diff --git a/ArduPlane/quadplane.cpp b/ArduPlane/quadplane.cpp
index cb2d9ee0d7880..17bde998d6189 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/quadplane.cpp
+++ b/ArduPlane/quadplane.cpp
@@ -3970,14 +3970,6 @@ bool QuadPlane::is_vtol_land(uint16_t id) const
     return false;
 }
 
-/*
-  return true if we are in any kind of transition
- */
-bool QuadPlane::in_transition(void) const
-{
-    return in_frwd_transition() || in_back_transition();
-}
-
 /*
   return true if we are in a transition to fwd flight from hover
  */
@@ -3986,15 +3978,6 @@ bool QuadPlane::in_frwd_transition(void) const
     return available() && transition->active_frwd();
 }
 
-/*
-  return true if we are in a transition to hover from fwd flight
- */
-bool QuadPlane::in_back_transition(void) const
-{
-    // By default the 
-    return available() && transition->active_back();
-}
-
 /*
   calculate current stopping distance for a quadplane in fixed wing flight
  */
@@ -4376,11 +4359,6 @@ bool SLT_Transition::active_frwd() const
     return quadplane.assisted_flight && ((transition_state == TRANSITION_AIRSPEED_WAIT) || (transition_state == TRANSITION_TIMER));
 }
 
-bool SLT_Transition::active_back() const
-{
-    return false;
-}
-
 /*
   limit VTOL roll/pitch in POSITION1, POSITION2 and waypoint controller. This serves three roles:
    1) an expanding envelope limit on pitch to prevent sudden pitch at the start of a back transition
diff --git a/ArduPlane/quadplane.h b/ArduPlane/quadplane.h
index 24f25c06e8216..ea3bba8779132 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/quadplane.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/quadplane.h
@@ -110,9 +110,7 @@ class QuadPlane
     // abort landing, only valid when in a VTOL landing descent
     bool abort_landing(void);
 
-    bool in_transition(void) const;
     bool in_frwd_transition(void) const;
-    bool in_back_transition(void) const;
 
     bool handle_do_vtol_transition(enum MAV_VTOL_STATE state) const;
 
diff --git a/ArduPlane/tailsitter.h b/ArduPlane/tailsitter.h
index 422c9bd017798..143c26cb9beaa 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/tailsitter.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/tailsitter.h
@@ -177,8 +177,6 @@ friend class Tailsitter;
 
     bool active_frwd() const override { return transition_state == TRANSITION_ANGLE_WAIT_FW; }
 
-    bool active_back() const override { return transition_state == TRANSITION_ANGLE_WAIT_VTOL; }
-
     bool show_vtol_view() const override;
 
     void set_FW_roll_pitch(int32_t& nav_pitch_cd, int32_t& nav_roll_cd) override;
diff --git a/ArduPlane/transition.h b/ArduPlane/transition.h
index 75d33948e5da7..bf0e0dc5029d8 100644
--- a/ArduPlane/transition.h
+++ b/ArduPlane/transition.h
@@ -38,8 +38,6 @@ class Transition
 
     virtual bool active_frwd() const = 0;
 
-    virtual bool active_back() const = 0;
-
     virtual bool show_vtol_view() const = 0;
 
     virtual void set_FW_roll_pitch(int32_t& nav_pitch_cd, int32_t& nav_roll_cd) {};
@@ -89,8 +87,6 @@ class SLT_Transition : public Transition
 
     bool active_frwd() const override;
 
-    bool active_back() const override;
-
     bool show_vtol_view() const override;
 
     void set_FW_roll_pitch(int32_t& nav_pitch_cd, int32_t& nav_roll_cd) override;