CTB

Ah! RTP!. Several school friends and I organised combat events at the MEE at Wembley Conference Centre during the mid seventies. We were sponsored by Phil Greeno, of pylon racing fame, so all our planes were scaled down copies of his "Manneater" design. Later we produced our own designs. Harry Butler also chipped in with a ton of motors and props when he saw how interested the spectators were. My brother also flew a speed plane. Fully asymmetric with a dolly for take off. Clocked at 64 mph (IIRC). On 15 foot lines that's very fast! Edited By CTB on 05/07/2018 20:24:30

Well over 30. Which is why I'm about to buy a DX9 or Gen 2 DX18. 250 model memory........

Ali, All the best. I spent 5 years working in the US and loved every second of it! I'm sure that your experience will be the same. Chris C. Phoenix MFC

Posted by Peter Miller on 27/02/2012 10:48:09: There is a cartoon strip in the current Amateur Photographer. Two characters, one with a huge camera on wheels and a gigantic lens. The other character says "That's an impressive camera" and the camera owner replies. "You Betcha! I don't mess about when it comes to showing off!" I think that says it all I must say I don't understand your dislike of this Tx and/or those that will buy it. You've asked several times how one could possible use 18 channels - and those questions have been answered most politely and completely. The idea that the only people that'll buy it will be those looking for bling is beyond ridiculous. After all one can fly a plane with 4 channels. So is anyone with a six channel TX then purely an idiotic show-off? And as for bling surely the JR12 or Futaba 18 would be a much better choice? Way more expensive........ If you don't want to buy one then your course of action is simple....

Exactly. Which is why I said this in my previous post "And there will certainly be those you buy it just to have the latest bit of bling." You shouldn't complain about those guys. In fact you should encourage them. They are helping to keep the model trade afloat in these turbulent times. If that's what they want to spend their money on then good luck to them.

Posted by Peter Miller on 18/02/2012 19:28:30: Counting servos is not the same as 18 channels. I could run 30 servos off one channel. I use 7 servos on some of my five channel models. I nearly decided to use 9 servos on my current design which will be a five channel model. Actually I am not bothering with flaps so it will only be 4 channels. If you want the servos to all do something different - even if it's only to go the other way then you need 1 channel per servo (or some other electronics onboard). Yes you can fly a rudder. elevator, aileron, throttle plane using 4 channels and either extra linkages or y leads. However adjusting the differential on such a setup becomes a mechanical task. Not an electronic one that could be done in flight. No one NEEDS an 18 channel set. Infact no one needs to fly model aircraft at all. However there are cases when a complex plane could easily use more than the 10 channels available on Spektrum's next TX down (or 8 channels if you don't fly a pizza box....). No one is forcing anyone to buy it. However there will be plenty for whom its extra functionality made it easily worth the investment. And there will certainly be those you buy it just to have the latest bit of bling. Good luck to them. After all they are subsidising the hobby for the rest of us....

Just thought of a few more for the 3D crowd Variable pitch Vectored thrust - yaw Vectored thrust - pitch stabalisation mode pitch stabalisation mode yaw stabalisation mode roll Actually as stabalisation systems become more and more common I'm sure we'll see some better system integration for their control. Both manual and automatic.   I hope that Spektrum are working on their 30 channel TX even as we speak... Edited By CTB on 18/02/2012 14:44:29

Peter, I'd hazard a guess that you drive a car that has way more than 18 different controls and far more telemetry feedback than this TX offers. I'd also hazard a guess that you crash it very, very, very, rarely - it at all. As for a use for 18 channels. I mentioned in a previous post that another way to look at is not as 18 channels but rather 18 servos. On a scale plane I think that people could easily see how to use 30 servos! Just correctly sequencing the retracts and doors could easily take 6 servos. Have a look over any modern airliner and you'll all many of controlled flying surfaces on the wing. Of course the pilot doesn't control each one individually. But they each require an actuator. Here's my not very OTT list for a single engine plane. Make it a multi or a bipe and many of these double up. I don't fly scale and am unlikely to ever have a plane with retracts. But I certainlly could imagine a setup where I'd have 1-13 on a 3D/Aerobatic/Freestyle plane. And probably a couple more control surfaces as the aerodynamists start thinking about the possibilities! Throttle Mixture (or choke) Ignition kill Rudder (right split) (for use as an airbrake) Rudder (left split) Elevator left Elevator right Aileron left Aileron right Flap left Flap right Airbrake left Airbrake right Sterable nosewheel Wheelbrakes Retract main Retract nose Retract doors main Retract doors nose Canopy open/close Lights (numerous!) Lights..... YMMV. Chris     Edited By CTB on 18/02/2012 13:42:50 Edited By CTB on 18/02/2012 14:02:49

@import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css); Posted by Hamish on 11/02/2012 20:51:25: I am impressed by the technology but how is it used. There are 18 channel so what is attached to each and how much control of each? I am a simpleton on this aspect so it is a serious question. Edited By Hamish on 11/02/2012 20:53:09   No you're not a simpleton! There is an old adage about the only fool being the person that doesn't ask questions.   Yes the radio has 18 channels. But rather than think of it as 18 separate functions imagine that it really means that 18 servos can each be controlled independently.   Take a wing on a STOL type aircraft. That might have 6 servos (3 per side) each linked to a portion of the hinged rear part of the wing.     When the pilot requests "left roll" then the mixing is set up to move all the left hand servos to bring their control surfaces UP and the right hand ones send their surfaces DOWN.   Select down flaps and maybe the centre two servos only push the surfaces down.   Crow braking and some go up and some down.So for 3 functions you might use 6 servos and a whole string of differing mixes. And that needs 6 channels.   Similarly the simple command of up retracts might need 6 channels to move the wheels and close the doors all in the correct sequence.   Hope this helps!   Chris   Edited By CTB on 11/02/2012 23:14:56                           Edited By CTB on 11/02/2012 23:16:21

Posted by CTB on 01/02/2012 15:22:55: Posted by Tim Mackey on 01/02/2012 14:03:46: Be interested to see the price - anything sub £2k and its direct competitor for 18MZ - Try £700 list. So about £630 on the street? Looks like I was slightly off - £560 including a 9 channel RX http://alshobbies.com/shop/lookupstock.php?pc=48971      

Posted by Tim Mackey on 01/02/2012 14:03:46: Be interested to see the price - anything sub £2k and its direct competitor for 18MZ - Try £700 list. So about £630 on the street? @import url(http://www.modelflying.co.uk/CuteEditor_Files/Style/SyntaxHighlighter.css);@import url(/CuteEditor_Files/public_forums.css);