After a short hiatus, I am getting back into RC air! Wow, how a couple (3 or 4) years changes everything! When I stopped, 2.4gHz radios were just coming out, but only had the range for park flyers!

So now onto my questions. I have just purchased a Superstar ARF trainer to replace my old one that the wings folded in-flight. It is about halfway assembled. I am planning on using the "guts" out of the one that crashed. That means my OS LA40 engine, 72mhz receiver with the Futaba Skysport 4 channel transmitter, and the Futaba servos. I will be testing all the servos for proper function. My question is about the batteries for the receiver and transmitter. I guess that I bought the original setup back in 2002-2003 timeframe. The batteries haven't been charged for over a year. Should I try and charge them and use them ( I have an expanded scale voltmeter ), find someone that has the equipment to cycle them, or just replace them? I also have a Futaba 6EXA and batteries for 4 other planes. These probably haven't been charged for at least two years.

I got a new AMA membership, but haven't joined up with a club yet. The last club I flew with was the RAMS, but with their dues being $100/yr, I will have to think about that. We are lucky in this area that we have a city park just for hobbies (called Hobby Park) that has a paved runway for planes. I may start out there, as that it where I learned to fly in the first place.

Now, just to stop the inevitable comments, yes I will have an instructor with me, I will let them maiden the plane and get it trimmed, and have them help me until the dust is knocked back off.

Oh, and we just hired a new guy at work. He heard me and another guy talking about rc airplanes and is very interested. He has already gone by and talked to the guys at his LHS. I gave him the standard advice of not buying anything until he talks to the guy that will be teaching him to make sure the radio is compatible for buddy box. I didn't learn by buddy box, but I don't hold that against anyone

Thanks for reading! I can't wait to fly again, to get the adrenaline going and the knees knocking!!!

For the sake of about 30 bucks, you should bite the bullet and buy new batteries, no matter how they test out. It's just cheap insurance.

Depending on the severity of the crash of your original aircraft, I might suggest you send the receiver in for a check. You never know if there is some damage that could show up during the vibration of actual flight.

Welcome back, by the way!!!

CGr.

Be aware of the black wire syndrome, if your old battery packs are Ni-Cds:

http://www.hangtimes.com/black_wire_disease.html

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXAJXT&P=0
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXNRJ9&P=0

Your batteries are likely at the end of their lifespans. If you really want to try using them, at least run them through a couple of cycles to see what capacity they give you, then check to see how much voltage they give you under load. Just about anybody who flies nitro much has the equipment for that.

Ok, guess I will go buy new batteries. But unfortunately, $30 will not cut it I will need to pick up batteries for my two transmitters (Skysport 4 & 6EXA) and 3 planes (trainer, ultra stick 40 & Seagull Space Walker 2).

I don't think I need to worry about the receiver. The plane came down such that the prop didn't break, and the receiver was well wrapped in foam. Though if I wreck another trainer (this is the 3rd one I am putting together in approx 10 hrs), the receiver may just decide to quit rather than crash again

Oh well, I still like to have a trainer to do my first flight of the day on, and to be able to put someone up on the buddy box to see if they get addicted

If you have the equipment to charge NiMh I would suggest this Pack from www.all-battery.com

http://www.all-battery.com/6v2000mah...ctor11106.aspx -For $7.99

I have a good luck with them and I like the added power and speed of 6V packs. If you want to stick with NiCd I would look at the their Nicad stuff as well. The prices are cheap and the packs are good quality. I am not a big fan of the over priced OEM packs that have 6-700mah and may get 3-4 flights before requiring a recharge. I average 5-6 flights on my 6V 2000 mah Nimh packs. I load test my packs after every day of flying and still get, at most, a .5 voltage drop.

I would also suggest looking into purchasing a decent battery charger that has the ability to cycle NiCad and Nimh packs. This is the one I have for my Rx packs.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Hobbico-Pro-Seri...item3364a62667
I got mine used like this one. Works like a champ!

I gotta disagree on that one. Tenergy batteries are the bottom of the barrel, quality wise. Their one redeeming feature is that they are cheap. I made a starter pack with them once and it worked for a while, but the difference in quality was very obvious between them and the Sanyo cells. A 6v receiver pack from www.hangtimes.com will cost more, but they are quality cells and quality construction. I use them and many others do too.

Well like I said I have have had good luck with them. I know they are not top of the line packs but they are cheap enough to get someone started.

I think that by posting my return in the Beginner forum that I gave everyone the impression that I am a beginner. In some respects, I guess I am, as so much has changed since I have been away. Just before I got out, LiPo's were becoming popular, along with the stories (and pictures) of them swelling and catching fire .

For the batteries, I will go to my LHS (King RC) and buy batteries that match what I have. I never did more than 4 flights in one day, and like to use my wall wart chargers.

Oh so you haven't been away long at all. Glad to have you back. I love those fireball batteries. There are planes out now that weren't even possible without them. I use the newer type (LiFe) in my transmitter too, and will be phasing them into my nitro receiver packs as the NiCd's I am using now need replacement.