I agree with John C. When I started back in the early 90's I purchased an Airtronics radio with my first plane. At the time, there was an equal split at the field where I flew between Airtronics and Futaba users. Ten years later I was the last one using Airtronics. By then I had acquired several Airtronics radios. Last year I broke down and replaced all of my Airtronics equipment with Futaba.

Without getting into which radio is better, I will agree that if one brand of radio is more common at your club, there is much to be said for using that brand radio. As John C mentioned, it will be easier to find someone to loan you a radio to use as a buddy box. Also from time to time I have borrowed or loaned batteries, servos, servo extensions, servo horns, switches and chargers. This has allowed me or one of my buddies to fly instead of making a 160 mile round trip to the hobby shop or having to wait on something to be delivered.

Eric