SDR-Hammer

I’ve heard and read a lot of facts related to flying R/C over the years. Some of the facts are interesting but most of it completely useless to my enjoyment of the sport and has zero impact on my skills as a builder or flyer. Facts such as how long it takes a balsa tree to grow before it is harvested or servo gears have an odd number of teeth is interesting but it’s crowding space in my brain for more useful details like; where did I leave that package of 4-40 bolts?

So what is the most useless fact you’ve read or been told related to anything R/C?

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

The most useless fact I know is that there are other RC Websites out there.

ok, MY list:
Propeller balancing
Coordinated Turns
and being anal about anything like Aileron Differential, or exact degrees of control surface throw, etc.

Hill202

My Feedback: (24)

Good list!!

scottrc

- Don't put two stroke fuel in a 4 stroke. Hey, the tape falls off the jugs and I get the two mixed up. It still flies.

- Don't open the CA bottle with your teeth.

- Wheel alignments

- The AMA Executive Committee

- Monokote Polish

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

after run oil

Frankenthumb

My Feedback: (2)

Scott, I think that not opening a CA bottle with your teeth is a very useful piece of knowledge. Do you have a personal experience that you'd like to share?

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

Kind of like making sure your hands are free of it before hitting the head! [X(]

crownvic

All the crap that is written about battery charging and batt chargers. there is a mountain of stuff wrote on this subject!

lonnie

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

The wood pecker makes your covering work easier!!! Good Luck Dave

DBCherry

My Feedback: (4)

That altitude above you is useless.

Cyclic Hardover

My Feedback: (3)

Those mini Temp guns

Ragwing

My Feedback: (2)

Servo gears should have a prime number of teeth, which also makes them an odd number. HA! With that extra tidbit I'm sure you'll never find those bolts!!!

Derek

azhar

My Feedback: (19)

Too much power??!!

Azhar

DownSideUp

Make sure the wheels hit the ground first!

Deadeye

Wear Depends on a maiden...that's like so, 'well DA'!

AQ500

-Cox uses a 5-40 screw to hold the prop down.
If you need some of those, I have a whole box.

-At altitude, you lose power. (for distributors and tech reps)
Now if we can only get the distributors to realize that a 91 4 stroker will have a hard time flying a 10 pound plane well at 10,000 feet so our warranty is not voided when we install a bigger engine.

-APC props leave clean cuts such that stiching is easy.
Don't ask.

-Exacto knifes tend to fall towards the foot thanks to gravity.

-Snap roll switch

3DFanatic

My Feedback: (5)

Expanding on the X-Acto knife thing. The alignment of electrical charges in the handle orients the knife so it is blade-down upon falling

And snap roll switches suck cause they don't break with the elevator before they start rolling

J_R

All model aircraft come with an expiration date.

Now... if they would tell you what it is, then it wouldn't be useless.

Mhale71

as was specificly noted in my manual,,,,

Groundforce-RCU

My Feedback: (20)

As printed in most building instructions, "THIS IS NOT A TOY"

Kaos Rulz

SDR-Hammer,

The Monokote trim tool (the hand-held)

and

Any kit manual suggesting obtaining "Adult Supervision" before starting.

or

Any engine instructions warning you to keep fingers out of spinning props. (I understand it's a legal thing--but--DUH)

hookedonrc

The "retail" price of anything. Someone always sells it cheaper elsewhere.

SDR-Hammer

Here are some more interesting but completely useless facts I did not need to know.[:-]

CA was invented by accident. The researcher was trying to make optical materials, and would test their properties by putting them between two prisms and shining light through them. When he tried the cyano-acrylate, he couldn't get the prisms apart.

It is almost impossible to swallow CA because it solidifies upon contact with saliva.

Nitromethane was developed by the 3rd Reich during WWII as a rocket propellant.

scottrc

Hobby shops sell this thing for $14 or more, and you can get the same thing at a discount fabric store for about $2.

Mike in DC

I think the original thread was about real "facts" (true things that aren't worth knowing), but I think it's more fun to talk about the "facts" that many people believe, but for a variety of reasons, aren't that useful. So, at the risk of starting a flame war, here are some of mine:

Models made out of plastic "fly like bricks" (I'm surprised Tattoo hasn't posted that one already).

Guys that fly ARFs are dangerous because (take your pick) 1) they don't know the insides of their plane, 2) they aren't emotionally attached to their planes, or 3) they represent the "immediate gratification" generation who are just not up to snuff compared to previous generations.

You can protect yourself from prop cuts by making an exaggerated looping motion with your hand over the prop when you remove the glow plug heater. (I think guys should be taught to get behind the prop before getting their hands any where near the engine.)

The AMA does more for you than provide insurance (couldn't resist!). Paradoxically, it's mainly run by guys who are totally disconnected from the membership, and are only motivated by self-interest.

If you don't support your LHS, it won't be there for you when you need it (but if I needed it so much, wouldn't I support it more?)

Tail draggers are more difficult to take off.

You can't learn to fly without an instructor.

Engines last longer if you break them in properly. (At the rate I'm going, no engine of mine is going to see its two year birthday anyway!)