Bubba,
Then I guess we should give you a good pat on the back. I know exactly what it's like to be grilled and have to defend why you did something a certain way. Glad you came out smelling like a somewhat well adjusted rose!!!! You have time off back home, but do you still have flying weather up there??

Ken

All this weekend has been in hte mid 70's, absolutely no wind to speak. But tonight rain is supposed to move in and hang around until thursday. They said the same thing two weeks ago and it was in the 80's for the whole week with winds around 20. But I stop flying at about 25mph so basically there was the same three people everyday at the field.

Yep, it did feel good having a gang like that feel I did a good job and was well prepared.

Time to hit the field. I'm still at work only because I had a few things I needed to get caught up on and the planes I have with me needed charged anyway

Re: "unless you're like half the pilots I know who turn the throttle "on" :< hey I also move it to almost off at the 10 minute mark when its time to land!!

> " I will not buy anymore planes, I will not buy anymore planes, I will not buy anymore planes" < but there is that set of plans I have for that low wing that looks like it might fly nice, hmmm!!!

I still think he's giving up too soon because he's wanting "instant success". How many people fly instantly, even a simulator takes time to learn.

Oh well.

That explains my scrap pile. I'm left handed and didn't know it!

I think that Charlie P has hit the nail right on the head with his comment. What he describes is exactly what I want to do. I am going to go out on limb on this one, but I bet that what Charlie says is true for many right handers also. They turn the throttle on and not use it again until landing or at best use it minimally. So right handers you're using your right hand predominatly too. That is all I want to do. Use my left hand predominatly, but on the left stick not the right.

Thanks again to all of you who took the time to answer my concerns, I appreciate all of your input.

Oh and by the way....I am a pilot and I fly with my left hand on the stick like my life depended on it

ajlepel

I'm a full scale pilot too. I fly with my left hand on the wheel because my right is on the throttles in most planes. When I fly from the right seat the situation is reversed. When I fly a Pitts though I fly with my right hand on the stick and left is on the throttle. It's called "adapting" to conditions.

If you "choose" not to do so, that is your "choice". A case of being stubborn IMO. No insult intended.

what is the difference between mode 1 and mode 2 is it just the way the sticks are layed out???

Yep. And the ratchets need to be adjusted.


Left stick Right stick
up/down left/right up/down left/right
Mode 1 elevator rudder throttle aileron
Mode 2 throttle rudder elevator aileron
Mode 3 elevator aileron throttle rudder
Mode 4 throttle aileron elevator rudder

Ken

oops I was wrong I dont fly 1 and 2 , I fly 2 and 4...Rog

So...........................can a left handed person learn piano ?

My youngest son and I are both left handed and fly mode 2, but we are both kinda amperdex..... amphphib......... ampfiper...... we both can use either hand pretty well. I'll have to agree that a fellow should do what ever he is most comfortable with though. His plane his money his time his hobby

i'm sure that you can adapt. i've flown mode AND mode 2. now i fly mode 1 right handed... although i probably could fly it left handed, too :-)

seriously, though... just takes time getting use to. plus, if you haven't touched the sticks in 30 years, you're probably not going to know the difference.

in terms of switching to mode 3, just get a mode 1 tx and plug the ailerons into the elevators and vice-versa. the jr sport won't know the difference. just make sure you remember that any mixing that says "rud" or "rudder" would actually mean the aielerons. V-mixing would also be compromised... but with todays planes, you'll hardly have a problem.

still recommend that you learn mode 2. but if you must, mode 1 is a good substitute.

The majority of Futaba computer transmitters can be set to Mode 3 in the menus, then you swap the throttle detent and elevator centering spring inside the case. I do not think JR supports these changes through the menus but I might be wrong.

I use Mode 3. I have a Futaba 6XAS, actually I have two. One is mode 2 and it is the master. The one I hold is mode 3 and it is the slave. It works perfectly on the trainer cord. My reason for using mode 3 is a physical handicap which may very well keep me from ever being a solo pilot. So, I knew from the start that I had to have two transmitters to accomplish having a master/slave setup that will work for me and for any ‘regular’ US instructor.

If you plug servos into ‘odd’ channels to create your own version of mode 3, you’ll never be able to hook up on a trainer cord and you’ll have all of the ‘mixing’ issues previously mentioned.

Once again I want to thank everyone for taking the time to help me with my "problem".


carrellh.....I want to thank you in particular, because you were the first with the answer I was looking for and then you told me more.

Truth be told I did get an email back from the Futaba rep who advised me that all of the Futaba computer transmitters from the 6EXA on up, will switch to Modes I, II, III, and IV. Instructions are in the manual to do this. The only glitch is this. Modes I and III will have to have the detents and spring switched from one gimbal over to the other. Futuba will do this for a small fee and this will keep the warranty in effect.

