Looking for a club/Instructor in Derbyshire/Notts area of UK

How do you know? Have you done a survey?

Oops! Couldn't resist!!

Allan

It's called a "google search" though you are, of course, free to use any search engine....

So, as a matter of interest what were the a) numbers using thumbs? b) numbers using index-thumbs? and c) those using neither (i.e. index only)? What were the total number of people asked and how many responded?

Thanks

Allan

Allan, Sensible question! (number asked = 1?)

Markzoom? One of the best bit's of advice in the world ever, " when in a hole stop digging" You're impressing no-one but yourself!, as for Nintendo? you may play computer games all you want but I'd rather go out and fly. IMHO I find computer games a rather sad alternative to real life, but if that's what you're into, then I hope you enjoy them. Dave :^) unofficial candidate for the common sense party.

Actually I think he is just a timewaster out to provoke response and having fun at our expense

Allan

Welcome to the party! Dave :^)

It was a google search, not a survey. I found plenty of thumbers switching to index-thumb, but not a single one switching to thumbs from index-thumb. I read accounts of two different aerobatic competitors changing over and noticing a great improvement with index-thumb.

In the US, there seem to be marginally more people using thumbs. As would be expected, many got used that method before they twigged there was another way. It seems likely that thumbs will get more followers in the UK too, as small electric artf planes are now readily, cheaply and widely available even in toy shops that make joining a club or any tuition basically unnecessary. A few of these people will likely progress onto bigger IC planes and continue flying the Nintendo way.

Who's trying to impress?

I've never used a Nintendo, but that clearly went over your head.

Common sense would be doing a google on it yourself, since you apparently care that much.

I found the following paragraphs in an old flying book called, "Learn to Fly by The Seat of Your Pants" by Hamish A McGobligan Jr, 1908.

"The thumb and forefinger method of control can give reasonably accurate control, but only if you are certain you don't accidentally have both legs down the same side of your underpants. It's a mistake that's all to easy to make on a cold morning and the results can be catastrophic. Careful checks should be made before each flight as your plane will have a tendency to pull to the left or right (depending on which side your underpants both your legs are down). If you want to avoid mistakes entirely, wear a kilt."

The book goes on to say that one should always keep an watchful eye on the orientation of one's head, one's @rse and the transmitter. Failure to do so can cause a variety of upsets when one least expects it, especially when teaching others how to fly."

It's all true. I swear it!

Travec.

Yet there are still plenty who only use their thumbs. Perhaps your search didn't reach everyone of either persuasion.

Who is this great teacher Nintendo? I've never heard of him/her.

BTW, I was looking back at the series of articles produced as inserts in RCM&E some years ago, written by Bill Birkenshaw et al. In one of the pictures showing teacher and trainee using a buddy box system, both were using thumbs.

As has been said ad nauseam - use what you feel is the best way for you - whatever that is.

Malcolm

I've lurked on this thread for a while but I simply must take issue with that one. The fact that a plane is small, electric or artf doesn't in any way preclude the need for beginners' instruction, as I found out some time ago to my cost. You're clearly making this up as you go along mate. I would seriously give up now if I were you.

Travec

ROFLPMSL

What do you think happens to all dem planes on Ebay and in toy shops ?: You rarely see them at clubs.

tinyurl.com/h3vag

Down to 22 quid including charger and postage. Thats cheaper than joining a club with insurance.

Of course people should get tuition, and you found out why, but *they* will find it unnecessary to bother, just like you didn't. And I bet you're flying thumbs now too.

RIGHT! enough is enough.

Can you children PLEASE stop bloody arguing about fingers, thumbs and thumb fumbling! Whether you use thumbs only, or thumb and index finger the important thing is you're partaking in the hobby, am I not correct?

As a new member to this group and new-comer to R/C flight, this really ISN'T what i'd expect from grown up and sensible adults that I expected you all to be!

It makes me feel ashamed to think that I am part of this group and to think that I am among those supposed to be experienced enough to tolerate each others quirks and differences.

For those of you who HAVE been adult enough to supply USEFUL information, I thank you kindly, and to the others i ask that you grow up and learn to tolerate the differences others may have - at least we're all partaking in the same hobby!

I'm going to now offically close this topic, so please no more commets thank you, i've read enough!

wrote

Most fly ones or twice, for a flight of a few seconds or a few minutes, before the non pilot smashes them into a million bits.

Indecision ? Perhaps they change back again without letting on ? people can be soooooo devious. Why would I want to look into it ? I am not very interested in why someone uses thumbs alone as opposed to finger and thumb. I was only responding to someone who seems to think there is only one way to do it. Fancy trawling around the net to see who does what with their finger and thumbs. You really must get a life ! I couldn't give a stuff who does it whichever way... but there again, I wouldn't go spouting that there is only one correct way !

While you are trawling about and believing the things you come across on the net can I just point out that there's this guy in Nigeria that I have heard of. He is looking to transfer a LOAD of money into a bank account here.... I could mention you... he comes across as believable.

I am pleased to see that you are paying attention then.

I see this one went completely over your head, never mind I can twiddle my thumbs while you catch up.

Reg

Dear impotent and socially inept, please post the URLs for all these sites where you get your cast in stone information regarding stick manipulation techniques, I can't find any. Perhaps I should add the info to my webpage? Dave :^)

Don't get the wrong impression of the newsgroup... most people DIDN'T participate in Mr. Thumb-and-fingers-only's troll-fest. There are a lot of good people here and a lot of collective experience. In the future, you might also want to try searching for answers to your questions at:

RC Groups (

Good flying, desmobob

| What do you think happens to all dem planes on Ebay and in toy shops ?:

They fly for 15 seconds, then crash.

| You rarely see them at clubs.

No, you don't normally see crashed planes at clubs. You might see a plane crash, but once it crashes it doesn't usually come back until it's repaired. Of course, if you just buy a plane and crash it 15 seconds later, often it's never repaired, even if repairable ...

Some clubs are also hostile to the small electric planes. However, the local glow club was quite fascinated by my Ultrastick 25e -- it's not that big, but it's still the biggest electric that many of them had seen. And it flew very nicely ...

I do understand that you can teach yourself to fly with the right plane (slow, foam, prop in back, simulator time) but any sort of instruction greatly assists the process.