RADIO CONTROL HELICOPTERS U sIn1 m WT r iii L-W V4 IN 51 -1 t Ed FREQUENCY BOARDS Cascade Model Helicopter Club Everett Washington nice enough include mailing monthly club newsletter Heli News always enjoy getting newsletter keep up events club well interesting articles presented editor Dick McKenna fairness vast content newsletter Im sure Dick gets lot help others club articles January Heli News about frequency pins problem club day trying help new flier second article Calvin Mitchell same issue also dealt frequency control little different twist since frequency control problem clubs groups fliers have contend thought would great subject months column frequency pin article came AMA National Newsletter Dick kind enough let present some other material Heli News frequency pin article has flier busy helping others during nonnal flying session Rather leave flying field home originally planned decided stay last flight As can imagine mind busy other thoughts turned transmitter having required frequency pin Unfortunately caused crash another airplane second article titled Some Crashes Are Avoidable deals new flier taking channel 26 pin real frequency 29 turned out mistakenly turned 9 upside down made frequency flag mistake caught until caused accident two mishaps demonstrate need clubs individual groups refine frequency control procedures Ive flying airplanes helicopters years care admit Im sure can ever come up procedures solve accidental turn-on problem should ever mindful As person turned 9 upside down thought doing everything nght field obeying frequency control procedures However incident additional step club should consider have club member check radio installation new helicopter field should us old-time fliers well new guys Although has never happened least thats story Im sticking have seen experienced flier take helicopter up first flight have reversed servo bad battery wiring error some other minor problem cause crash certainly experience knowledge keep problem happening somehow mistake made However another person would have taken just few minutes inspect helicopter prior first flight mistakes would have uncovered may seem unnecessary experienced fliers would willing bet made club rule club records kept such inspections would save several mishaps year Another way prevent frequency control mishaps such frequency pin described above have better frequency control system Although havent club field have seen use similar frequency control system usually consists box contains club frequency flags first field day gets ready rest fliers usually accompanied some sort stand slots cards again displaying frequency number will no mistake what frequency use Although type system works other variations suit particular clubs needs types frequency controls have inherent problems most-common problem see someone loses frequency pin puts box drives home ether case club needed pinmaybe several weeks Mid-West Helicopter Association Fort Worth Texas best frequency control systems have seen best knowledge never frequency control problem years member club system consisted piece metal angle iron about eight feet long Six feet angle iron painted white roughly top four feet marked off represent usable frequencies angle iron hammered ground central location member club regular wooden clothespin transmitter members name frequency written pin ballpoint pen clothespin clipped transmitter antenna use he/she wanted fly clothespin simply attached angle-iron frequency board system several distinct advantages club member own clothespin pins transmitter clothespin stored transmitter antenna almost impossible turn transmitter seeing clothespin flier cleared turn transmitter first placing pin frequency board pin already frequency flier would know using frequency since persons name pin pin forgotten after day flying would simply placed lower unused portion frequency board until owner came field again system also allowed guest fliers use system keeping extra clothespins hand guest would again fill out name frequency participate rest us Now no frequency pins pin boxes other boards keep flying field Although system worked well club Im sure better frequency control systems out club has better way keep having frequency control mishaps please let know may share ideas everyone doesnt make lot sense club have reinvent wheel us have already tried systems didnt work too well Model Helicopter Technique magazine devoted helicopters started published Ray Hostetler years ago have helicopters Im sure will remember Ray also helicopter columnist RC Modeler years also author Rays Complete Helicopter Manual Ray has devoted much life hobby enjoy much last year felt need sell magazine devote time family work has now passed Michael Maria Homic husband-and-wife team met some years ago Fort Worth Texas Im sure Ray would like know thank him has given back hobby make enjoyable rest us also hope will have time future continue writing have lot learn him Michael Maria would like wish continued success canying Model Helicopter Technique further information fine publication Michael Maria can reached 16224 Remuda Trail Buda TX 78610 Model Aviation