Thumbs, Pinch, Hybrid, Trays, Straps ?

[Nigel Heather]

I've always flown using a strap on my transmitter and thumbs on the sticks.

 

I've heard some say that people fly 'thumbs' because they have grown up with XBox and Playstation controllers but that doesn't explain why they do it - I was thumbs on long before that type of games controllers existed.

 

As for the strap, it is more a safety and convenience feature, I support the transmitter in my hands with the trap slightly loose.

 

For some while I've toyed with the idea of switching from 'thumbs' to 'pinch', most of those in my helicopter community have recommended that - I appreciate that there are plenty of exceptions but it does seem that 'pinch' is the preferred method, especially in the helicopter community.

 

So I have two questions:

 

• swapping from thumbs to pinch a sensible/realistic thing to do after so long?  When I have tried it I've not felt comfortable but I know any any change feels uncomfortable at first and takes time - but how long?
• what are your thoughts on trays - for 'pinch' but also for 'thumbs'

 

The reason I'm thinking this way is that I'm increasingly finding that my control inputs are clumsy, not precise, and that supporting the weight of the transmitter and operating the sticks is beginning to feel a little uncomfortable.

 

So interesting in your thoughts on changing stick style and transmitter trays.

[Geoff S]

I use a tray and a pinch hold because, due to a spinal injury, I don''t have full control of individual fingers. I fly Mode 2 and my right side generally and right hand in particular is worst. As I didn't start aeromodelling until after the injury, perhaps I should have chosen a different mode but I foolishly thought I could change to 'reverse' Mode 2 (aileron/elevator on the left) after I'd learned; that obviously never happened!

 

I'm still not a very competent flyer but I (usually) get 'em down safely 🙂

[Cuban8]

I don't know about the Xbox theory, but since the 1970s when I started, I've used thumbs only. I dabbled with helis a few years ago, did my AH and became reasonably proficient on thumbs. I don't think I could switch between the two systems of thumbs and pinch and in my situation as a sport flyer doing it for fun, I don't see any advantage in trying.

I used to use a neck strap but found it more of a nuisance and have not employed one for thirty years. I cannot think of why I'd want to weigh myself down with a tray.

If a review of how one uses a tranny is driven by beginning to have difficulty holding it because of arthritic hands or other medical reasons, then rather than not flying at all or losing confidence, then yes it's worth exploring. However changing for the sake of it just because others use a different method seems not worth the bother IMHO.

Clearly these are highly personal preferences, so no right or wrong if whatever is chosen works for the individual.

[Nigel Heather]

Couple of reason why I am thinking of a tray.

 

Just moved to a different transmitter which is heavy than my old one - as I said, I support the transmitter in my hands rather than let the strap take the weight - besides neither my old nor my new transmitter balance properly on the strap - I have a balance bar for my new transmitter but rather annoyingly it obscures the power button somewhat.

 

At my age, I've noticed I get a slight shake in my left hand when I am holding something, I have seen a neurologist who has ruled out anything serious and said that it is just a slight degeneration that is fairly common at my age.

 

Also, been experimenting with a hybrid style on the simulator - thumb on top and forefinger on the front - I do feel that my controls are a little more controlled and precise but I wouldn't be able to do that while holding the transmitter - so I'd either need the strap or a tray support the transmitter.

[Futura57]

I've tried changing from thumbs to pinch more than once over the years. The thinking being to get better feel and precision in my movements. But I always struggled to feel the gimbal centres, so tried stiffening up the springs thinking it would help. I tried different stick lengths and a strap, which I found to be an uncomfortable impediment. I just wasn't comfortable, so reverted to thumbs and started dialing in significant exponential  to approximate a dead-band and achieve finer control around the trimmed points. Makes my flying smoother.

 

I did learn to fly fixed wing in the 1970s on mode 1 along with my first heli (MM Lark). When I got into helis more seriously in 1999 I switched to mode 2, but continued fixed wing mode 1 for a couple more years. I then switched fully to mode 2. My flying skills did take a dive for a year or two whilst my brain adjusted. So anything is possible, I guess.

[leccyflyer]

I've pretty much always flown Mode 2 thumbs, since the early 1990's on returning to the hobby.  Soon realised the necessity for a strap and so have been flying with a neck strap for most of that time, once I was off the buddy lead and having passed my test for solo flying.  I did try a tray for a very brief period, as it was bought for me as a birthday present, a rather nice carbon fibre job, with a dome to keep the rain off. That was okay, but I still flew with thumbs, having tried the pinch between thumb and forefinger technique and not got along with it at all.  I daresay that if you really put the effort in and was determined to change technique you could probably manage it, but I see no need to change personally.

