Im waiting on my model flight sim to come so before I start is there a correct way to use the sticks?? Thumbs or 2 fingers?? dont want to start the wrong way and have to unlearn down the road.
Is there a order to learn rc flying in ex. takeoffs, 720's, stalls,landings?

Im also waiting on some materials to arrive. Im building a foam nerf plane. Just ordered the foam, carbon rods etc. and electronics. I figure can use the electronics in another plane down the road after I finish bouncing this one. I am looking forward to building it

The correct way is what feels best to YOU.

I've known instructors who teach both so their students can make a choice based on their own experience rather than someone else's opinion.

What Carrellh said. As an instructor I teach my students both ways and let them decide what they feel more comfortable with. Personally, I use thumbs on the sticks. But I can fly with fingers as well.

Ken

yeah; Its what feels right to you. If you ever get on youtube search Justin Chi. He is 4 or 5 and he flys with his hands.[X(]. By the way he flys 3D with helis[X(]. I fly with my thumbs but I find myself flying with my fingers on the sim while praticing to hover.

I started out with thumbs as I thought two fingers was restrictive and slowed me down

Many years later I have arthritis in my right thumb and have to fly with thumb and index finger or my thumb jerks all around.

I learned two fingers out of necessity and it is OK now.

My instructor started me out flying a left hand pattern. He did the takeoffs and landings. My task was to learn to make four left turns without gaining or losing a lot of altitude in the turns, and to fly the straight legs straight and level. That is harder than it sounds when you've never flown a model plane before.

Once I could do the left pattern, we switched it to a right pattern. That seemed impossible at first, and is still not as easy for me as a left pattern. We also did figure eights. Aileron rolls and loops were added after a few flights. I think he added these to make it more interesting for me; plus it puts the plane in different attitudes.

Takeoffs came next. Then landings. I think student landings are the most dangerous (to the plane) maneuver. Eventually you are at the point that you are too "low and slow" for the instructor to recover if you make a mistake. Luckily these crashes usually do not do a lot of damage.

I use a thumb on the right stick and two fingers on the left.

Really makes no difference that I can see. I note that a lot of the "two-finger" jockeys end up with a tray. Use what is comfortable to you.

I think you can be more precise if you hold the stick like a pencil, but that makes holding the radio more of a chore. I think I alternate [between the 2 methods] based on the style of flying being done. Most racing and speed flying is single stick, so holding the radio with the left hand allows the pencil grip method with the right hand.

Both of my instructors were thumb flyers, it just never felt good to me, I have very short, fat thumbs with an odd shape. I have always used two fingers but have always had a problem with things like pulling the right stick {my aileron/elevator} to the right instead of straight back. Over the years I have it figured out and for the most part have broken myself from doing that but sometimes I still do some big roops instead of loops.

I fly thumb and first fingers on both sticks, and lay the rest of my fingers before and after the switches. You can get better fine control that way and once you remember wich switch you want to throw for retracts, you won't have to look down to hit it.

I also use a neck strap.

my airplanes fly much better when i'm using two fingers.
i was taught two fingers is the right way to fly and what happens after years of experience is a different story.
two fingers is much delicate and easy control, thumb is coarse and make the airplane over react.

I had heard this same thing before all well. Until I saw Quique Somenzini fly. He flies thumbs only. And he definitely has extremely excellent control of his planes.

Ken

Cheers.

Before I started flying (last year), I decided, that the most important thing to learn was to land the beauty.

Because of that I practiced start and landings for 3 month on the FMS-simulator. After take-off you will learn the basic left, right, up and down manoeuvres when you get ready for landing.

I was perfect practise for me, when I finally flew my Avistar for the first time.

I had a pinched nerve way back when, so the tips of my fore-finger and thumb on my right hand are sensitive to the knurled or sharp points at the tips of most sticks (well, most of the ones I've tried). So, I have sort of defaulted to fingers, although my left hand is fine, and I sometimes use thumbs for the throttle. Odd, but I seem to jump back and forth from thumbs to fingers on the throttle/rudder stick.

But, as originally stated, even though my instructor insisted on my using fingers, well, I do so on my right hand only because it is uncomfortable to use thumbs. It comes down to a matter of choice and what's comfortable for you.

CGr.

Yeah, I would say that Quique has things under control. Hmm.. I was his instructor, too!! [X(]

CGr[sm=bananahead.gif]

I was also taught to fly with thumb and finger, but after seeing Quique and Chip Hyde using their thumbs, I figured, "Whatever works for you" is best

I use my thumb on the left stick and thumb and finger on the right stick. I tried my thumb on the right stick but had a tendency to over control, especially on the landings. I can crash using either method just as easy.

Me, I'm all thumbs


Bob

Ok thanks Ppl. I guess I'll try both ways to see which one feels better or which one translates to to the plane more natural. I've played guitar all my life so im guessing that the "brian to plane" thing with muscle mem. is what im shooting for.
Any way I guess I'll go with the same practice order on the sim as I did when learning to fly.
Thanks again.

Yea, Guitars and planes, they both take lots
of practice. IMO my guitar takes more.

Bob

I started with just thumbs, then I switched to thumbs and finger, I find it a little harder to hold the transmitte but I have a little more sensitive control over the plane, but a lot of it is just learning and pratice.

Jon

P.S. does anyone use the transmitter trays? if so how well do they work?

Thanks

After a 10 yr flying lapse the checkout instructor tried to convince me of the two finger method but it seemed awkward at the time. But age take its toll. Now I use two fingers on my right hand

If it feels good,,,,,do it! [sm=wink_smile.gif]

Each to his own etc.

I can see both ways having been one way and forced to change to the other

Those jagged tops on the sticks would make my thumbs feel raw on the ends some days

But remember 8, He plays guitar and i'm sure he has callisous (SP?) on the
tips of his fingers. Seriously, what ever feels more natural to you is my
2 cents.

I'm all thumbs,

Bob