SlickCE

I feel so stupid...

I got a Futaba Skysport4 set complete from my Uncle who can no longer fly.. it was only 6 months old and still in the original box... he had never installed it.

So I finish up my Superstar 60, show up at the field, we get it all checked out.. including fixing the clunk which had the hose somehow get stuck to the side of the tank..

Then I go to attach the streamer to the radio for the first time and I notice it is yellow, not red and it says " For Surface Use Only" on it in big black letters... it is on channel 68... So there I am in front of all the club members with a radio on the wrong band....

I purchased an X6AS from a member here today and it is on the way.. ordered a flight pack to match the X6AS which is on 34...

I hate feeling and looking like such a bonehead.. and of course my wife just loved me having to admit I had screwed up....

DUhhhhh....

Cdallas2

Wait till you forget a wing at home. Then you'll feel a little sheepish.

JohnBuckner

My Feedback: (1)

And Grant very much to your credit you did the right thing and got the proper equipment. Far to many would have just disappeared only to go off by themselves somewhere to wreak their airplane.

Welcome to the sport and remember in reality the experts are in fact just survivors of all the dumb mistakes.


John

Joe Ortiz

My Feedback: (75)

And, most importantly, don't for forget your glow plug ignitor

Cdallas2

Yeah but at least you can borrow one.

How many people have forgot a transmitter?

tailskid

My Feedback: (34)

I think I've forgot 'something' and over the years...EVERYTHING at one time or another.....and yes, I've forgotten to bring the correct transmitter!

Jerry

Grampaw

My wife often asks as I'm leaving for the strip, got this, got that, what about your such and such. I am a man, I am an R/C pilot of long experience, so I just tell her that I checked eveything yesterday! Man! Who does she think she is?! But, every now and then when I get to the field what do you think happens while I'm setting up? Yep, I forgot something! She has always said, full sizers follow a check list, perhaps you should. Aguh! She has finally stopped asking ..for she knows that now that my 10 year old Grandson, who accompanies me once in awhile now days asks all the same questions on the drive out! The solution is for them to have a list and ask it the day before! Why do I have to do everything! Wives really are like needle valves you know...

Cdallas2

What? Always need tweaking and never seem to run right. Always complain when the temperature changes?

Uh-Oh here she comes better sign off.

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

Yea, I think forgetting the transmitter has to be the worst. I have done that a time or two over the years. Totally frusterating.

MinnFlyer

My Feedback: (4)

So what's the problem? Start building a boat!

SlickCE

I would have trouble figuring out what kind of wings to put on that boat

Cdallas2

How about one like this?

Tattoo

I don't know too much about Futaba, but It looks to me like you have 4 good servos, a switch, and a battery...just waiting on a new Rx for plane #2.

If it has a trainer plug-in, could the Tx also be used as a buddy box? Or maybe used for a sim?

The Tx also has a battery in it...does it interchange with your new Tx as a back-up? Does the antenna interchange? I've busted several antennas in my R/C carreer...and it's not something you can just pick up at the LHS.

tiggerinmk

You could've taxied around a bit to get a feel for it, at least you wouldn't be occupying someone else's frequency

SlickCE

I thought about the taxi'ing, but the field is within 2 miles of town and the way my luck had been going I just bet someone would have been on the frequency

I am also thinking that if I would have flown with the ground frequency in any manner, even by accident, that the AMA Insurance would no longer have covered me.

tiggerinmk

Just joking, I bet the club members wouldn't have let you anyway..

I once had someone complain 'cos I didn't put the little red flag on the end of my antenna...

paul_c

My Feedback: (6)

Simply Awesome!

strato911

And what are we supposed to do when our radio doesn't come with one? My last two didn't.

Montague

Really? Hmm, now that you mention it, my new Polk didn't come with one either, at least I don't recall seeing one, and I know it's not on there now. (haven't setup or flown the new radio yet)

Isn't it an AMA or FCC or something rule that you have to have your little red flag and channel number displayed? Or are those just "recommended"? I always forget.

Most of the guys at my field don't bother with either. I use the red flag as a windsock, espeically since I hand-launch a lot, and it's good to know where the local wind is.

strato911

Neither my Polk's Tracker II, nor my Hitec Focus 6 (3 years ago) came with the red streamer. I've never "displayed" my channel #'s on the Rx (nor seen anyone who does), but my frequency pins have my name, channel #, and frequency on it. When there's only a few pilots at the field, and the frequency board isn't out, I always ask everyone what channel they're on, and let them know which one(s) I intend to use.

I use grass clippings as my windsock...

tiggerinmk

No excuse for not supplying the flag, even a cheapo Hitec 2 channel I have came with a little plastic bag containing the red flag, a blank frequency flag and stickers with numbers on.

strato911, is it possible that you got your radios at the LHS and for some reason the flag was missing (twice would be unlucky though).

I can see why Polk don't supply frequency flags, a chalkboard would be more appropriate..

strato911

My Hitec came from Tower Hobbies. It DID include the blank frequency flag with the stickers though, but I don't use it. I can't remember if it came with a neck strap though, since I wouldn't have looked for it (I don't use them).

Montague

Yeah, but the red flag should be there, even on the Polk. I like the chalk board idea for the channel numbers .

Grass clippings work when you have a free hand. I have a TX in one hand, and the running airplane in the other, no way to reach down and toss up some grass. Still, I suspect I'll figure something out

I gotta get some work done, so I don't have time to go digging around for the "rules" on the red flag and channel numbers. Oh well.

strato911

Since my Tracker II is the only radio I use now, maybe I'll take the red streamer from my old AM Futaba Attack4 and put it on the Tracker II. The Hitec Focus will probably only be used for training, since it has a trainer port (and as backup for when the Tracker is sent for programming updates).

Balsa

if its on channel 68, is it 35 meg? if so, i'll ave' it ;D