P. Hudson

WHICH RADIO do I need for a sailplane? Many people ask me that question, and my response is, "do you want the short version or the long version?" The short version is: one that is legal and reliable! If the person is serious, I give him or her the long version, which follows. Any of the current market radios will do fine for the average sailplane. Airtronics is popular among the competitive fliers, although Futaba, JR, Hitec, Tower, etc. will work for your beginning sailplane. Buy the "most" radio you can afford without destroying your hobby budget. A super-duper-whizbang radio won't make you fly any better than you do now, and it may even have side effects-ask the pilot at the local club field who plants an airplane from time to time because he or she hits the wrong switch.