diff --git a/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp b/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp
index 10a05c5454..4dec554afb 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp
@@ -995,6 +995,12 @@ const AP_Param::Info Plane::var_info[] PROGMEM = {
 	// @Group: CHUTE_
     // @Path: ../libraries/AP_Parachute/AP_Parachute.cpp
     GOBJECT(parachute,		"CHUTE_", AP_Parachute),
+
+    // @Param: CHUTE_CHAN
+    // @DisplayName: Parachute release channel
+    // @Description: If set to a non-zero value then this is an RC input channel number to use for manually releasing the parachute. When this channel goes above 1700 the parachute will be released
+    // @User: Advanced
+    GSCALAR(parachute_channel,      "CHUTE_CHAN",  0),
 #endif
 
 #if RANGEFINDER_ENABLED == ENABLED
diff --git a/ArduPlane/Parameters.h b/ArduPlane/Parameters.h
index 865ea760c6..932f57e5a8 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/Parameters.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/Parameters.h
@@ -144,9 +144,8 @@ public:
         k_param_rssi = 97,
         k_param_rpm_sensor,
         k_param_parachute,
-        
-        // 100: Arming parameters
         k_param_arming = 100,
+        k_param_parachute_channel,
 
         // 105: Extra parameters
         k_param_fence_retalt = 105,
@@ -490,6 +489,7 @@ public:
     AP_Int8 override_channel;
 #endif
     AP_Int16 gcs_pid_mask;
+    AP_Int8 parachute_channel;
 
     // RC channels
     RC_Channel rc_1;
diff --git a/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp b/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp
index 7957418a34..8b9d2ec190 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ void Plane::read_control_switch()
         inverted_flight = (control_mode != MANUAL && hal.rcin->read(g.inverted_flight_ch-1) > INVERTED_FLIGHT_PWM);
     }
 
+    if (g.parachute_channel > 0) {
+        if (hal.rcin->read(g.parachute_channel-1) >= 1700) {
+            parachute_manual_release();
+        }
+    }
+    
 #if CONFIG_HAL_BOARD == HAL_BOARD_PX4
     if (g.override_channel > 0) {
         // if the user has configured an override channel then check it