer the SPM file, the easiest method is to copy it to the SD card in your DX9 then you can put the SD card in the Trainees DX6 and choose transfer SD card under system settings and then under select option roll to import model find and choose the “Apprentice -15-S” model click it and choose import. The DX6 will create a new model at the end of the list named Apprentice 15 S

That model has the modes on switch B with Normal, Stability and Agility modes setup and the voice setup as well. The bind button – switch I is setup for the Panic or recovery mode. Switch H is setup for Throttle cut to add some safety. Aux 1 is reversed for Panic mode
The Bind button will be the panic mode. If you mode Aux Channel to another switch you can avoid holding the bind button while training. You can also setup your radio so as soon as you move the sticks you regain control – You do this by setting the master override feature on the master TX.

CG

CG is 3 1/8 inches back from leading edge of the wing at the root
If CG is right the plane should climb a little at 50% power with no elevator

Trimming :

Make yourself familiar with your transmitter’s controls and the aircraft’s response before flying by performing the recommended Control Direction Test. The flight trim buttons are used to fine tune your aircraft for straight and level flight. When trimmed correctly, your aircraft flies a straight path with wings level, steadily climbs at full throttle, maintains a constant altitude at half throttle, and gently descends at low throttle. SAFE technology must learn your aircraft trim values to ensure consistent flight behavior. The trim values are learned when the receiver initially powers up. If you need to adjust the trim values in flight, set the aircraft to half throttle, make the necessary adjustments using the flight trim buttons, then keep the throttle position constant and the aileron, elevator, and rudder controls at the neutral position for 3 seconds. If you need more than 4 clicks on a trim button to make the aircraft fly straight and level at half throttle, you should mechanically adjust the control surfaces as shown in the control surface centering section.

Below are the important pages of the Apprentice Manual and the DX6 manual for training and DX6-9-18 wireless buddy box setup

List of transmitter settings for manual setup

Wireless Trainer Setup steps

Notes from RCGroups

“On the master transmitter, you have two options for how to set up the trainer mode – “Pilot Link Master” and “Programmable Master”.

When it’s set for “Pilot Link Master”, the student controller is essentially a set of sticks. The master controller needs to have all of the correct programming to fly the aircraft, but you set up a plain, default airplane (acro) model on the student’s controller. The master controller handles all of the dual rate, expo, trim, mixing, or anything else you need to fly. In this mode, the master controller is taking raw inputs from the student controller and applying its programming before sending the information up to the aircraft.

In contrast, “Programmable Master” mode requires both the master controller and the student controller to have all of the programming. In this mode, the master controller is really just a pass-through device, sending the data from the student controller up to the aircraft unchanged.

For both modes, you’ll see a screen full of on/off switches that lets you control which channels the student is allowed to control, and which channels the master controller will have at all times, even when the student has control. This lets you choose whether the student will be able to control the flight mode (Gear channel) or panic button (Aux1). If I remember correctly, Pilot Link Mode defaults to only the four stick channels enabled for the student, and Programmable Mode defaults to having all channels open for the student”

TEST

Links:

DX6 Manual http://www.spektrumrc.com/ProdInfo/Files/SPM6700-Manual_EN.pdf

DX5e Manual http://www.spektrumrc.com/ProdInfo/Files/SPM5500-Manual.pdf

DX9 Manual http://www.spektrumrc.com/ProdInfo/Files/SPMR9900-Manual_EN.pdf

Horizon Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhFjDPk89cs&feature=youtu.be

Updated 6/5/2018