But Carrel you're set up using two transmitters (Mode II and Mode III) is ideal. Perhaps a little expensive but your set up give me the encouragement I was looking for. At least now I know that the two modes work together with the trainer link.

It seems that I will buy the Futaba 6EXA transmitter to launch my awakening to this hobby again. I will reprogram it to Mode III and switch the detent and spring. Now that I know what radio set up I am going to use I ready to start building without reservation.

Again thanks to all who offered me advice and I'll even thank those who offered their criticism too.

ajlepel

I think doing what you’re comfortable with is important. My 6XAS manual didn’t have any drawings of the insides to guide a person through the mechanical changes.

My brother had a Hitec Flash 5X at the time. It could only be changed between modes 1 & 2 but it had some drawings for the mechanics. My brother is an electronics tech, so he’s not afraid to open a case and look around. He swapped the parts around for me. I guess that probably voided the warranty but the unit has been trouble-free for several years.

The Hitec manual is online if you need to use it as a reference.


I have even plugged my transmitter into a RealFlight G3 controller and was able to set it up to run the simulator in Mode 3.

I don't know why being left handed would be an issue. I'm right handed but my left hand moves as much on the sticks as my right hand does.

LOL, my left hand does MOST of the work. Before I started this hobby almost a year ago, my left hand was seemingly just there for symmetry. I considered it a largely useless appendage. Now I can actually USE my left hand for something...It's a miracle!!

Seems to me that rudder and throttle are more used than aileron and elevator, (I fly mode 2).

I LOVE THIS HOBBY!

Hello; I had an industrial accident in '93 that robbed me of the use of my right hand for 3 and 1/2 years. I had just learned to fly and would likely be classified as ambidextrous. I had to make a lot of adjustments to get by. Imagine shifting gears in my manual van with only your left hand. Anyhow when I got out of the hospital and tried flying, my left hand knew just what to do. I built a transmitter tray that hung around my neck, and the one hand did all the flying. Admittedly the rudder didn't get much attention, but I didn't just leave the throttle up, and my left hand went from stick to stick, and most people were amazed that I could fly at all. Now that the right arm is back online, I find that there are things that I can no longer do with my right hand, that I did before.

The point is; that if you want to fly, you will find a way to fly

I think you should set up your transmitter the way you want it. It is not hard to do. Carrell pointed you in the right direction to everything you need to do the switch over.
Having said that you may actually have an advantage being left handed and using the "normal" setup. If you use your dominat hand and learn to fly with the rudder you really will be miles ahead of someone like myself. Once my instructor got me to the point of being able to fly the circular pattern I learned to fly mostly on my own and it was of course easier to use my dominant right hand. As a result my ability to use the rudder is marginal at best. I have been making a real effort to back up and learn to use the rudder but I have all the bad habits you get from learning to fly using the ailerons. On landing approach good rudder control is very much an advantage.

ajlepel - i'm surprised that you didn't catch what i said earlier. why would you get a MODE 2 TX and have to change the programming AND swap the throttle detent and elevator centering spring when you can just get a MODE 1 TX and change the programming? hmmmmmm....

i guess we are truly in the DIY era! :-p

Forestroke....what you say might be doable if I could find a Mode 1 TX. The real problem I am continually faced with is finding only Mode II TX's all over the place. So when I started all of this I was in the frame of mind that I was only going to be able to buy a Mode 2 TX and having to figure out how to get it changed over. Then I learn I can buy a Futaba 6EXA, and make it what I want. What's more the Futaba 6EXA is in my price range. The only inconvenience is that I have to send it to Futaba Customer Service and have them move the detents and spring for the throttle from the left stick to the right stick. Then I get everything just the way I want it.

I realize that as many others have said; I could spend the time practicing and learning to use what I call opposite hands on opposite sticks. But why should I do this? If I can set up my transmitter the way I feel comfortable why shouldn't I do it. The only reason that has been offered to me to force myself to use a Mode 2 TX is the trainer issue. I need only remind myself that 30 years ago we didn't have trainer units and I learned to fly just fine. I did it then and I'll do it now.

But forestroke thanks for taking an interest in my inquiry.

Have you called Tower and ASKED them if they could provide you with a Mode 1 or Mode 3 transmitter? Seems like a logical step to take before going through all of this other stuff.

Copied from the Futaba Web site. oops, already knows this from previous post.

Can I use my computer radio in a different MODE (ie. mode 1)?

Yes. All of the more recent Futaba computer radios, starting with 7U Super, include STICK MODE select.

To access this special feature, turn off your transmitter. Holding down the 2 "menu open" keys on your radio (varies by model), turn the Tx on. STK _ should display. If it does not, use your selection keys to page through until you reach this feature. Change it from the default mode (in the US is mode 2) to the desired mode, and turn the transmitter off and back on. That's it for the programming!