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what was your first radio system?

Old 06-18-2010, 04:27 PM
  #51  
RJConnet
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

Like Rodney, my first successful ??? rig was built from an Ace kit about 1954, single hard tube, quench coil, superregenerative Rx. Tx was a single tube Osc/PA built from a magazine article. If I remember correctly the kit sold for $3.95 not including the Sigma 4F plate relay. I had this thing in a Jasco Electra powered by a Wasp .049 which was enough power for a long full power glide into a landing. A Cub .074 diesel finally got it into the air. A successful flight was one that happened occasionally when you managed to land it in the same field you launched it from ..........RJ
Old 06-18-2010, 04:56 PM
  #52  
THERCAV8R
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

Hi, My first radio was a Logictrol 5. 5 channels with mini mite 3 lenier servos. I have it in a Debolt Jenny with a enya 45 for power.
Old 06-18-2010, 05:32 PM
  #53  
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

My dad and uncle showed me how to use their single channel escapents, galloping ghosts (wig-wag system), pulse proportional, etc.
Vacuum tube receivers! with large lantern batteries on board large body planes!

Boy, they went nuts when I built the Heathkit system in the late sixties and a full ptoportional 4 channel "Ham band" system.
Then we went into Krafts and Airtronics and Futaba's in the seventies.
I'm still using all the Kraft systems.
Old 06-18-2010, 06:40 PM
  #54  
RWeston
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

In 1976 bought a used Cirrus 4- channel from the guy down the street. A few years later built an ACE RC 6- channel and still later, another ACE RC 8- channel. Presently flying a Hitec Optic 6, 2.4Ghz.

Amazing to watch the evolution of the technology!
Old 06-18-2010, 07:00 PM
  #55  
ChuckA
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

1953 Berkley Airtrol on the then new 27.255 license free band. It cost $49.95 including escapement and everything except batteries (A, B, and escapement battery)
Old 06-18-2010, 08:58 PM
  #56  
RDonovan
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

1963, Controlair Mule with regen receiver operating a rubber band powered escapement. Had it in a Demeco (Deboldt) Yankee with a 0.074 glow engine. I don't remember the make. It flew away on the first flight. Had a lot of Citizenship, Kraft and Futaba radios after that. ...Richard
Old 06-18-2010, 09:45 PM
  #57  
Frank Ts Stuff
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

My dad's Kraft single stick
Old 06-19-2010, 12:31 AM
  #58  
InboundLZ
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

MIne was a JR12X 2.4....

Seriously, this thread reminds me of the Monty Python Classic "The secret policemans other ball" where they are all sitting around telling stories of thier child hood, each story more extream than the one before....

"Mine was a two channel acme...." "oh yeah? Well mine was a single channel Craft with no trim...." "Heck, thats nothin' Mine was home made and used rubber bands and springs..."

Old 06-19-2010, 01:17 AM
  #59  
pappyd6
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

Controlaire Mule (single channel tone transmitter), Controlaire 5 receiver and rubber band powered escapement, single channel in a Goldberg 1/2A Falcon. Had good success with single channel through 6 airplanes and at least 20 flights each until my first proportional radio, a kit built M.A.N. 2-3-4 system.
Old 06-19-2010, 03:27 AM
  #60  
tbird619
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

Heathkit, built in the early 70's. Started to put it in a Bleriot, then moved it into a .25 trainer so I could learn to fly. Those were the days. I was a 2LT in the Air Force stationed at San Bernardino, CA. My instructor lived in Redlands so I drove out there to fly. One day he was late and I had already soloed so I thought I'd give it a go without him. Managed to rip the wings off the trainer and augered in full throttle. The engine and radio lived to fly again, although I had to dig the engine out of the dirt. The wing arrived a few minutes later. My 2 year old son at the time still remembers helping me pick up the pieces and put it in the trash.
Old 06-19-2010, 09:28 AM
  #61  
safeTwire
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

My first rc system was the Controlaire Galloping Ghost with a Rand actuator tucked into a Midwest Astro-Mite powered by an Enya .09TV. Rudder and throttle were the only two controls. In order to get a good flight, you had to balance the plane so that it would pass a power off hand launch test glide.

