As some of you know I've decided to get into Pattern this year. I have been wondering if I should think of changing my style to using my thumb & forefinger or just stay with what I already use.

P.S. I don't know what the other would be but I thought I would add it anyway.

I fly with my thumbs, leaving my fingers on the top of the tranny while i fly. It comes completely to personal preference, and there is no universal "best way" to do it.

I am on thums only right now, but am trying to change to thums and forefingers for precision. I will be using Dubro transmiter tray beginning this year.

I've heard it said by many that using fingers & thumbs is smoother and more accurate.

I tend to use the finger & thumb method because that's how I was taught to fly.

I use both thumbs and finger and thumb. I hold the left stick with my thumb on top and my fore finger wrapped around the stick half way up. I use just my thumb on the right stick. I started to use the fore finger after I started to fly helicopters. I found I had better control of the rudder stick.

Dru.

Thumb versus thumb/index.

Excellent question. I was shown both methods and am equally comfortable with either. Although for precision, I strongly believe that both thumb and index fingers together provides superior control.

A doctor friend once told me that the thumb has 9 muscles working versus a total of 21 (thumb & index finger).

And no.... I don't know the muscle names! Maybe some doctor type RC flyer can elaborate.

Cheers

Looking at this maybe it might be worthwhile to switch over. I've only ever flown with my thumbs but like most everybody I've been told it''s more precise flying the other way. Nice to know that most people fo fly that way.

Do you guys find it easier, more comfortable or just plain better?

Chip, QuiQue, and Jason are all thumbs, with high spring tension on their sticks. I think its a matter of personal preferences. I tried thumb and finger but find that my response speed becomes a little sluggish compared to using thumb only. But again, that's me. FWIW...........

Hi Cdallas2

I used thumbs when I first started to fly... mainly because I had a death grip on the transmitter!!!!

I think that it is normal to start out this way because of several reasons. At the start of training, neck straps are seldom used with or without buddy box systems. It's not anyones fault but unless you get someone very knowledgeable about "holding" the transmitter, most if not all people naturally hold the transmitter with their palms and this leaves only the thumbs available for control. It's understandable.

Using a supporting device (neck strap or TX tray) allows one to bring the palms up beside the TX and freely allows you to place thumb & index finger on the sticks.

What I did was try a tray (as someone had one for sale cheap... ya right RC & cheap in the same sentence) anyway I digress.... It sucked at first as I did not feel very comfortable but you know what... my control of the aircraft was better. This was caused by the lack of "sweeping motion" created by the thumb method. I'll try and explain as best I can... Grab your TX and follow along with this.. it can't hurt. Using the thumb method, input a full aileron movement from side to side. The thumb has a tendency to not bend smoothly across the "plane" for elevator and an uncommanded input for elevator is unintentionally put in (usually an "up" input of full left aileron). This wreaks havoc on the airplane and the maneuver is poorly flown. Not because the airplane is bad but because the pilot inadvertently put elevator into a rolling maneuver. This is one of the reasons that a lot of people go to very heavy spring settings or install stiff versions of aftermarket springs.

When I went to the tray I found that these unintentional inputs disappeared and my flying improved considerably. I do use max tension so that "effort" is required for "input".

If you go to a neck strap, like the majority of people, and start to use thumb/index inputs you will find it takes a bit of getting used to but your flying ability will, I believe, be able to advance farther & more quickly in the long run.

I can use any method but I prefer a tray for "precision". Proof is in the pudding as they say so I look at what the top F3A guy in the world uses... CPLR = Tray.

Neck strap or tray.... thumbs or thumb index.... ultimately it's your choice.

Hope this doesn't muddy the waters....

Dave

You know how to stop putting in elevator when you roll....?

Switch to mode 3

Chad

Don't you ever sleep? Your everywhere man!

You use thumbs in mode 3?..... :-)

Nope not much lately.....got the Evolis ready to paint, the old Evolis is in the process of being revamped for this year, and the Enigma is about 75% of the way to ready to paint.... :tired: maybe if I feel real ambitious I might start the second Enigma.....

