Two words... BULL S**T!!

This is one of those things that really pushes my buttons, so here I go again.

Buy a BASIC transmitter! In over 40 years of flying, I just got my FIRST computer radio last year. And I only got it because my wife was looking to get me a nice Xmas gift, so I went for the gusto.

Please show me ONE airplane on the market that you MUST have exponential, or computerized mixing to fly!

REMEMBER... You guys that have been flying for years KNOW how to do it. You are talking to people who DON'T KNOW.

Learning to fly is VERY difficult for most people (I know there are some prodegies out there, and I have met a few guys who soloed their first day out, but they are by FAR the exceptions). In the beginning (and by "beginning" I mean the first few YEARS for most) it takes ALL of your concentration to keep the plane in the air. EVERY switch, button, or feature on that transmitter is a potential disaster for a novice.

Example... One of the guys I used to regularly fly with (and who was a VERY good flier) got his first computer radio several years ago. He noted to me that "This radio is soooo cool! You can do ANYTHING wiyth it! I even have it set up so that all I have to do is flip a switch, and it will do a snap roll!" I said, "Not a good idea. To do a snap roll, you just have to push the sticks to the corners. But now you have a switch that could cause a disaster if accidentally hit at the wrong time."

Well, he had a very nice flight, and then, as he was about to land, he went to drop his landing gear and... you guessed it, his airplane spun into the ground. (Ooops, wrong switch)

I have seen MANY planes meet an early demise because "Ooops, I forgot my dual rates were on". (How many of you have seen, or heard of THAT happening?)

And if you're thinking, "You don't HAVE to use ALL of the features in the beginning" you're right, you DON'T have to... But who wouldn't? That's like giving a 16 yr old the keys to a Vette and then saying, "Don't drive too fast now..."

Yeah, right!

Stick to a basic radio to learn on. You want something that you can grow into? Look at the picture below. ALL of these planes can be flown with a 4 channel radio without any whistles or bells.

Then, later, if and when you decide that you want something better, there's always Christmas (or birthday, Father's Day, Kwanza, etc.)

"But then, what do I do with my OLD radio?"

Ok everyone, let's see a show of hands... If you had and extra 4 channel radio right now, would you be able to find something to put it in? Would you have a hard time trying to figure out a way to use it?

How many computer radio users out there still have 1 or 2 non-computer radios? Are they just sitting there collecting dust, or do you have them installed in another airplane?

To summerize, (finally, he's going to shut-up) Don't tell rookies that they really should spend their hard-earned money on stuff that will be either obsolete, or much cheaper by the time they are ready to use it (IF they don't wreck it their first season.)