diff --git a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.cpp b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.cpp
index 9ad93897ed..46640a4d89 100644
--- a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.cpp
@@ -54,8 +54,6 @@ Tailsitter::Tailsitter(VtolAttitudeControl *attc) :
 {
 	_vtol_schedule.flight_mode = vtol_mode::MC_MODE;
 	_vtol_schedule.transition_start = 0;
-
-	_flag_was_in_trans_mode = false;
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.h b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.h
index 36dd05b39a..e69483c7c3 100644
--- a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.h
+++ b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tailsitter.h
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ private:
 		hrt_abstime transition_start;	/**< absoulte time at which front transition started */
 	} _vtol_schedule;
 
+	bool _flag_was_in_trans_mode = false;	// true if mode has just switched to transition
+
 	matrix::Quatf _q_trans_start;
 	matrix::Quatf _q_trans_sp;
 	matrix::Vector3f _trans_rot_axis;
diff --git a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tiltrotor.cpp b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tiltrotor.cpp
index d0c8329323..1cd7b13d22 100644
--- a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tiltrotor.cpp
+++ b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/tiltrotor.cpp
@@ -61,8 +61,6 @@ Tiltrotor::Tiltrotor(VtolAttitudeControl *attc) :
 	_mc_roll_weight = 1.0f;
 	_mc_pitch_weight = 1.0f;
 	_mc_yaw_weight = 1.0f;
-
-	_flag_was_in_trans_mode = false;
 }
 
 void
@@ -296,11 +294,6 @@ void Tiltrotor::update_transition_state()
 
 	float time_since_trans_start = (float)(hrt_absolute_time() - _vtol_schedule.transition_start) * 1e-6f;
 
-	if (!_flag_was_in_trans_mode) {
-		// save desired heading for transition and last thrust value
-		_flag_was_in_trans_mode = true;
-	}
-
 	if (_vtol_schedule.flight_mode == vtol_mode::TRANSITION_FRONT_P1) {
 		// for the first part of the transition all rotors are enabled
 
diff --git a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_type.h b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_type.h
index f1f448ea8b..326373e760 100644
--- a/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_type.h
+++ b/src/modules/vtol_att_control/vtol_type.h
@@ -202,8 +202,6 @@ protected:
 	float _ra_hrate = 0.0f;			// rolling average on height rate for quadchute condition
 	float _ra_hrate_sp = 0.0f;		// rolling average on height rate setpoint for quadchute condition
 
-	bool _flag_was_in_trans_mode = false;	// true if mode has just switched to transition
-
 	hrt_abstime _trans_finished_ts = 0;
 
 	bool _tecs_running = false;