G'day

I fly Mode 1 because most (but not all) of Australia does. Why? I suspect it was an historical accident.

But since learning to fly I have moved twice and at the club where I am now, Mode 2 is predominant. This has meant that I have had to do my own testing and more recently I have been teaching people like me who started out with Mode 1 and wanted to continue with it.

I don't think it really matters. When you fly a model aircraft you initially use your brain to tell your thumbs what to do but once you learn, your brain is no longer in the loop. The functions are transferred down to your spinal column and it all becomes automatic. Similarly with playing the piano, driving a car and many other things we do. The brain only controls the actions in the learning phase. Once you learn the reflex, it does not matter what arrangement of sticks an buttons you are using. You just do it.

It is certainly more convenient if everyone flies the same Mode but it really does not matter. I have been teaching people who fly mode 2 by using a buddy cord. Their JR Mode 2 radio works perfectly well with my Spektrum and JR radios which are Mode 1.