diff --git a/ArduPlane/ArduPlane.cpp b/ArduPlane/ArduPlane.cpp
index 2dd6998e40..1802dbcdc6 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/ArduPlane.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/ArduPlane.cpp
@@ -269,8 +269,12 @@ void Plane::one_second_loop()
     adsb.set_stall_speed_cm(aparm.airspeed_min);
     adsb.set_max_speed(aparm.airspeed_max);
 #endif
-    ahrs.writeDefaultAirSpeed((float)((aparm.airspeed_min + aparm.airspeed_max)/2),
-                              (float)((aparm.airspeed_max - aparm.airspeed_min)/2));
+
+    if (g2.flight_options & FlightOptions::ENABLE_DEFAULT_AIRSPEED) {
+        // use average of min and max airspeed as default airspeed fusion with high variance
+        ahrs.writeDefaultAirSpeed((float)((aparm.airspeed_min + aparm.airspeed_max)/2),
+                                  (float)((aparm.airspeed_max - aparm.airspeed_min)/2));
+    }
 
     // sync MAVLink system ID
     mavlink_system.sysid = g.sysid_this_mav;
diff --git a/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp b/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp
index be30eb011b..1cfb056ba5 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/Parameters.cpp
@@ -1105,7 +1105,7 @@ const AP_Param::GroupInfo ParametersG2::var_info[] = {
     // @Param: FLIGHT_OPTIONS
     // @DisplayName: Flight mode options
     // @Description: Flight mode specific options
-    // @Bitmask: 0:Rudder mixing in direct flight modes only (Manual / Stabilize / Acro),1:Use centered throttle in Cruise or FBWB to indicate trim airspeed, 2:Disable attitude check for takeoff arming, 3:Force target airspeed to trim airspeed in Cruise or FBWB, 4: Climb to ALT_HOLD_RTL before turning for RTL, 5: Enable yaw damper in acro mode, 6: Surpress speed scaling during auto takeoffs to be 1 or less to prevent oscillations without airpseed sensor.
+    // @Bitmask: 0:Rudder mixing in direct flight modes only (Manual / Stabilize / Acro),1:Use centered throttle in Cruise or FBWB to indicate trim airspeed, 2:Disable attitude check for takeoff arming, 3:Force target airspeed to trim airspeed in Cruise or FBWB, 4: Climb to ALT_HOLD_RTL before turning for RTL, 5: Enable yaw damper in acro mode, 6: Surpress speed scaling during auto takeoffs to be 1 or less to prevent oscillations without airpseed sensor, 7:EnableDefaultAirspeed for takeoff
     // @User: Advanced
     AP_GROUPINFO("FLIGHT_OPTIONS", 13, ParametersG2, flight_options, 0),
 
diff --git a/ArduPlane/defines.h b/ArduPlane/defines.h
index 769c8f155a..5e2ac140af 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/defines.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/defines.h
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ enum FlightOptions {
     CLIMB_BEFORE_TURN = (1 << 4),
     ACRO_YAW_DAMPER = (1 << 5),
     SURPRESS_TKOFF_SCALING = (1<<6),
+    ENABLE_DEFAULT_AIRSPEED = (1<<7),
 };
 
 enum CrowFlapOptions {