at least i call them wheel chair's . you all know that thing that mike sauls and others use to hold there transmitter. how many of you all use one these. what is the advantage of these devices ? over a strap or no strap or chair at all ? i have found that a strap is a deadly device that if left on a transmitter it can push your throttle up when you pick up your transmitter . got my finger when i tried to catch the plane . what are you guys using? and what do you all think the advantages and disadvantages are? thanks for any input !
Chad

I go the no strap route, using thumb & forefinger for control. Haven't had a mishap yet. Never seen a person use a tray, and some pro's use straps, others don't. The straps that come with the radios (at least those below the 9Z & 10X) come with el-cheapo ones that are difficult to use. The aftermarket's are nice because of the spring swivel snaps - you can leave them on your neck and easily connect/disconnect the radio, but then you've got to be careful not to get it caught in the prop when you're leaning over the plane.

I used to use an adjustable strap. I always made sure I tucked it into my shirt when i was starting my engine. 1 day, I saw a veteran flyer that was holding his radio with the strap attached. He moved the radio, or the wing blew the strap into the prop. (.40 size airplane) The motor was winding the strap up, and plane was climbing up the strap, luckily he finially let go of the radio. Luckily he wasn't hurt.

The only thing hurt was the radio and prop. I could only imagine what damage it would have done if he was bending over the plane like I do starting my funflys, and the strap got caught in the prop. It would do some serious, if not life threating damage.

I stopped using a strap that day.

Just make sure you don't get the strap caught in the prop.

Most of the F3A guys I fly with use a tray and fly thumb and forefinger. They rest their hands on the tray and they really do have great control. I never could get used to it (maybe I did not try hard enough) so I stick with my strap. I find that body english often defeates the purpose, but when I concentrate on keeping my transmitter at the bottom of the strap and not using my body to make manuevers my flying improves drastically. For F3A I stand basically like a statue, the only thing moving is my eyes and head and the strap helps me greatly with posture.

Mark

I fly pattern and use a tray, I have started using it with the helicopter and it really improved my flying, while I'm not a top flier it does steady my radio and can be angle to the desire position, which won't change between flights, before that I used the strap but I did not like the angle at which it hang on the strap so I had to hold it there sort of defeat the purpose....for some that may be their desire angle...

Daniel D.

Why do you call them wheelchairs? Are you baiting the line or do you think they are for handicapped flyers?

I use the strap. I didnt use anything for a couple years. I like the strap because its like having a 3rd hand. If a bug flies up my nose I can swat it without loosing my grip on the transmitter. Also glow fuel can make your hands and the transmitter box slick.

I have heard of one instance where a guy was using a strap and was going to hand off his transmitter to a friend, in the process of unhooking the strap he unknowingly turned the transmitter off and lost the plane.

I leave the strap around my neck, not attached to the transmitter so it wont yank the throttle. I attach it to the transmitter after starting the plane and standing at the tail, preventing the plane from moving. I unattach the strap after landing and killing the engine.

If I plan to hand off the transmitter, I leave the strap unattached the entire flight.

I like the strap.

Joe Brannon

one of the guys in our clubs calls them wheel chairs cause he thinks that your maybe not strong enough to hold a transmitter the entire flight or some thing like that. i just never heard them called any thing else so i didnt even no what they were called until the above post called them a tray thats a more apropraite name.
i like to use the strap myself . it takes the shake's out sometimes you can relax your arms more and concentrate more on you flying. and like the guy siad above swat a bug! man a horse fly tried to bite me yesterday while flying i dont know what i would of done if i didnt have my strap on ! them things hurt when they bite. and a strap keeps my fellow fly boys from come over and saying "let me try out your plane" they hate to unbuckle my strap just to fly my plane. not that i really mind them flying it. just i dont want to give up my flying time .
any way i just wanted to hear what everybody else thought about the strap or the tray or just hold the thing out there like it its gona bite you. and yes you do have to be careful with your strap it can get in the way real easy. i keep my strap around my neck and tucked inside my shirt until i'am ready to take off

I call them Tx trays. Why? because I'm in a wheelchair. And I dont have the strenght to hold the Tx so it's a must for me.

i fly F3A and have used both neck strap and tray trays are good but are annoying to put on neck straps are quick easy and good to use

A Strap is just that. A Strap. A harness is simply a Strap with more straps. As a Ex-Combat Film Camerman I have always have looked for ways to put on and get out of my gear pronto. I also kept my eye on gear that was stable, light weight, strong and comfortable. An extra snap or clip was one to many for me. The only reason our transmitters come with straps is because they are the cheapest way the maker of the transmitter can sell thier gear. It's not the best way by any logic other then cost. So I made my own Transmitter Tray. It's a top of the line, bench mark unit. Of the hundreds that I've sold over the past three years only two have been returned for personal reasons. That's how I know they are that good. The guys and gals, finger and thumbs, and thumbs only fliers just love 'em. It's not a cheap unit. The really good stuff we fly with usually isn't. That's why the transmitter folk include a cheap nylon strap with a logo and a snap. I belive that the tray should do the holding so your hands can do the flying and that couple of percent of my attention as to how I'm hanging onto my transmitter and where the switches are is better focused on my flying and not on steadying the transmitter. check out www.marktrent3d.com and see how he agrees with me. He flys with my Transmitter Tray. By the way if you ever are in a wheel chair this unit will fit you there as well. all my best, Jeff www.rctraymanusa.com Sandler