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Old 07-01-2002 | 04:18 PM
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dougmaples
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From: MS
Default handicapped user needs help

I have been flying RC for about 7 years but without control of the left stick. I am a quadriplegic with NO use of its my left hand or arm and NO wrist or finger movement in my right hand. I have a modified stick for my ailerons and elevator and can move my right arm to control the plane in the air. With someone controlling the throttle beside me I can land and take off easily. The single stick transmitter with the rotating knob is not an option. Someone built me a pneumatic actuator that attaches to my transmitter and I move the throttle by sipping or blowing in the tube connected to the device. This works the throttle but I have no idea how much a sip or puff is advancing the gimbal unless I can hear the engine. That is not precise enough control. From all I can figure the only way to get fine throttle and rubber control is to remove the left pot and attach it to some type of headgear and have longer wires soldered to the transmitter. This gives me the ability to control the gimbal with my tongue. All of my planes are on older Futaba radios, but I would only want to modify one. I could use it as a buddy box for the other planes. Does this sound feasible and how difficult would it be?