Motions

I'm very curious as to how many people use their thumbs rather than the pinch method for controlling their heli.

I use thumbs but have tried the pinch method and just can't do it that way.

watt_the?!

good poll..i use thumbs but often wonder if i should pinch...

ozace

I am a thunbs man but i believe most of the top flyers pinch (such girls, lol)

ForestCam

I put enough stress on the joysticks with my thumbs, if I switched to the pinch method I'd probably rip them off.

zappedalaskan

I use the thumbs, It is hard to "pinch" with mittens on
Take care..Good poll motions,
Jay

flyboyanderson

I learned years ago to hold the sticks like you would a pen or a paintbrush. This allowed, for me, a more fluid motion. I have tried to switch since the ergonomics of the TX are oriented to thumb use, but I always revert back to the pinch method.

I don't fly choppers, but most fixed wing flyers seem to lack a smoothness in their control which I attribute to the lack of fine motor control in our (human beings) thumbs.

or

Perhaps I have really lousy thumbs (dumb thumbs?):p

Great poll BTW

watt_the?!

i agree about the motor control....theres no doubt in my mind that pinch gives better control...so why do i thumb then?...

qban_flyer

Although I have always been a "pincher", I can fly R/C both ways. Does that make me a (edit) bi-flyer R/C wise?

watt_the?!

yes, it appears that you are officially ''bi'' mate.

not that there's anything wrong with that.

zappedalaskan

Well now there goes the neighborhood, qban has come out and admitted to being Bi-Gimbal
Flying heli's I find myself using thumbs, because your always moving the sticks around in a rapid cyclic motion (a heli never sits still) Where flying a plane I pinch for the fluid control of an airplane. especially float planes. I think scale flight is better using the pinch method (fixed wing)
So there you have it.. Bert I am Bi-gimbal too I don't fly planes near as much as heli though. Sorry to repost, I just started thinking about how I fly a plane as opose to a heli.
Take care,
Jay

Rugar

You guys just HAD to go there didn't you!

Doppelganger

I pinch the throttle/rudder, and thumb the ailerons/elevator. For some reason, my left thumb sometimes shake. It's usually nerves. Like during a maiden, or after a near crash. I may try to learn pinching the right stick as well. I agree that pinching seems to help throttle and rudder more smoothly than thumbing.

Steve

qban_flyer

HE HE HE.

I just couldn't let that one get by me without a smart alecky comment!

qban_flyer

Nice to know I am in such good company here at Watt Flyer!!!

zappedalaskan

We are happy to have you here qban!! have you got your little helicopter yet? I am intrested if you find the same thing as me. Using your thumbs more with the heli. Mine should be here tom. or the next day
Take care,
Jay

qban_flyer

Mine should arrive at the LHS no later than Friday. The $350 coax heli I messed with at the LHS I flew by "pinching" the sticks.

I also ordered a DX-6 radio, but that one won't be in until late December.

timocharis

I suspect pinching has some advantages, but I'm all thumbs. Oddly, the very best flyers I know (a couple of them nationally competitive) are all thumbers. Must be a local effect.

Dave

cadconversions

I learned on my thumbs and switched to the "pinch" when I played with RFG2 by laying my tx on the desk. Really liked it so I purchased a tray and have found that I'm more steady and can really hold everything steady. I still fly with my thumbs if I don't have my tray.

flyboyanderson

I don't fly helicopters but I suspect there is a thread of commonality between slope soaring and flying helicopters. In both cases the aircraft is in constant motion requiring nonstop input in order to keep the aircraft under control.

15 years ago...... all right 25 years ago, I did mostly slope soaring off the mountains around Penn State. On a good lift day the turbulence was nonstop and violent. My buddy took a movie (no video back then) of my finger movements on the stick and it was fascinating to see the constant motion of my fingers (pinch). Really, the whole idea of neutral centered sticks didn’t matter much, you where flying the plane not flying the sticks. This is how I learned to fly smoothly. I can’t imagine using my thumbs under these circumstances.

BTW, it was also the most continuous fun flying I have ever experienced including real flying.

If you get a chance try slope soaring it will teach you a lot. Perhaps I should try a Heli.

obxflyer

I've always thought of the control "of the sticks" was easier by pinching. Most students have better control when moving thumb and forefinger in one motion. When trying to move with just the thumb resting on top of the stick, it would be more gittery-- uncontrolable movements and usually over controlled stick movement, then wilder flights. My two cent worth. BC

Tonym

I use thumbs as a result of playing video games. All of the controllers I've had since the Nintendo used thumb controls.

rcflyer12

love the pinch gives me the best control

Jimmy Hoffa

I pinch very lightly with my finger. I would say 80% of force is with my thumbs, 20% fingers. I just kind of rest the finger on top of the stick. I guess it's what ever method you get used to using.

When I used to race boats, I would steer the wheel with my left hand and operate the throttle with my right. Not only is this backwards, but I'm right handed which would make my technique double backwards! It works great for me though. Jimmy Hendrix used to play his guitar backwards too!
Phillip

Kapn Kaos

I used to be a thumb man. For better and more precise control I switched to the "pinch mode". I feel it leads to more fluid movements in the aircraft.

jakjr

Thumbs here, always have, and probably always will.

I've tried the pincher method on a sim and it doesn't work well for me. Maybe it's better if you use a neckstrap, but it felt as if I couldn't comfortably hold the transmitter.