diff --git a/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp b/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp
index 21768c7d4f..70af14ff4a 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp
@@ -816,12 +816,6 @@ const AP_Param::Info Plane::var_info[] = {
 	// @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
 
     // @Group: RNGFND
diff --git a/ArduPlane/Parameters.h b/ArduPlane/Parameters.h
index e2cf4ed488..347ca3c135 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/Parameters.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/Parameters.h
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ public:
         k_param_rpm_sensor,
         k_param_parachute,
         k_param_arming = 100,
-        k_param_parachute_channel,
+        k_param_parachute_channel, // unused - moved to RC option
         k_param_crash_accel_threshold,
         k_param_override_safety,
         k_param_land_throttle_slewrate, // 104 unused - moved to AP_Landing
@@ -484,7 +484,6 @@ public:
     AP_Int8 override_safety;
 #endif
     AP_Int16 gcs_pid_mask;
-    AP_Int8 parachute_channel;
 };
 
 /*
diff --git a/ArduPlane/RC_Channel.cpp b/ArduPlane/RC_Channel.cpp
index a4e29f233b..cd013f8428 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/RC_Channel.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/RC_Channel.cpp
@@ -158,6 +158,7 @@ void RC_Channel_Plane::init_aux_function(const RC_Channel::aux_func_t ch_option,
     case AUX_FUNC::FBWA:
     case AUX_FUNC::FWD_THR:
     case AUX_FUNC::LANDING_FLARE:
+    case AUX_FUNC::PARACHUTE_RELEASE:
         break;
 
     case AUX_FUNC::Q_ASSIST:
@@ -310,6 +311,12 @@ case AUX_FUNC::ARSPD_CALIBRATE:
        do_aux_function_flare(ch_flag);
        break;
 
+    case AUX_FUNC::PARACHUTE_RELEASE:
+#if PARACHUTE == ENABLED
+        plane.parachute_manual_release();
+#endif
+        break;
+
     default:
         RC_Channel::do_aux_function(ch_option, ch_flag);
         break;
diff --git a/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp b/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp
index 9736311554..cd4061327d 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/control_modes.cpp
@@ -131,13 +131,6 @@ void Plane::read_control_switch()
 
     switch_debouncer = false;
 
-#if PARACHUTE == ENABLED
-    if (g.parachute_channel > 0) {
-        if (RC_Channels::get_radio_in(g.parachute_channel-1) >= RC_Channel::AUX_PWM_TRIGGER_HIGH) {
-            parachute_manual_release();
-        }
-    }
-#endif
 }
 
 uint8_t Plane::readSwitch(void) const