My vote is Mode 3, thumb/finger/neckstrap (we dont need no stinkin tray!), and really stiff long sticks.

What is mode 3?
is it like mode 1 with the elevator and aileron switched sides?
(Mode 1 has the elevator and rudder on the left, and the throttle and ailerons on the right.)

Throttle/aileron - Elevator/rudder

I am a not so new flier, and at the same time a totally high tech kinda guy. I have 199 flights on my Kadet Sr. 80" wing span, OS 40 motor, I use a co-pilot, and a futaba 9CHP digital transmitter.
I also use a RCTRAYMANUSA.COM Transmitter Tray. That's a no brainer because I wanted to get rid of the neck strap that almost cost me my plane in the pits. I had bumped the throttle while hooking it onto the transmitter.
OK so I started to fly without the strap. You know that barehanded I'm The Man Style. This was OK until my hands got sweaty or needed a rest. The thing is that with a $450.00 Transmitter, with every bell and whistle, and a tiny computer on my plane (the CO-Pilot) I never went through a day of flying in fear of crashing. Some Worries and a few Ya Hoos, But I have always believed my plane was just that, MY PLANE. Not a box of parts put together so that they would become parts again.
I have no preconceived notions about how to fly or even what being a R/C pilot is. I just Want to have FUN. So I now know this. There is a list of things you have to do to put on a neck strap. A LIST. With my RCTRAYMANUSA.COM Transmitter Tray I just pick up my terrific, 100% adjustable, strong, Tray and slip it onto my shoulders. To take it off I just slip it off . Nothing goes over my head and my hands stay clear of both the joy sticks and switches.
Thats it. On and Off. No List. No bending. No neck strap adventures.
I fly with my hands resting on the wrist rests with no tension or energy waisted on holding the transmitter. The Tray fits me and the other 1400 people that have bought it perfectly because thats how adjustable it was made to be.
My flying is Safer ( no neck strap stories ).
My Flying is more Accurate ( The Thumb/Finger or Thumb only debate ends both work better because your hands only deal with the flying and not the holding).
My Flying is more FUN ( that whole little conversation about where my hands are where is the switch I want has ended ) I can just fly.
So what can I say. Everyone has their way of doing what they do out there. Until now no one has been able to enjoy this quality of workmanship, and the peace of mind that comes with it, because the RCTRAYMANUSA.COM Transmitter Tray has only been in the market place Since Jan 1,2003. With Beta testing in 2002 a bit more.
In meeting the thousands of people at the trade shows I have had the fun of having a booth at the only thing that I have run into that stops a guy from buying one is some preconceived notion. Some thought that a transmitter tray is like using training wheels, or is for a beginner.
Yes, Other Transmitter Trays, use to be that poorly, cheaply. made piece of gear. Many trays still have ( and I can't believe it ) NECK STRAPS, or Go Over You Head Like a Hard Neck Strap. Sorry about the capitols.
The fact is that the only reason not to use this tray is the one you make up not to. The pilots who get to use one just love it. You can fly the way you always have, or you can fly the way you always hoped you would. Better, Safer, more comfortably. I do.
Thanks you for taking the time to read this.
Jeff Sandler www.RCTRAYMANUSA.COM 818-982-5518

Jeff

That is one fancy looking tray you have there.

If your looking for a beta tester up in a "cold" climate let me know :-)

Don't know about you guys but I thought this would be a lot closer than it is. 2 to 1 in fact.

I've been seriously considering building a tray.

I started flying doing it bare-knuckled about 12 years ago on an old futaba 8JN radio (those who know, will feel my pain).

I now fly religously with a strap and I'm finding that I have trouble keeping a solid grip on the sticks (I use thumbs BTW) when I push into a negative snap or something like that.

I'm wondering whether I'd now be better with a tray...


decisions decisions, but I'm put off by dragging more crap to the airfield...

any ideas??