Hey Guys,

I am having some problems with my Lanier Laser/ZDZ 80.

I am running a ZDZ 80RV on a Lanier Laser guided by a Futaba 9C/R149DP PCM receiver. The radio is set to run in PCM mode.

I started having problems at a IMAC competition in California with my plane.
The throttle would randomly drop to an idle and then almost immediately return to where it was.
It was quick enough that I am not sure of this, but I originally did not think that it was going into failsafe. It did not seem to have any effect on the other control surfaces.

I took the airplane apart and found out that the spark plug wire had a small wear spot in it, which I taped up with electrical tape.
I flew it 1 more time that day, and 2 more times the next day and did not have any sort of problems.

The next week after getting home I flew it again and did not have problems for the 1st flight, but it started showing up again on the 2nd flight of the day.
Once again I took it apart and re-taped the wire, and did not experience any problems for 3 or 4 more flights when it started again, but worse.
The plane would go into lockout for anywhere from 1 - 4 seconds (this was not fun, I was in the air with 3 other planes at the time).
After I landed I did a range check and could not get more than about 30-40 feet before it would start to act up.

I let the airplane sit for about 30 minutes and did another range check (no changes to the airplane were done), and I was able to go about 150 feet with no problems at all.
I again let it sit again for about 20 minutes and did another range check, and I could not get more than about 30-40 feet again.
I originally thought that it was the ignition wire causing problems, but would that not be more consistent?

Another pilot thought that it might be the receiver, since it is so random.
I have already received and installed a new receiver in the plane and did a range check and it did awesome, but I am not totally sure of it yet.
I think that I will also be ordering a new ignition module to replace the current one. I have another ignition lined up to borrow, but have not received or installed it yet.

This plane has about 80 flights on it or so with not even a glitch, but parts do wear out over time.

I also have tried eliminating any metal to metal connections. I took off the flying wires, I disconnected the choke servo and unplugged it from the receiver. I also undid my tail wheel steering. None of these had any effect on the problem.

I thought that mayby the radio was having problems, but I have been flying a 40 size Extra since this starting happening and have had no problems at all with that airplane.

Is it possible for an ignition module to cause random interference?
Has anybody had this sort of random problem before?
Anybody have any other ideas of what to look for or do?

Thanks,
--Kevod