diff --git a/ArduCopter/version.h b/ArduCopter/version.h
index babd503747..b564a1cb50 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/version.h
+++ b/ArduCopter/version.h
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
 
 #include "ap_version.h"
 
-#define THISFIRMWARE "ArduCopter V3.6.0"
+#define THISFIRMWARE "ArduCopter V3.6.1-rc1"
 
 // the following line is parsed by the autotest scripts
-#define FIRMWARE_VERSION 3,6,0,FIRMWARE_VERSION_TYPE_OFFICIAL
+#define FIRMWARE_VERSION 3,6,1,FIRMWARE_VERSION_TYPE_RC
 
 #define FW_MAJOR 3
 #define FW_MINOR 6
-#define FW_PATCH 0
-#define FW_TYPE FIRMWARE_VERSION_TYPE_OFFICIAL
+#define FW_PATCH 1
+#define FW_TYPE FIRMWARE_VERSION_TYPE_RC