diff --git a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.cpp b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.cpp
index 1776dc141d..3977959859 100644
--- a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.cpp
@@ -51,9 +51,6 @@
 Tailsitter::Tailsitter(VtolAttitudeControl *attc) :
 	VtolType(attc),
 	_airspeed_tot(0.0f),
-	_roll_weight_mc(1.0f),
-	_pitch_weight_mc(1.0f),
-	_yaw_weight_mc(1.0f),
 	_min_front_trans_dur(0.5f),
 
 	_loop_perf(perf_alloc(PC_ELAPSED, "vtol_att_control-tailsitter")),
diff --git a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.h b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.h
index de5ab0ba3e..f68fbe9106 100644
--- a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.h
+++ b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.h
@@ -117,9 +117,6 @@ private:
 	} _vtol_schedule;
 
 	float _airspeed_tot; 		/** speed estimation for propwash controlled surfaces */
-	float _roll_weight_mc;		/**< multicopter desired roll moment weight */
-	float _pitch_weight_mc;		/**< multicopter desired pitch moment weight */
-	float _yaw_weight_mc;		/**< multicopter desired yaw moment weight */
 
 	/** not sure about it yet ?! **/
 	float _min_front_trans_dur;	/**< min possible time in which rotors are rotated into the first position */
diff --git a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_att_control_main.h b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_att_control_main.h
index ccf644142c..0e99d58aab 100644
--- a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_att_control_main.h
+++ b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_att_control_main.h
@@ -197,6 +197,9 @@ private:
 		param_t elevons_mc_lock;
 	} _params_handles;
 
+	/* for multicopters it is usual to have a non-zero idle speed of the engines
+	 * for fixed wings we want to have an idle speed of zero since we do not want
+	 * to waste energy when gliding. */
 	int _transition_command;
 
 	VtolType *_vtol_type;	// base class for different vtol types