diff --git a/ArduCopter/Attitude.pde b/ArduCopter/Attitude.pde
index 91fb26b128..4ac969f0ae 100644
--- a/ArduCopter/Attitude.pde
+++ b/ArduCopter/Attitude.pde
@@ -124,27 +124,23 @@ set_throttle_takeoff()
 // get_pilot_desired_throttle - transform pilot's throttle input to make cruise throttle mid stick
 // used only for manual throttle modes
 // returns throttle output 0 to 1000
-#define THROTTLE_IN_MIDDLE 500          // the throttle mid point
 static int16_t get_pilot_desired_throttle(int16_t throttle_control)
 {
     int16_t throttle_out;
 
-    // exit immediately in the simple cases
-    if( throttle_control == 0 || g.throttle_mid == 500) {
-        return throttle_control;
-    }
+    int16_t mid_stick = g.rc_3.get_control_mid();
 
     // ensure reasonable throttle values
     throttle_control = constrain_int16(throttle_control,0,1000);
     g.throttle_mid = constrain_int16(g.throttle_mid,300,700);
 
     // check throttle is above, below or in the deadband
-    if (throttle_control < THROTTLE_IN_MIDDLE) {
+    if (throttle_control < mid_stick) {
         // below the deadband
-        throttle_out = g.throttle_min + ((float)(throttle_control-g.throttle_min))*((float)(g.throttle_mid - g.throttle_min))/((float)(500-g.throttle_min));
-    }else if(throttle_control > THROTTLE_IN_MIDDLE) {
+        throttle_out = g.throttle_min + ((float)(throttle_control-g.throttle_min))*((float)(g.throttle_mid - g.throttle_min))/((float)(mid_stick-g.throttle_min));
+    }else if(throttle_control > mid_stick) {
         // above the deadband
-        throttle_out = g.throttle_mid + ((float)(throttle_control-500))*(float)(1000-g.throttle_mid)/500.0f;
+        throttle_out = g.throttle_mid + ((float)(throttle_control-mid_stick))*(float)(1000-g.throttle_mid)/mid_stick;
     }else{
         // must be in the deadband
         throttle_out = g.throttle_mid;
@@ -156,8 +152,6 @@ static int16_t get_pilot_desired_throttle(int16_t throttle_control)
 // get_pilot_desired_climb_rate - transform pilot's throttle input to
 // climb rate in cm/s.  we use radio_in instead of control_in to get the full range
 // without any deadzone at the bottom
-#define THROTTLE_IN_DEADBAND_TOP (THROTTLE_IN_MIDDLE+g.throttle_deadzone)  // top of the deadband
-#define THROTTLE_IN_DEADBAND_BOTTOM (THROTTLE_IN_MIDDLE-g.throttle_deadzone)  // bottom of the deadband
 static int16_t get_pilot_desired_climb_rate(int16_t throttle_control)
 {
     int16_t desired_rate = 0;
@@ -167,19 +161,24 @@ static int16_t get_pilot_desired_climb_rate(int16_t throttle_control)
         return 0;
     }
 
+    int16_t mid_stick = g.rc_3.get_control_mid();
+    int16_t deadband_top = mid_stick + g.throttle_deadzone;
+    int16_t deadband_bottom = mid_stick - g.throttle_deadzone;
+
+
     // ensure a reasonable throttle value
-    throttle_control = constrain_int16(throttle_control,0,1000);
+    throttle_control = constrain_int16(throttle_control,g.throttle_min,1000);
 
     // ensure a reasonable deadzone
     g.throttle_deadzone = constrain_int16(g.throttle_deadzone, 0, 400);
 
     // check throttle is above, below or in the deadband
-    if (throttle_control < THROTTLE_IN_DEADBAND_BOTTOM) {
+    if (throttle_control < deadband_bottom) {
         // below the deadband
-        desired_rate = (int32_t)g.pilot_velocity_z_max * (throttle_control-THROTTLE_IN_DEADBAND_BOTTOM) / (THROTTLE_IN_MIDDLE - g.throttle_deadzone);
-    }else if (throttle_control > THROTTLE_IN_DEADBAND_TOP) {
+        desired_rate = (int32_t)g.pilot_velocity_z_max * (throttle_control-deadband_bottom) / (deadband_bottom-g.throttle_min);
+    }else if (throttle_control > deadband_top) {
         // above the deadband
-        desired_rate = (int32_t)g.pilot_velocity_z_max * (throttle_control-THROTTLE_IN_DEADBAND_TOP) / (THROTTLE_IN_MIDDLE - g.throttle_deadzone);
+        desired_rate = (int32_t)g.pilot_velocity_z_max * (throttle_control-deadband_top) / (1000-deadband_top);
     }else{
         // must be in the deadband
         desired_rate = 0;
@@ -209,6 +208,9 @@ static int16_t get_throttle_pre_takeoff(int16_t throttle_control)
         return 0;
     }
 
+    int16_t mid_stick = g.rc_3.get_control_mid();
+    int16_t deadband_top = mid_stick + g.throttle_deadzone;
+
     // sanity check throttle input
     throttle_control = constrain_int16(throttle_control,0,1000);
 
@@ -221,8 +223,8 @@ static int16_t get_throttle_pre_takeoff(int16_t throttle_control)
     }
 
     // check throttle is below top of deadband
-    if (throttle_control < THROTTLE_IN_DEADBAND_TOP) {
-        throttle_out = g.throttle_min + ((float)(throttle_control-g.throttle_min))*((float)(get_non_takeoff_throttle() - g.throttle_min))/((float)(THROTTLE_IN_DEADBAND_TOP-g.throttle_min));
+    if (throttle_control < deadband_top) {
+        throttle_out = g.throttle_min + ((float)(throttle_control-g.throttle_min))*((float)(get_non_takeoff_throttle() - g.throttle_min))/((float)(deadband_top-g.throttle_min));
     }else{
         // must be in the deadband
         throttle_out = get_non_takeoff_throttle();