Since we are into reminiscing about the good old days, I witnessed
more radio control development than most currently active
modelers. I got my first radio in 1953, It was a Berkley Aertrol
that I paid $49 for and received a bag of resistors, condensers,
tubes, and wire along with an escapement, transmitter case, and a
27.255 crystal. I was in college during most of the reed era so
missed that phase. I watched Space Control, Sampy, and Orbit analog
proportional systems being developed and finally managed to afford a
1967 Microavonics system that cost a monath's take home pay. At that
time, a lot of the local fliers were using the first Kraft digital
proportional system with servos using wire-wound feed pots that
needed to be cleaned periodically. The hot radio for pattern fliers
in 1967 was EK until several top pattern fliers including Jim
Kirkland, Ron Chidgney, Jim Whitley, Doc Edwards, and other top
fliers got together and hired Jim Fostgate away from EK and set up
Proline to develop a radio to their specifications. The early
Prolines were build in Athens, Alabama and was built from precision
lab quality electronics and Ron Chidgney's stick assembly. The
control sticks from the Proline Competition transmitters still have
not been equaled.
In 1969, I bought my first Proline transmitter when they were still
in Athens Alabama 100 miles from Tullahoma, I was flying pattern
contests at that time and switched to single stick Prolines in
1971. I continued to fly Proline until 1993 when I began flying
full house sailplanes and needed mixers. I flew single stick
Micropro transmitters until 2000 when the Micropro began showing it's
age. I tried Futaba and Hitec but was very unhappy with the ToysRUs
styling, awkward feel and balance, and programming that I never
really understood. Then I discovered the Multiplex Cockpit which
led me to the Evo. Now if only I could get an Evo with a Chidgney
single stick, I would never need anything more.
I still see no need for Dial-A-Crash and don't use a lot of the
features of my Evo. All my models are on the same channel and use
the same setup so my models will always fly when I launch no matter
which model I have selected. It might not be in trim but it will at
least be flyable. Guess why I developed this setup. :-) Maybe when
I can get a cheap, reliable synthesized receiver no bigger than my
Superslim receiver........
Chuck Anderson
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