I know this is a personal subject. I like to read the reasoning of others.

I was taught by a somewhat famous RCer and he explained before I ever flew what the differences were and the logic involved. Knowing how a real airplane controls had no influence for me. RC has no comparison as a pilot (reverse flight, g-force feel, foot controls and so on)

The logic worked for "me" I was able to fly the plane as a pilot with realistic flight, smooth precise movements and no multi control effects trying to fight two springs in endless variable resistance (I never here this mentioned)

I remember reading one about a Michigander that commented how itching your nose was do-able with mode 2 and smiled knowing this persons view was tunneled and I though how easy it was to do this with Mode 1 as well (using your right hand to itch instead of your left) I find that flying Mode two to be slushy and somewhat un-precise to do what my mind wants to do with the plane...it seems more of a ball park attempt at my true intensions instead of a satisfying result of my best intensions

This topic was started to provoke nice and humorous views from a long time flyer that has returned to the hobby after years.

Hell.....flying mode 2 lets me sit down, get a drink of Gatorade (because its a sport after all) and a quick dip of Skoal!!

Mode 1 would be a real challenge to all the left-thumb-challenged-all-the-time-full-throttle-rudderless pilots that I share the sky with.

Mode 2 is hard enough for the regular Joe, leave alone Modes 3 and 4.[sm=bananahead.gif]

Each has it's benefits, personally I fly mode two as I'm more of a heli guy, and for how heli's fly in a hover and landing etc, I can see and feel when I'm flying just how it makes more sense - plane's cannot just go sideways all of a sudden from a stationary point in the sky.
As for planks (which I have now as well), I can see how mode one would be better as you can separate elevator and aileron much easier re fine tuning a banked turn etc when referring to general sport type flying (for a noob it takes some thumb skill to add elevator when turning/banking a plane in mode 2 being it's all down to controlling one little stick while your eyes are elsewhere, personally I'm thankful for the high quality simulators we have now days!).

At the local field where I go, the majority of heli guys fly mode 2, while the majority of plane guys fly mode 1 - that said, there are exceptions, and that is normally when a specific pilot has come from starting their hobby life in the other camp (where I fly, all mode 1 heli guys started of with planks for example).

At the end of the day, does it really matter? .... if starting out, take into account what the local guys at your club use, and fly whatever mode makes the most sense to you after taking into account all the factors relating to YOU. Also, learn on a sim to get thumb memory and general flight 'physic' characteristic's when starting out (it will save you serious money when you invest into a good high end sim like Phoenix/Realflight etc), then just get out and just have fun taking to the air!

(I added the learning comments as those in to hobby already will have long since made their mind up, and not a lot we say in here will effect that! (noobs on the other hand can be led through personal views being misunderstood as fact or best practice)

LOL ...well said , does not really mater at all as long as the fun happens. In reality a mode 1 flyer with a 4 channel plane has both...mode 1 as a two hander and mode2 with the left hand. A mode 2 flyer also has a mode1 set up with a reversed elevator location tied to a rudder instead of the "rons"

...so we have both at our fingers the whole time. The rest is how we use our mind.

But....how can a turn out be held to a constant horizontal plane using one stick (sure in a plane you are there, but...RC) with doing two things.
Practice I suppose.

I have tried both. I wonder how many mode 1 flyers went mode2 after trying mode2 verses how many mode2 flyers went mode1 after trying mode1.

For some reason I think most mode2 flyers have never tried mode1...i dunno, just a thought

Well...  I am a beginner and still haven't put a plane in the air.  I have been practising on the sim however and when I first got it, the controller was configured as mode 1.  Now because I live in Australia and everyone was saying that the majority of Aussies fly mode 1,  I just left it as is and started practising.   It wasn't until a few months later that I was able to finally get down to the club I am planning to join and to my surprise I was told that most of the instructors were mode 2 pilots.  There was only one mode 1 instructor so it would have been hard to get some training time in.

So I got home and ripped the controller apart and swapped the spring thingoes/ratchet thing about and it is now set up for mode two.  It has taken a couple of weeks for me to re train my brain/hands to the differences but I have got the hang of it now.  I think I prefered to fly Mode 1 but maybe that was because it was the first Mode that I tried?  I just felt a bit more comfortable with it.  That's not to say that I can't fly Mode 2 comfortably now but it doesn't feel as natural.  But like I said, that might have something to do with the fact that Mode 1 was the first thing I tried and I was practising with it for months.

I have know idea what would feel "better" when I actually get a plane in the air because as mentioned before, I have only been practising on the sim so far.  I don't even know if I can put a plane in the air yet???  Time will tell???

