I may have been taught to fly incorrectly. I learned in Germany on 2 & 3M gliders in the late sixties, using a Graupner Varioprop 2 stick TX. On 2 channel airplanes I use the left stick for rudder and right stick for elevator. On 3 channel I use the left stick for aileron, right stick for rudder and elevator. I have been flying my gliders this way, but recently purchased a glow plane, and the radio instructions show the RUDDER on the left stick, and AILERON on the right stick. Of course I could continue this way, but I want to help a young fella in the neighborhood to learn to fly but I don't want to start him off wrong. Has anybody run into this problem? Many other pilots (in Germany) flew my aircraft and I their's, and everyone's TX was set up the same way.

Thanks,

You did not learn to fly the wrong way. In Europe and most of the world mode 1 the way you fly is common. Your new radio is set up mode 2 the way most of us fly. If you fly the new mode it will only take you 1 or 2 weeks to get use to it, just get some help from other flyers until you get the feel of it.

I think that there is no "right" or "wrong" way here, it comes down to preferences.
I myself fly with ailerons and elevator on the right stick, and rudder and spoilers on the left stick.
But on the other hand I also know a lot of people, who set up their controls like you do.

But as in everything else, you will find people who tell you thet their way is the "right" one.

This controversy is probably as old as radio controlled flight itself.

Michael

Thank you for the clarifying comments. My new radio has buddy box capability so it looks like the smart thing for me to do is switch to Mode 2. I appreciate the help!

Actually, on a 2 channel airplane, mode 1 would put rudder on the right stick and elevator on the left, not vice-versa. On a 3 channel airplane, right stick would be aileron and left stick would be elevator and rudder. What he's flying is mode 3 or 4.

I used to fly the way you described, E/R on the right and flaps/ailerons on the left. I call it left handed mode 1.

Then I got a computer radio and all of the pre-programmed mixing functions required that the ailerons be connected to the right stick channel. Switching back and forth between modes is no big deal, after a few hours (simulator?) you will be able to do both.

Being able to fly other people's planes is the greatest benefit. The super duper computer radios will allow you to have any combination of stick/surface link.

Another benefit is that if you ever need to land a jetliner in an emergency, being used to having the roll/pitch control on a single stick will make the job easier. Just don't make forward stick as up elevator (as most beginners tend to think and I have seen) or you will never get your reflex responses sorted out.

Latest update:
I rigged the glider out per the instructions....Mode II with R/T on left stick, E on the right. The glider is electric power which is new to me, and I'm using a servo operated on/off micro switch.
First Flight: gained airspeed and started climbing when a strong gust of crosswind hit, and when I went to correct with the rudder, bingo I accidentally shut the motor down. Lucky enough I had enough altitude to recover and land. March winds continued and I quit till the following day. 2nd Flight: Same thing, any movement of the left stick stops the motor. FIX: Back to Left handed Mode 1 as Gronker called it. Put rudder servo connector in the aileron slot on the RX, and now have pitch and roll on the right stick. Rudder hinge is made of this covering material, and developed a crack, and rudder was loose at the bottom....new nylon hinges have been installed rudder and elevator, and waiting for weather to clear to check it out.

Actually Alvin, that is still Mode 2. Mode 2 puts the primary roll control on the right stick, which doesn't necessarily have to be the ailerons. On a plane with no ailerons as yours is, that would be the rudder.

My guess is that on a plane with both ailerons and rudder, you'd still be confortable with Mode 2, as the roll control would still be on the same stick.

Thanks bjaffee for your comment. I hadn't flown for 27 years and since I have several aircraft, my goal is to get some 'stick-time' on this glider before I put the others at risk. Being out of the sport for so long I'm trying to get up to speed with all the new equipment etc. I read somewhere I think it was on the 'Proving Ground' Website where having the primary controls on the right stick is similar to flying full scale stick aircraft. Although my first flights were not totally successful I was elated that I was able to recover....twice. I also found out rather quickly, it's hard to tell when one of these electric motor jobs quit when you can't hear them. ha-ha

I fly 2 channe sailplanes, helicopter, and sport planes (all with the same radio- Eclipse7) and I've always kept my gliders on mode 2- rudder on left stick, ele on right.

Was I brought up all wrong!?!?!

I do find that I have to re-acquaint myself with the heli for half a tank after flying sailplanes for a few days, but that's probably the pucker factor working.
I'm starting to wonder if I should switch to both controls on the right, if not for the roll-yaw coupling, at least for the convenience of flying one-handed.

Anyone else bounce between models and how do you set your controls?

If you don't have ailerons, that's not mode 2. Mode 2 puts the primary roll control (be it aileron or rudder) and the primary pitch control on the right stick.

I was taught to fly polyhedral gliders with rudder and spoilers on the left stick and elevator on the right. That way I can have my left thumb on the stick when I launch. If something goes wrong just after releasing the plane, I don't have to hunt for the stick before making corrections.

This worked so well that I continue to fly all my gliders that way, with coupled ailerons/rudder or just rudder on the left stick with the flaps or spoilers.

Having the elevator on the right stick by itself makes it easier to keep the airspeed right when I circle in bumpy air.

I fly power planes with the normal mode 2. It took me a few flights to get used to mode 2, but switching back and forth hasn't been a problem since.

I'm a bit hesitant to fly someone else's glider if it's set up mode 2, though. I have to make believe it's a deadstick power plane.

Roger

Hi Alvin,
Why not keep flying on the mode you fly right now???
With Throttle & Ailerons on left and Elevator & Rudder on right, u are flying on Mode 4....most of the futaba radios can be changed to mode 4...just setup the plane to mode 4 & voila!!