I enjoyed reading all the other posts!
Old 06-19-2010, 11:08 AM
  #62  
3dd
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

mine first was a banner reed radio,really worked good then i watched mr kraft himself work on his new radio and i went out and bought a orbit 3+1 radio
Old 06-19-2010, 11:39 AM
  #63  
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

hi wow you guys are making me feel young -a futaba conquest-6 channel pcm1989have to say that those radios, from that time foward were really bullit proofcame with 148 servos and 500 mah batteries still have that radio- i am still on 79 mzh- and still only futaba radios-but a 7 CAP now-IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT !! ENJOY BEST REGARDS TONY
Old 06-19-2010, 12:59 PM
  #64  
mistermnkim
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

as i said my first was a kraft 2ch and i remember being able to fly all the time because my freq was 75-640 if memory serves
Old 06-19-2010, 01:53 PM
  #65  
Dean rcu
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

It was 1966 when the RC bug bit me. I was into FF before that. My first radio purchase was an EK Logitrol system with linear servos. The EK was one of the first proportional systems available at the time.
Old 06-19-2010, 05:15 PM
  #66  
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

world engines 3 channel, the servos were a brick type, 1972
Old 06-19-2010, 06:12 PM
  #67  
sierracharlie
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

Mine was a Cirrus 900 fm 1981, still working but I dont use it much. This radio was way ahead of its time. FM, 3 dual rates, reverse on most chanels with several mix options.
Old 06-19-2010, 06:34 PM
  #68  
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

An MRC single channel with a superregen receiver and escapement. It says it was built by Futaba in fine print. It is in a small turquoise colored box with the single button on the front. Blip once for right rudder and twice quick for left. I put it in a Skylark Jr and little did I know that it had zero chance to fly....a low winger and hand launch. Crashed first flight. I finally got it going with a Minnie Mambo.

Second was a Citzenship Galloping Ghost that actually worked pretty well. I eventually moved this radio into the Minnie Mambo.

My uncle was a Royal dealer and he sold me one in early 70's. I took it back to him endlessly for repairs.

My first decent radio was a Kraft Series 74. Bought it myself for a graduation present from college...Florida Tech.

I still have the Futaba and Kraft and many others.....

belair bob
Old 06-19-2010, 07:41 PM
  #69  
geeter
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

a three channel build it yourself heathkit, if you remember them......RON.`
Old 06-23-2010, 09:05 AM
  #70  
Eplane65
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

My first was an Orbit 10 channel reed set. I was able to stuff it into an Andrews H-Ray (3 servos only) and learned to fly on this in 1967. A year later, I bought a Kraft 4 channel Gold Medal series radio. I thought I died and went to heaven.
Old 06-23-2010, 03:28 PM
  #71  
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

I started in about 1962 with an REP Unitone (I'm in the UK) single channel bang/bang, this was a tube Tx and Tube/transistor Rx. Next was Galloping Ghost still using the Unitone Rx. After a short period with reeds I moved to an RCS Tetraplex which was a UK copy of Space Control (with the same drift problems). After that I got hold of an F&M Digital 5 and put it in a Taurus, this was very successful. I'm still working the sticks all these years later, these days with Futaba 2.4GHz gear.
Alan
Old 06-23-2010, 07:54 PM
  #72  
Ed_Moorman
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

After 20 years of flying control line, in late 1970 I bought a Kraft series 70 single stick radio. I had to convert it to left handed myself with the help of the local guru.

I saw that single stick was going nowhere, so in 1975, or maybe 76, I bought a Kraft Southeast Super Sport 2 stick and converted it to lefty style myself.

In the past several years, I just order a JR in mode 3 from Horizon.
Old 06-23-2010, 08:40 PM
  #73  
Darryl Usher
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

Berkey Airtrol about 1953.
Darryl Usher
Old 06-24-2010, 12:28 AM
  #74  
Bob Paris
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

My first was Tx and Rx I bought from Polks Hobby out of New York and was a kit built system. I built both the Tx and Rx and sent them back to Polks Hobby's for tune and alignment. I flew with a Bonner SN Escapment...one blip left and two blips right...with kick up elevator with three blips.

My next was a Bonner 4RS system and then I went over to a Kraft 4 channel proportional system. I stayed with Kraft until they went out of business and then went over to Airtronics. I've been with Airtronics ever since and I really like the radio's.

Soft Landings Always,
Bobby of Maui
Old 06-24-2010, 10:10 AM
  #75  
Brendan Lugo
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Default RE: what was your first radio system?

First radio was a Futaba Attack 4 AM when I started this hobby. Since then I've had:
Several more Attack 4 AM radios
2 Futaba gold face radios
Futaba pistol grip car radio
Airtronics Module radio
Airtronics Infinity 600
Airtronics Stylus
Airtronics M8
JR 388
Hitec Flash 5X
Hitec Lynx 3D
Hitec Aggressor CRX
Hitec Eclipse
Hitec Aurora 9
Multiplex EVO 12
Multiplex 707

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