ORIGINAL: andizzle
no there was no optical kill switch of any kind, i pretty much got it ready to fly from a friend...
i cant remember the brand name batteries off the top of my head...
RTF from a friend? Did you do the radio instalation or did he? Did your "real pilot extensive preflight" include a range check with the engine running at various throttle settings and with the airplane at various attitudes to the radios antenna? 10 flights "no problems" then on flight 11 theres a problem? Sounds like a battery/charge/ connection problem to me, not a MFG defect.
ORIGINAL: andizzle
my outlook is maybe hitec has outsourced work to save money and the quality control just isnt there anymore. all i know is im done with there radios
You have no solid evidence to back up this statement. Hightec radios are fine, so are Futaba and JR. To often when a crash occurs, a pilots first instinct is to throw the radio mfg under the bus. Go ahead and swich to Futaba, it's what I fly. You will crash again with their equipment on board, then it will be "Futaba's fault". Right?[X(]
rrragman