danamania

Another way to look at the choice to fly without (even minor) mixing is that it is an easier choice to make by the pilot who is not competing?

Portlandflyer

Babcock escapements

essyou35

My Feedback: (11)

Strong brag thread.

JAS

My Feedback: (2)

Being a flyer of both pattern and 3D (used loosely), I didn't know anything about trimming when I first started pattern flying (or flying for that matter). As my brother and I both started really young, we both learned with our thumbs as our fingers were busy holding the transmitter from falling to the ground. At first I didn't use dual-rates, and don't think I started until I started flying the 5uaps in 1987. I think it was 1989 or 90 when I got the 9vap and still didn't use mixing/expo because I didn't know what it was. After a year or 2 I experimented and asked around and started using p-mixes and expo (even end-point adjustments). Now I couldn't imagine not using expo/dual-rates in my pattern/IMAC/3D set-ups. Mixing in my competition planes is nice and especially in FAI probably needed to be where I am, but for 3D and sport planes, I don't really bother with it cause I'm not trying to do anything more than have fun. I often think back to the days when I didn't have mixes/set-up knowledge and even dual-rates. I think because I didn't start with all of those things, I am a more aware pilot.

One thing I do wonder at times is if I could learn to fly 2 finger, at least on the right stick (ail/elv, mode 2) for pattern to see if I could be any smoother, but almost 35 years of flying thumbs is hard to break. Besides, how can you move your fingers fast enough to do all the changes during a snap roll

rrragmanliam

My Feedback: (1)

The short answer is because it would put the emphasis back on design, build, and pilot skills. I’m not saying mixing is cheating because as the rules stand it isn’t. But it wouldn’t bother me if mixing (mechanical or electronic) were banned from COMPETITION. Do what you want for sport flying I’m talking about competition.

By the way how may V-tail aircraft have you seen in pattern competition?

rrragman

Granpooba

My Feedback: (5)

It is funny that you say that it was a real mess in the corners. With the suspension upgrades I find that my 1981 Vette is one of the best handling cars that I have ever driven. I can honestly say that because of its response and ground hugging, I feel that it actually saved my wife and myself from a head on collision with an out of state stupid tourist. He crossed into our lane and I had to swerve hard to avoid him. I sincerely doubt that a lot of other cars would have handled the hard turn and would have tracked so well after I swerved.

Bozarth

My Feedback: (15)

Silly. You are missing the point. Must be because you are from Arvada!

Kurt - from Aurora


P.S. rrragman, come join us at the indoor fly-in this Sat. at Foothills Arena (www.BozarthHomes.com/IndoorRC.htm)
We will also be having more pylon races in 2013 at the new Airpark Elite field (www.AirparkElite.com)

rrragmanliam

My Feedback: (1)

You could be right your not the first to point that out

Thanks for the invite I'd love to check it out.

Darren

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Trust me. Emphasis on design, build and pilot skills is there in pattern today, in some respects I think more so. The current sequences are more demanding on airplane and pilot then ever before. Recently in a conversation with Jim Kimbro he was talking about his and Matt's airplanes and some of their weaknesses and strengths. The weaknesses he was bringing up were so minor that most pilots would not even notice. To compete and not optimize your equipment would just be foolish. If you are not up to the task of correctly trimming ( including mixing ) then simply put you will be stuck at the bottom of your class.

oliveDrab

Very, very strong.

oliveDrab

...just my thumbs on the control sticks.

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

I would have to say this pretty much explains it all. If you'r a guy who wants to compete in pattern then you will use every advantage including mixing. If you are sport flying pattern manuevers without a pair of judges behind you it just dosen't matter. Let's take a poll, who here that dosen't use mixes has competed in a pattern contest in the past 2 years? Who does compete on a regular basis that does not use mixes?

cmoulder

I suspect this is dead on target.

And I also suspect that guys who disdain all the fancy-schmanzy programming stuff are also intimidated by it and aren't interested in learning it. Quite a few times I have set up radios for rates and expo for guys who hadn't taken the time or had the interest in understanding these simple functions, let alone stuff like roll coupling and pitch coupling. Scrolling through the menus is for some an overwhelming ordeal.

It boggles the mind that there are guys who prefer to fly an out-of-trim airplane or one that is unnecessarily twitchy when the solution to the problem is literally right there in their hands.

Another very common theme is that there are people who simply abhor the idea of opening a manual and reading and absorbing the information pertaining to equipment use.

For the guys pooh-poohing technology, what do you use in the way of radio equipment?

Rendegade

Heathkit!

I've also noticed that a lot of the guys simply can't tell the difference between a well trimmed plane and a poorly trimmed one, and hence don't give a stuff about their setup.

If you're not aiming to create perfect geometry every flight, does it matter whether you're off on by a few degrees all the time?

Personally it drives me mental, but each their own.

rctech2k7

My Feedback: (1)

Well, it’s all depends on your preference, rules, etc… You might be gifted with more skills, if it’s true then you could fly better with those features. It’s an advancement although it’s also depends on the type of airplane and flying style considering you fly from small to large scale including turbine jets which require more flying condition…

My suggestion is if your radio has feature and it will be useful and better for you go ahead use it. Full scale pilots are very well educated, skillful and specialized for their job but they use high end features of their aircraft too. It’s there primarily for safety. Other than that, mechanical and human factor can affect performance especially when high workload and stress are involved. Scientist, engineers and tech are working hard on this to keep away from any error... And for me, it’s really far better if it’s there regardless of its function that during the urgent time that we need it’s available…

GerKonig

I think you said it best. I do not fly jets, but all the models I fly that have flaps require a minimum amount of mixing otherwise they balloon when flaps are applied. Heck apply flaps to a trainer (Telemaster) w/o some mixing with down elevator and be ready to see some big time ballooning. I know that a lot of old-timers are afraid of technology (fortunately not many), a real shame. Of course I could dust my old 35mm Nikons, and leave the digital at home, but why?

Gerry
PS: Yes, by not using mixes, pretty much you are in a group of yourself... Using a Kraft radio? Ace? Maybe home made of a kit? No gold sticker?

raptureboy

O.K watch this. I build arfs, that makes me abuilderand I only use nicads. Bring it on

David Bathe

Jez' this thread i 3 side now!

rmh

Guy told me one of the local pattern flyers has zero mix in his new model and apparantly - it needs none .

Mastertech

My Feedback: (31)

So he hasn't flown it yet I take it?

Tim

cmoulder

Osiris or Proteus?[8D]

speedracerntrixie

My Feedback: (29)

Priceless LOL

steph18

it is my case on may last pattern only rudder give a very small deviation on tail is necessery. for the rest no mix

Columbus Ron

Matt, that is why you can't beat Anthony

Doug Cronkhite

My Feedback: (34)

Along with Jason's comment.. if there was 1 thing I wish I could do differently, it would probably be to change to mode 1.