I believe if the xmitter is on and not sending signals or off is the same thing. The airborne system remains in steady state, the battery providing enough juice to activate the receiver and keep the servos in centered state awaiting signal input. If the xmitter is off.. you may here some occasionaly chatter as the receiver is "free" to accept any signal within the hz tuned for.

You coulid just hook up a series of small light bulbs the number and watts sized to your battery, plug battery into it and monitor voltage from time to time.... This would be much quicker. They used to sell them as low tech discharges long ago...

For forming I understad the wal-wart type charges are good as they are not peak detecting and continue charging at the 60mah or whatever it's rated for until you unplug it. Though your charging to 7.2 volts ...... be sure on discharge your getting the mahs the battery is rated for.