diff --git a/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli_Single.cpp b/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli_Single.cpp
index b8538770cc..3d6ca2fea8 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli_Single.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli_Single.cpp
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ const AP_Param::GroupInfo AP_MotorsHeli_Single::var_info[] PROGMEM = {
     // @Units: PWM
     // @Increment: 1
     // @User: Standard
-    AP_GROUPINFO("TAIL_SPEED", 10, AP_MotorsHeli_Single, _direct_drive_tailspeed, AP_MOTOR_HELI_SINGLE_DDTAIL_DEFAULT),
+    AP_GROUPINFO("TAIL_SPEED", 10, AP_MotorsHeli_Single, _direct_drive_tailspeed, AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_DDVPT_SPEED_DEFAULT),
 
     AP_GROUPEND
 };
@@ -256,8 +256,8 @@ void AP_MotorsHeli_Single::calculate_scalars()
     // send setpoints to tail rotor controller and trigger recalculation of scalars
     if (_rsc_mode == AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_TAILTYPE_DIRECTDRIVE_VARPITCH) {
         _tail_rotor.set_control_mode(AP_MOTORS_HELI_RSC_MODE_SETPOINT);
-        _tail_rotor.set_ramp_time(_rsc_ramp_time);
-        _tail_rotor.set_runup_time(_rsc_runup_time);
+        _tail_rotor.set_ramp_time(AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_DDVPT_RAMP_TIME);
+        _tail_rotor.set_runup_time(AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_DDVPT_RUNUP_TIME);
         _tail_rotor.set_critical_speed(_rsc_critical);
         _tail_rotor.set_idle_output(_rsc_idle_output);
     } else {
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli_Single.h b/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli_Single.h
index d46599125e..5caf5d341a 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli_Single.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Motors/AP_MotorsHeli_Single.h
@@ -31,8 +31,10 @@
 #define AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_TAILTYPE_DIRECTDRIVE_VARPITCH    2
 #define AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_TAILTYPE_DIRECTDRIVE_FIXEDPITCH  3
 
-// default direct-drive variable pitch speed
-#define AP_MOTOR_HELI_SINGLE_DDTAIL_DEFAULT                    500
+// default direct-drive variable pitch tail defaults
+#define AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_DDVPT_SPEED_DEFAULT              500
+#define AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_DDVPT_RAMP_TIME                  2
+#define AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_DDVPT_RUNUP_TIME                 3
 
 // default external gyro gain
 #define AP_MOTORS_HELI_SINGLE_EXT_GYRO_GAIN                    350