# Betaflight Launch Control Setup Guide: How to Configure Race Start Assist
Race starts are won or lost in the first 50 meters. Betaflight Launch Control gives you a programmable, triggered burst of throttle the moment you release the sticks — like a launch control system in a sports car. Whether you’re racing MultiGP, running solo time trials, or just want consistent, repeatable starts for practice, this guide walks you through full setup, tuning, and trigger configuration.
## What Launch Control Does
Launch Control holds your motors at a pre-configured idle RPM while you pin the sticks in a specific position (usually full pitch forward + full roll left or right). The moment you release the sticks to center, the quad instantly ramps to your preset launch throttle and launches with zero hesitation — no fumbling for throttle, no bogging, no overshoot.
| Mode | Behavior | Use Case |
|—|—|—|
| Stick Position Trigger | Hold sticks in a corner → release to launch | Race starts, practice consistency |
| Switch Trigger | Flip a switch to activate/deactivate | Manual launch control, testing |
| Auto-Trigger (BF 4.5+) | Detects arming + GPS position hold | Autonomous race starts |
## Step-by-Step Configuration
### 1. Enable Launch Control
1. Open Betaflight Configurator, navigate to the **Modes** tab
2. Add a new range for **Launch Control**
3. Assign it to an AUX channel — or leave it unassigned if using stick-trigger mode exclusively
4. Set the slider to cover the range where you want Launch Control active (typically AUX2 HIGH for race mode)
### 2. Configure Launch Control Parameters
Go to the **PID Tuning** tab and find the Launch Control section:
| Parameter | Recommended Range | What It Does |
|—|—|—|
| Launch Throttle | 30-50% | Throttle applied immediately at launch release |
| Launch Angle Limit | 30-50° | Maximum tilt angle during launch (prevents backflip) |
| Launch Trigger Throttle | 90-100% | Minimum throttle % to arm the launch trigger |
| Launch Ramp Time | 300-500ms | How fast throttle ramps from idle to Launch Throttle |
| Launch Control Max Time | 2-3 seconds | Maximum duration of launch control after release |
### 3. Configure Stick Trigger (Optional but Recommended)
For stick-trigger mode without a dedicated switch:
“`
set launch_control_trigger_method = STICK
set launch_control_stick_trigger = CORNER
set launch_control_stick_angle = 30
save
“`
With these settings, push the pitch/roll stick into any corner (>30° deflection) and throttle above the trigger threshold to arm launch control. Release the right stick to center to launch.
### 4. Test on the Bench
1. **Props OFF**. Arm the quad.
2. Push throttle to 100% and move pitch/roll stick to a corner.
3. Motors should hold at idle RPM — Launch Control is armed.
4. Release pitch/roll to center: Motors should instantly ramp to Launch Throttle for the configured duration, then return to normal throttle control.
5. If motors don’t respond or behave unexpectedly, re-check your Mode tab activation range.
## Tuning Launch Control for Your Quad
### Too Aggressive (Quad Flips Backward)
Reduce **Launch Throttle** by 5-10% and increase **Launch Ramp Time** to 500-800ms. The ramp time controls how smoothly the throttle transitions — too fast and the torque spike pitches the quad backward.
### Too Slow (Quad Lags Off the Line)
Increase **Launch Throttle** to 55-65% and reduce **Launch Ramp Time** to 200-300ms. Racers with high-power setups (2408 motors, 5.1″ pitch props) can handle aggressive launch settings because the quad has the thrust to recover.
### Quad Shoots Upward Instead of Forward
Raise **Launch Angle Limit** to 50-55°. This parameter caps the tilt angle the PID controller will allow during the launch phase. If it’s too low, the quad fights your forward pitch and climbs vertically.
## Integration with Race Mode
For a complete race setup, combine Launch Control with:
– **Race Mode switch** (disables beeper, enables anti-gravity, sets OSD to race layout)
– **GPS lap timer** (if your track uses GPS gates)
– **Crash Recovery** (Disabled during Launch Control — re-enables after Max Time expires)
## Recommended Hardware
Launch Control demands motors that respond instantly. The **Xing2 2207 1855KV motors** paired with a **T-Motor F7 Pro Stack** — both at [uavmodel.com](https://uavmodel.com) — provide the sub-10ms throttle response needed to turn a good launch into a first-corner lead.