I just thought i would post thsi webpage from the Futaba site for anyone wanted to know how to check their transmitter and reciever before they fly.

www.futabarc.com/faq/faq-q331.html

Nice link.....I'm somewhat surprised at the 100' distance! I know my Airtronics and JR go a lot further than that...but I guess if you have 'it' at 100' - it's O.K. to fly!

Jerry

Keep in mind that the 100' is with the antenna collapsed. Once the antenna is fully extended, the range will/should increase significantly. You should lose sight of your plane before it flies out of range.

Just my .0002,

Was flying one day shortly after I soloed. There was only one other guy at the field. He walked up and asked if I could see my plane so far away. I said yes, having a little trouble seeing the attitude, though. He reached over and pulled my fully collapsed antenna out. Brought her home safely.
Flash 5 with super slim receiver.

forgot to add...there was never any loss of control response

Hi Steve ! Try range checking with the plane on the ground next time LOL ! FWIW, I found a nice guide on how to bring back a plane which has been "specked" out :

“STICK IN THE DIRECTION IT IS GOING” - TO BRING IT BACK

In order to steer an R/C plane toward the pilot, the stick is moved in the direction the plane is headed. If the plane is drifting to the right, then the stick is moved to the right of the transmitter. If the plane is drifting to the left of the pilot, then the stick is moved to the left on the transmitter. This process serves to turn the plane towards the pilot at all times, and can be used bring the plane back to the field from a long distance, as well as, to steer it on the ground when taxiing back to the pits. This process works regardless of whether the plane ,d is going away from the pilot or heading towards him. At some time during the course of instruction the student should be made to experiment with this action to verify it and have confidence in using it.

The technique “STICK IN THE DIRECTION ITS GOING” is essential in bringing an airplane back to the field in the event it has drifted out so far that its wings cannot be discerned, its shape is not distinguishable, or it has become a ‘dot’ in the sky. In this case, the pilot must fly the ‘dot’. If the ‘dot’ (of and airplane) is moving to the right, then the stick is moved to the right and vice versus for the left direction. The ‘dot’ can be made to go up or down and turn to eventually return the craft to the field. The instructor should have the student pilot practice this control and become familiar with it. It can prevent an airplane from flying away and losing it.

“STICK IN THE DIRECTION ITS GOING” !!! CAUTION - all movements while flying the ‘dot’ should be very slight, otherwise, a tight turn will cause it to spiral in. Just a touch and watch for the response.

Hope it's useful to those who need it..........

There's a good review from the JR side in the most recent Horizon catalog.

mt

.Hi Cyclic Hardover
Thanks for the educational link.
I guess that will end some fire about the rubber duck and how well it works.
Were working with low power here and I stick with what the factory says will work the best.
Have a great day

Steve,
What is the super slim receiver?

I guess I'm doing good.
I measured 169 paces but then measured out 155FT..
Thats with the antenna all the way down and fresh charged batteries.
The system is the FUTABA T4VF.
On one flight the GPS unit measured 1.2 miles.
Straight out and straight back in.
Pretty darn good

Super Slim is a Hitec 8 ch. receiver. Link below

http://www2.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXN527&P=7