 

When I went to 2.4ghz, the tray was retired, as carbon trays were not recommended with the 2.4ghz module on the back of the transmitter and so has not been used in years. I still use a neckstrap and if I ever forget it, I'm not at all happy, to the extent that I've mocked up a forgotten neckstrap on the slope with a length of nylon cord.  My refurbished 2.4Ghz capable Digimac III even has a neckstrap which is an ID card lanyard from a conference.

[Learner]

I started using pinch and a neck strap and got to a reasonable standard.

Then had trouble with my right thumb going numb while flying, so after trying all different lengths of adjustment I ditched the strap, that didn't help so tried thumbs which improved matters. 

I've been flying with thumbs on top/ no strap for years now and move transmitter around changing position if need be during flight, this now enables a 10 minute flight with no problems.

Fellow flyers find it weird that sometimes I'm flying with arms straight down transmitter pointing to the floor.

 

 

 

 

[Robin Colbourne]

My first set, (Fleet 2+1) didn't have a facility for a neckstrap and nor did the  Futaba FPT-5L (L Series) that came after it.  I did make my own neckstrap bracket for it and started using it, but still flew thumbs (some times the sharp knurled end of the stick would actually draw blood in more stressful moments 😄 ).
A trip to the R/C Hotel in Corfu in 2001 and some helicopter lessons with the Norwegian instructor there, led to me changing to the pinch grip which I have used ever since.
The neckstrap reduces the load and stress in one's hands, which in turn reduces the tenseness in one's fingers, thus allowing a lighter grip on the sticks.  The position of ones fingers in the pinch hold to some extent allows the pilot to feel where the sticks are in the gimbals and feel when the sticks are centred.  One of the major problems for beginners and to some extent more experienced flyers flying 'thumbs', is that they make inadvertent inputs with the axial pressure from their thumbs on the sticks, which causes the sticks not to be centred when the flyer thinks they are.

[Sheepish]

Over about 35 years of flying RC I have tried neck straps, trays, tray TX’s, just holding the TX, pinch, thumbs, hybrid of the two and have now decided that for me the two best solutions are a harness like this one from Pilot RC 

https://pilot-rc.com/transmitter-neck-strap/

Which works  especially well for me for hand launching of gliders and electric stuff with no under cart.

Recently I also started to use a Radiomaster Zorro Tx which looks like an X Box controller and  despite my initial reservations I find I really like its small size and light weight.
 I have been using it for large F5j type electric gliders with Edge TX and Mike Shellims excellent templates with great results for me.  
I think it’s good to try different things to see what works for you and not to assume that where you are is the only way to do something.

[Colin Carpenter]

74 now and started pinch sticks in 83 when learning on helis. Used thumbs on boats when racing ic and electric boats. Right thumb only did all the work. Left thumb on /off 😂😂 Never used a strap or tray ! Tried tray mid 80s but too cumbersome. Only a few use pinch at fixed wing club. I find aerobatics much smoother with pinch. Springs set strong ! Colin

[GrumpyGnome]

Thumb on top, finger on the stick itself. Always fly with a strap, didn't get on with a tray.

 

I changed (successfully I think, others may disagree...) from Mode 1 to Mode 2, so I'd think a change of digits should be eminently achievable. It'll take a while to become second nature though......

[Peter Jenkins]

I started flying using a neck strap and thumbs and that took me past my B test onto competition aerobatics.  However, when I had long, half the length of the box long, inverted flight, I struggled with holding the right amount of elevator so when someone suggested a tray I thought I'd give it a go.  In the end, it took me 3 months to get back to the standard I had been at flying thumbs.  It initially felt alien but I gradually got used to it.  If you are planning to make the move then best to fly regularly till you get used to the tray.  

 

The benefits as far as I was concerned were that:

 

• when I got tense, I would tilt the Tx towards me and cramp my thumb movements.  With the tray, and using the pinch technique, as I wasn't holding the Tx I could not tilt it towards me so that removed that issue.
• with the tray, I could take both hands off the sticks and give them a shake before re-engaging with flying.  Helped to reduce stress.
• inverted flying was now much easier to achieve since with the hand rests I could just keep my wrist anchored and gently move just thumb and finger.  It led to a huge improvement in my ability to fly long level inverted sections.
• I do occasionally fly thumbs only but I don't feel like I can fly with the same precision as when using a tray and pinch technique.
• The Tx is protected from ground contact when in the tray so helps to keep it dry and cleaner.

Finally, I use a harness that sits on my shoulders and this has stopped the neck ache I used to get with a strap holding the tray in place.  I would thoroughly recommend taking the time to get used to the different feel of flying with a tray and using a neck strap and thumbs or just holding the Tx. 

 

Having said that, Andrew Jesky who came 2nd in the world aerobatic championships last September doesn't use a neck strat, holds his Tx in his hands and flies thumb and finger using other fingers to operate a number of switches for various flight conditions.  He usually has his arms hanging straight down with the aerial pointing down at the ground.  Then again, he's an exceptional pilot!