Exactly my point re seeing how someone who uses planes as a 'first' choice would find it a better option re splitting the elevator and aileron controls with mode 1. I personally found it really hard to begin with when I first flew my plane.
I guess it's about getting something that is best for purpose and YOU specifically, as I feel that IF your going to be mainly into heli's like myself, mode 2 is a better option re the way a heli flies (thus why I use it), if your going with planes as your main 'fix', mode 1 would make better sense to me (personally). I just say with using only one mode (2) for safety reasons around thumb training for when things might go wrong mid flight (I don't want a situation where I try to kill the throttle when I'm trying to pull up in a hurry or something)

Wazzbat, while I'm sure someone will (hopefully) correct me if I'm wrong, if your buddy boxing with someone and your on the slave box, I'm sure that most radios don't care what mode your on - as as far as I understand it, if yours is mode 1, and the instructor with the master box is mode 2, they will both stay in their specific modes as the buddy cable transmits elevator, throttle, rudder commands etc, not the actual stick movements (as in the same way a receiver will work with any mode, it just receives throttle (etc) signals, not left stick said to do this).

Wazzbat, while I'm sure someone will (hopefully) correct me if I'm wrong, if your buddy boxing with someone and your on the slave box, I'm sure that most radios don't care what mode your on - as as far as I understand it, if yours is mode 1, and the instructor with the master box is mode 2, they will both stay in their specific modes as the buddy cable transmits elevator, throttle, rudder commands etc, not the actual stick movements (as in the same way a receiver will work with any mode, it just receives throttle (etc) signals, not left stick said to do this).

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That's probably a good point kiwibob. I never actually thought of that. But I'm not going to change back again. I might end up getting really confused then.

I think that mode 1 would be a big advantage to the flying of 3D, since the control of the tail would be on one stick. Or a reversed mode 1 (throttle and aileron) on the left stick since I'm right handed. Some call that mode 3?

I fly mode 2, but have flown a mode 1 airplane to a landing when it's pilot panicked and handed me the transmitter.

You noticed that too? I did a survey one day at a large club just walking down a flight line all afternoon and found that about half flew that way.

I Did.


Having made the transition from reads in 64 or 65 to my first fully proportional two stick I went mode 1 simply because it was the thing to do and it seemed closer to the old single function toggles.

Did fine through the years untill 94 when I became fed up with the hugh hassels of not being able to sell or buy stuff without all the conversion problems, springs and crossed trims etc. Also I wanted to be able to help my pears who by this time were mostly mode 2 and flight test their equipment and so forth.

At that time I made the decison to cross over to mode 2 and of course it was akward at first but it got better and now I would never consider going back, no way.

A perfectly happy and proud mode 2 user

John

Mode two is almost 99 percent here,
have heard It mentioned that some precision competition flyers used to prefer it as well..(mode 1).
Many of the older fliers went mode one as mentioned ina post above. It was closer to what they had used before.

If a person wants help and backup ...mode two is the obvious choice at my field...

G'day

I fly Mode 1 because most (but not all) of Australia does. Why? I suspect it was an historical accident.

But since learning to fly I have moved twice and at the club where I am now, Mode 2 is predominant. This has meant that I have had to do my own testing and more recently I have been teaching people like me who started out with Mode 1 and wanted to continue with it.

I don't think it really matters. When you fly a model aircraft you initially use your brain to tell your thumbs what to do but once you learn, your brain is no longer in the loop. The functions are transferred down to your spinal column and it all becomes automatic. Similarly with playing the piano, driving a car and many other things we do. The brain only controls the actions in the learning phase. Once you learn the reflex, it does not matter what arrangement of sticks an buttons you are using. You just do it.

It is certainly more convenient if everyone flies the same Mode but it really does not matter. I have been teaching people who fly mode 2 by using a buddy cord. Their JR Mode 2 radio works perfectly well with my Spektrum and JR radios which are Mode 1.

I only know one mode one pilot on here in the states, I'm sure there are more. As a beginner I think the only problem would be finding an instructor to buddy box with?? I really haven't a clue? Don't want to kill any gray cells thinking about it. I did try a single stick and can see why some of the old school pilots like them.

I fly mode 2 as most of us do in the US...the arugument that mode 1 is better because one surface is on the right thumb and another surface is on the left thumb just doesn't hold water for me....because unless you have a mix...the surfaces are isolated anyway....
If a newbie were to ask what I reccommend then I'd say mode 2....because that is what the majority of people fly in the US, that way if you had an emergency while flying ie a bee stinging you, or dirt in your eyes then you can yell for help and another flyer could save your airplane.....
If I were in europe...well I'd still fly mode 2 because I was taught that way...but I'd tell the newbie to fly mode 1
Good flyin to all

...hmmm, the thought is more about one action following a precise travel line up and down (with spring assisting that travel line remain true) and the other travel side to side (with the spring assisting in that travel holding that line true) This is the beauty of mode 1 , "the constant true travel held in place by springs'.

the other mode (2) making the same level flight to a turn and back to a level flight would have to mix the travel of one stick doing two things (yes it is done by the majority I know) but I have noticed when I see a turn with bouncing up and down it is more one certain mode than another. (wind aside , Extra 300, Laser200 and so on that are not effected so much by any wind).

