Mike Rondel

Interesting reading everyone's thoughts. On the basis that linear output servos are not seen these days, (cant remember the last time I saw any advertised), and that rotary servos do not provide a linear output, no doubt this was the reason that manufacturers incorporated expo - no doubt cheaper than incorporating an extra stage on a servo to provide a linear output. I always use expo on all surfaces in varying quantities so as to obtain, if possible, a near equal response to any input on the Tx sticks. I'm surprised to see that less than 50% of pilots in this survey use this facility.

1 - 73 2 - IC Sport/Aerobatic.   Elec. Sport.   Slope soarers. 3 - Started at about 13 years old with control liners/rubber power/gliders.

Have left it deliberately late to provide input as I wanted to see the comments that would appear.   It would be interesting to make comparisons amongst the serious competition fliers, specifically aerobatics - F3A and IMAC - to note if the type of flying will have influenced the choice of mode.   And additionally, if there was a significant difference amongst, say scale competition fliers.   Were there any regular competition fliers amongst those who responded to the survey? You could go on forever, however the national average result did not surprise me. Mike R

1. Mode 2 2. Jersey, Channel Islands. 3. --ditto-- 4. Self taught, early 1960's, on single stick home made "Galloping Ghost" equipmment, as did the majority of club members at the time.   Currently, the JMAC has about 70 members, and I believe only 1 flies Mode 1.

Steve, hi. Didn't think that this thread would show up again.   Certainly there has been plenty of previous advice that is probably worth re-reading.   How about, as has been mentioned, getting your previous instructor or your club examiner, to fly the model to see how he responds to the set up and its ability.   I think its only practice that you need.  Speed of rotation is neither slow nor so rapid that its done in a blink, aerobatic models (set up for competition) roll rates are likely to be 360 degrees per second, sports models are very often higher.   You need sufficient time to feed in the required down and up elevator as the model progresses through the consecutive rolls, applied at and removed at the precise time so that you dont cause the model to bank away from a straight flight path.   Your model should be more than capable for the manoeuvres.  Get together with a B Cert. pilot  capable of flying your model in a manner that is acceptable for the test and get him to stand by you to comment and guide you through the manoeuvres.   Being told where you go wrong can be very useful. 'Control my thumbs' makes me wonder what mode you fly and whether you use a neck strap or a transmitter tray.   Not that it makes a significant difference for average club flying and it's largely a matter of what method you have learned with.   Advice in this matter is not likely to help you perform the manoeuvres better other than 'just keep practicing'.   I fly mode two, i.e. aileron/elevator on the right stick, as do club members who have leared to fly with the help of club instructors, and the majority hold the stick between thumb and first finger.   Mode one fliers will have learned under similar conditions and probably use thumbs on the top of the sticks.   What is the best way?   There is no best way, though many mode two fliers will argue that it's more like the full size.   It's your brain that has to understand what your thumbs need to do with the Tx stick layout that you have chosen.   Wont be any help to you, but as a matter of interest Christophe Paysant-Le Roux flies mode two, with a transmitter tray and holds his sticks between thumb and finger.   I see that he has retained his F3A European Championship title at the comp in Italy two weeks ago, and no doubt will do all he can to regain the F3A World title next year in Portugal that most fliers believe he lost in Argentina last year due an engine cut. Best of luck, keep practicing. 

Well, it looks like the Hurricane is well on it's way to the top, but I agree with Ralph Hebron's comment a little earlier. The Hurricane is an extensively modelled aircraft, lets have something a little different, I'm sure Tony N might also find it a little more interesting to design and produce a plan of an aircraft that has been rarely modelled.   If the Hurri wins thro', I wonder what Tony might select as an alternative and future project.   It would be interesting to see his comments when the selection is finally made. Mike R.

How about something different from the more obvious. 1. Boulton Paul Balliol 2. Fairey Gannet 3. Westland Wyvern

I'm in agreement with most everybodies' comments and the fact that a person taking the B should attempt to make the manoeuvres as accurate as possible.   Certainly watching a competent flier trying your model will  indicate whether or not it can perform the rolls sufficiently accurately or not will encourage you to improve on your stick inputs.   Having said that, if you are seriously intending to continue beyond the B manoeuvres and try more aerobatic manoeuvres or even the GBRCAA schedules, then perhaps consider a model more appropriate than the Cessna.   Such a model will be easier to fly through all manoeuvres.  Most of the difficulty occurs with precise elevator input during consecutive rolls.   You may find it helpful initially to fly away from yourself so that you have a true rear view of the model, then start your rolls so that you view the precise moment that the model is inverted then upright and so on, at which time learn to feed in the required elevator, this allows you to learn the amount and the time required during that phase of the rolls.   Then start doing the same on a conventional flight path up and down wind.   Best of luck.