[Jon H]

I dont remember when i actually started but as far as i can remember i always flew with the pinch. I find it the most comfortable and accurate. 

 

I have never used a strap as i find it just gets in the way of everything and is a safety nightmare. 

 

Many moons ago working at a model shop i did discover that not all tx's allow for a pinch if the bezels are high around the gimbals. Also i have fairly large hands and long ish fingers. If you dont, then it may not work for you depending on your radio. 

[Tom Gaskin 1]

With relatively small hands, I use a neckstrap and pinch - always have done.

 

Tom

[Martin Harris - Moderator]

I’ve always used thumbs for fixed wing but on the odd occasion when I fly helicopters, I use pinch.  Somehow, it seems to help me switch mindset although I haven’t found any real problems on the odd maiden for clubmates with dedicated tray style transmitters, where thumbs would be impractical. 
 

As Jon alludes to, neck straps introduce serious hazards, primarily from inadvertent throttle operation, and I’ve witnessed many incidents involving them, ranging from nasty moments and model damage to serious injury.  IC operation is probably more prone to these but they’ve happened with electric models too. 
 

I don’t have large hands - they’re fairly wide but with short fingers - and despite normally using a heavier all metal transmitter, have no difficulty with either method. 

[Frank Skilbeck]

I fly pinch with a neckstrap/harness, I do a bit of instructing and advise my pupils to try both and go with what they are most comfortable with. Some thumb fliers find more expo is useful as they find fine control around the center easier.

[Brian Cooper]

There is no right or wrong way to operate sticks. Everyone has their own style and if it works, then go for it.

 

Thumbs on top for me. . . and it has nothing to do with X-boxes or any other type of electronic toys.

 

Having started R/C flying way back in the early 1960s - when TV was still in black and white and we had a choice of two channels - the only control on my R/C Tx at that time was a single button. And it was pushed with a thumb.

Moving on to reeds, we had several two-ways switches to play with... and they were all operated by thumbs. 

 

When digital proportional radios came along, it was simply very natural to still use thumbs on top. And I have remained faithful to this style ever since, regardless of whatever aircraft I am flying. 

 

Using fingers and a thumb to grip, or "pinch" something is how I hold a pen... and I am certainly not writing an essay whilst flying. 

 

Neck straps:

They are the work of the Devil. 

Quite apart from the fact that I move my Tx position whilst flying, especially when flying 3D, it would try to strangle me. . . At best it would cramp my style.

At worst, they cause accidents with throttles/propellers.  I have seen some amusing ones, and I have also seen some less amusing ones which resulted in a visit to a hospital.  

 

I have seen people using trays, suspended on a strap. They remind me of the ladies who sold drinks and snacks during the interval at the cinema  (that dates me... lol). 

 

Whatever anyone's chosen method may be, just enjoy the game... and stay safe. 

 

[john stones 1 - Moderator]

Thumbs and strap, no dramas to report.

[Robin Colbourne]

One thing that I find helps with a neckstrap is to have a magnetic coupling between the strap and the transmitter.  This allows me to hold the transmitter close to the neckstrap and it connects itself.  Messing around with spring clips can take both hands and much waving of the transmitter around, thus increasing the risk of inadvertant throttle movement.  At the other end of the flight, a sharp pull separates transmitter and neckstrap.

[GrumpyGnome]

I have to say I'm surprised at the worries about inadvertent throttle movements, most transmitters these days have one or more of throttle hold, throttle kill, 'sticky' virtual switches, and programmable switches to make this almost an impossibility.  Throttle stick is inert until you're fully ready to fly - tranny in tray/strapped on, glasses and hat in place etc. 

[Nigel Heather]

Out of interest how do you manage to fly pinch without a strap or a tray.

 

When I try that I find that I am having to hold the transmitter really awkwardly, basically pushing my palms into the side of the transmitter.

 

The reason I was thinking of a tray is that if I move to a pinch or a hybrid thumb/pinch how do I support the weight of the transmitter?

[Colin Carpenter]

Using Spekkie DX9 ,NX8 , third and little finger under tx . Thumb and first finger on stick and second finger able to reach switches. I set switches above sticks to down for usual positions and rest fingers on them ! Can’t honestly say I notice the tx weight ! It’s what u r used to I expect! Colin

[Matt Carlton]

A weird sort of thing where I have my thumb on top of the stick and my finger in a pinch position. No strap or tray.

I think it came from my instructor giving me a clout if he heard the sticks "spring" to neutral 😅

Excuse my mucky hands, I'd just been mulching the roses. 

[GrumpyGnome]

Not at all weird, that's how I use the sticks...... 

[Peter Jenkins]

One of the top UK F3A team pilots flies like that.  It's what ever works for you and that enables you to fly to your required standard.