The Mode Survey - what do you fly?

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

Hi,

 

OK as a research engineer I suffer from overpowering curiosity. The recent discussions on what mode people fly have brought up some questions in my mind.

 

Question 1: It's said that Mode 1 and Mode 2 are approximately equally used. Is that true?

 

Question 2: It's sometimes claimed that there is a "North/South" divide regarding mode usage - with mode 1 being more popular in the North. Is that true?

 

Well lets find out. There are about 20-30,000 RC flyers in the UK (I think) so if we could get a sample response on here of about 200 then, (assuming its a fairly random sample) then we should be able to find the answers with reasonable accuracy.

 

So here's the survey...answer the following 4 questions;

 

1. What mode do you fly? If you can fly more than one just give the one that you are most "at home" with.

 

2. What region do you do most of your current flying in?

 

3. What region did you learn to fly in?

 

4. Did you learn from an instructor (even if informally), or were you self taught?

 

Now remember, this isn't about which mode is "best" or why you fly the one you do, or the wonderful spiritual experience your great aunt Hettie had whilst flying mode 4  Let's just stick to the questions and see if we can get an answer.

 

I reckon that there are about 100+ regular contrubutors on this forum but over 10,000 members, so we will need a some of you who don't contribute regularly to take part in this one please. The more people who respond the more accurate the result.

 

Happy surveying....

 

BEB.

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

I'll start the ball rolling...

 

I fly Mode 2

 

I fly in the North West of England

 

I learnt in the North West England

 

I learnt from an instructor.

 

BEB

[Mowerman]

I Fly mode 2

Learnt in the south (Reading) plus Corfu (RC Hotel)

Now Fly in Yorkshire

Instructor in Reading MAC (Thanks Dave Gray) and Corfu (Thanks Mike White)

[Mark Lubbock]

Hi,

 

I fly Mode 1,

I live in the Midlands

Learnt in the Midlands

Self taught.

 

I fly Mode 1 because that was the mode of the first 5 channel (Futaba 5lk 27mhz) & not because of any percieved advantages of either. I can fly other modes equally badly.

 

I can see this thread degenerating into a 'which is best/most realistic' etc. before too long!!

 

Cheers!

Mark L

[Biggles' Elder Brother - Moderator]

OK guys as Mark has said its already at the "why" stage! Other threads have done that - and Timbo's right its a pretty fruitless argument. So let's stick to just the facts please.

 

One point of clarification - can we keep it to "fixed wing" at the moment. We could do Helis separately if there is interest. But including them at this stage might distort the result!

 

BEB

[John Privett]

1. Mode 2

 

2. Surrey

 

3. Newcastle-upon-Tyne

 

4. Some input from "instructor" but mostly self taught.

 

 

(Mode 2 is dominant where I fly - I can think of only one Mode 1 flyer,  not seen him for a few years, and when he flew helis he flew Mode2)

[Tim Mackey]

Mode1

North Wales

Midlands

Instructor

[Bob Cotsford]

Mode 2

Midlands

Midlands

self-taught (some might disagree about the accuracy of the 'taught' bit!)

[Roger Adams]

I fly Mode 2

 

I fly in the West Midlands

 

I learnt in the  West Midlands

 

I learnt from an instructor. (Thanks Bigsy)

 

PS the answers apply to my son as well, so thats 2 replies (Thanks again Bigsy) 

[Robin Coombs]

1. Mode 2 but can also fly mode 1.

2. South (Africa)

3. Ditto.

4. Self taught.

 

In a past life I was a club instructor at a now defunct club.

We seem to have a fair balance of both mode 1&2 at my present club. We even have 1 Mode 4. His right hand is paralised.

[Lee Wilson]

Mode 2

North Lincolnshire

North Lincolnshire

Instructor

[Ultymate]

Mode 1

N.Wales

N.Wales

Instructor

[Phil Cooke]

1. Mode 2

2. East Midlands (Derby)

3. South Cheshire (NW)

4. Instructor at SCRCS - thanks to Gordon Canavan!

 

Was taught to fly the basics on a Ben Buckle Red Zephyr many moons ago now and my first rudder and elevator stick inputs were Mode 2, thats the way my tutor flew so thats the way I carried on...

Edited By Phil Cooke on 05/01/2010 11:14:23

Edited By Phil Cooke on 05/01/2010 11:19:51

[Pete B]

Mode 2

France

South (Hampshire)

Instructor

[Ross Clarkson]

1. Mode 2.

2. South East region.

3. South east region.

4. Started Mode 2 on Heli's and kept it once converted over to Aeroplanes.

 

Also, right handed.

[Bruce Richards]

1. Mode 2.

2. South East region.

3. South east region.

4. Instructor

[andy watson]

I fly Mode 2

 

I fly in the North West of England

 

I learnt in the North West England

 

I learnt from an instructor.

[Jonathan Lewzey]

Mode 2

 

South East

 

South East

 

Initially self taught, but mostly with an instructor.

 

 

[Colin Naylar]

mode 2

Ceredigion

Ceredigion

self taught

[Garry Pollard]

1 Mode 3

2 Lincs

3 Yorkshire

4 Self Taught

[001]

Mode 2

West Midlands

Surrey

Instructor

[IanN]

Mode 2

Bucks

Bucks

instructor

[Stephen Grigg]

I fly the mode where my Spectrum gear tells me where to put the connections apart from I cant steer on the ground with my left thumb so I take off on aileron rudder mix,so I dont know what mode I am,hows that Im Hampshire,being taught by an Instructor who disapproves of the way I take off anyway

Edited By Stephen Grigg on 05/01/2010 13:28:46

[Alan Cantwell]

Mode 2 is by far the most accepted in the UK,  dont know about the rest of the world,  i fly Mode 1, was taught in a Mode 1 club (Oldham MAC)  BUT, i have moved clubs, (Bury Metro)10 miles away, and they fly Mode 2,    Hmmmm        i also, after having a mode 2 trainer thrust at me in a emergancy, and doing more damage than he would, taught myself to fly both,       But i really think you would be surprised at how many are Mode2,

[TonyS]

1. Mode 2

2. Midlands

3. Yorkshire

4. Self-taught