I need to repeat here....this is just an open conversation of opinion. Mine means nothing to anyone but me really. this is all fun talk about what thought process is used for the decision of your mode choice.

I can give you a sort of example. Try to duplicate a smooth diagonal line with an Etch A Sketch. yeah it is an apple and this is an orange...but repeating and repetition is difficult.

Mode 1 all the way baby.
learned that way back in the 60's, and was handed the box from Mr. Phil Kraft himself on one of his club visits. his Flea Fli influenced more than anything back then.
it makes sense though that most want to fly mode 2 because the configuration is more like a real airplane, but i'm not inside a real plane, i am flying a model that is sometimes one of the designs that were tricky to fly as a fullsize plane.
having the elevator and ailerons on 2 different thumbs just makes things easier for me.
my Mode 2 flying buddies are always sharing the controls with each other, but they never ask to fly my planes

funny thing is, i can land a model for a Mode 2 beginner if needed, but it never seems to work the other way around.

I have flown a buddy's mode 1 planes on occasion. I had trouble with cutting the throttle while moving the stick. It was difficult to not mix small amounts of throttle in. But it was an Ultra Stik so I had time to correct myself. Also his gliders have flaps on the throttle stick. So I would accidentally move the flaps. Changing over mentally wasn't hard but I would have to stop and tell myself what I wanted to do. My theory is that being left-handed makes it easier for me to adapt because we have to constantly convert right-handed tasks. Sounds good anyway. :-)

Someone once said our passion for R/C flying is based on the ability to experience some aspect of aviation that we are otherwise unable. That may be due to age, finances, location, physical abilities, etc. Having said that, the age old discussion of Mode 1 vs. Mode 2 is easily resoloved. We all know that every fighter ever designed had one stick for elevator and another for ailerons. :-)

Ha color me a proud Etch-A-Sketch Pilot

I am with your permission going to have some vinyl grafics made up "The Etch-A-Sketch Flyer" for some of my airplanes brilliant

Hey you started it and you are getting lots of opinion and everyone is being cool. No matter what the more you try to convince anyone they are flying the wrong mode, the harder you are going to fall and thats a fact.

The facts are in the US mode 11 is predominate virtually everywhere without geografic considerations. There is a small percentage of certain aerobatic disciplines that prefer mode 1 and there is a small percentage of old timers who prefered not to change to mode two with a likely equal number of old timers like myself who did choose to change. All the old timers from that era are collectively becoming a non issue though simply because we are rapidly dieing off. Also note if the aerobatic types who prefer mode one impresses you then consider the pylon types where mode 1 is virtually unheard of and in some cases even frowned on.

Oh boy I can feel the turds of Santa's raindeer falling on my head already for the heracys I postulated in that paragraph



Etch-A-Sketch flyer

John

OK, just one more opinion here and no more conclusive than anybody else's.

Like John and Summerwind, I transitioned from reed radios to proportional in the 1960's and naturally began with Mode 1. After a few years with Mode I, a number of factors convinced me to switch to Mode 2. Mode 2 allowed me to use auxiliary controls (gear, flaps, etc) with my left hand and it also let me help other folks fly their airplanes. But to this day I don't believe I've ever achieved the precision with Mode 2 that I used to have with Mode 1.

After 40 years on Mode 2, I feel like I could pick up a Mode 1 box right this minute and be more comfortable and do a better job than I've ever managed with Mode 2.

Dick

Mode 3 is left-handed mode 2. This is the mode I use. I do not know anyone else that uses it.

Throttle/aileron on the right is mode 4. I do not know any mode 4 pilots.

We have a father/son on mode 1.

Everyone has to decide the mode that is "best" for them because there is no advantage to one over the other except personal preference.

My logic is to fly whatever mode the predominance of the fliers in your area are using. That way you can fly a friends plane, train or someone can intervene in an emergency with no confusion. However, I also believe you should fly whatever mode that makes you most comfortable takes priority over all else.

I do know of a father that had set up a plane for his son with the elevator set up in reverse (all else mode 2) and the boy learned to fly like that. Several guys tried to talk the father out of it, but he was stubborn. I think he did his son a big disservice since he can't just pickup and fly anyone else's plane.

Added to the mode discussion is the stiffness of the springs to eliminate aileron and elevator cross mix of mode 2. The two better 3D gurus are our field use very stiff centering springs on the right stick to avoid the cross mix.

After looking at the picture explaining the differing modes, and taking into account those of us who are part of the Playstation and X-Box generation (like myself), I'm amazed more of us don't use mode 3, as it relates to how most 3rd person shooters, flight sims, racing games etc work on my controller! (still mode 2 myself)