I am still new to the hobby so I still fly with an instructor. The radio I use is an airtronics VG400. The problem is the trainer button, I thought that the way it worked was when he needs to take it he just pushes the button and he has it,then when he is going to give it back he just pushes it again and I have control. Yesterday I realized that the whole time im flying he has to hold this stupid little button down.Im sure this is a pain in the rear, has anyone heard of modifying this with a switch or something?

Thanks

Hi zehms82
If you want to change a system that is working very well, go ahead and do it and then tell us all about it.

Every radio that I have used to train with has a push button trainer switch. Kinda tough on the finger at times, but it is all good, Good Luck, Dave

Yep, the instructor holds it down ala a dead man's switch. I spent the last few months training two guys, and it does get a little hard to hold the button for 10 minutes at a time. But, if your instructor is anything like me, it isn't a big deal. It is worth it to see a successful solo.

Good luck with yours.

From an instructors point of view it sure is nice to just release a spring loaded button and have control of the plane than have to worry about flipping a switch. That little extra 1/2 second could be the difference from continuing the flight and getting out the plastic trash bag. I don't mind holding the trainer button, just wish they all where like a toggle switch on my Futaba 7C instead of the stupid little button JR puts on some of their radio's that is hard to get at and pain to hold down sometimes.

Hogflyer

its that way for a reason....master controller gets instantaneous control when released

All systems utilize either a momentary button or a momentary toggle and the instructor has it at any time it is released and of course it is a safety thing. The last thing he needs is another time consuming required action like hitting a toggle or switch agine before he has control.

Suggest you not try any modification as any qualified instructor would not go along with that.

Yes it can be hard on the finger and thats part of the game most students do not realize. But if I had a preferance which of course the instructor seldom has any option, it would always be to use one of the systems that use the toggle rather than the button.

John

The momentary toggle on the Futaba radios I've used are much easier to use than the momentary push button I've used on a Hitec.

In case you folks are interested, there is a modification to the BUTTON type that works real well and I have been using it for years.

Look at the button and determine what size to cut a small piece of plastic from a milk carton that will just cover the button. On the older Futabas I think it is about 3/8 x 3/4 ". Then use a good tape and tape the plastic over the button so that it is a flap. Be SURE that it can flap up or down loosly. Sorry I can't put a picture up but with a little thought you should be able to figure it out.

This idea was developed when the button started imprinting itself into my thumb after long periods and the student would be disconnected accedently and neither of us knew who had control for a moment. As you get OLDER the thumb gets softer and after awhile the button sinks into the thumb and disconnects. Most younger folks don't have that problem.

I hope this is of some use to some of you as it has been a God sent to a lot of folks I know. ENJOY !!! RED

The Hitec Prism 7X and the Eclipse 7 are both toggles and I agree I don,t like buttons.

John

It's not a pain in the rear, it's a pain in the thumb. The "mod" is to wrap masking tape (or some other kind of tape) around the thumb to ease the pain. Putting a regular switch on it is sort of counter concept to the buddy box idea.

Now, if the student is thoughtful enough to have a Futaba TX, then the trainer "lever" switch is much more user friendly.

tape a penny over the button just so there at least is something bigger to hold on to that little button is a killer on the thumb.

I have added a bit of fuel hose to the Futaba "dead-man" toggle that makes it easier on the finger to hold. Maybe you could glue a dime sized leather pad on the button to get more surface area?

Futaba did the "trainer button" deal on the 6XAS. I bought two of them (teacher & student). My instructor occasionally would say, "I have to take it for a few seconds to rest my thumb," then he'd give control back to me. I tried gluing a penny to the button but it really didn't work that well. Eventually we got a 9C to be the master transmitter and it has a momentary toggle switch instead of a button.

I talked to a local radio service center about replacing the trainer button with a trainer switch and they said the way the 6XAS was made it would not be a practical modification.

A good shop might be able to mount a toggle switch in a different location that would work on the 6XAS. It's just something you would have to work out. Some mods are easier than others and some simply not worth the work involved .