A recent issue of CLW shows a small R/C receiver in place of the usual timer.  He used it for test flying, where an abort could be made at any time. That seems like a good idea.  Allows in-flight motor speed adjust.  Also, think of the neat take-offs and landing approaches you can do.

I don't yet fly electric in contests.  So legal or no, I would like to try this.

Would I be escorted off the field, or laughed at?

Floyd

Check out the latest CIAM (FAI) rule.

For sport flying anything goes - I not sure about stunt contest - probably not legal.   It is definitely legal for scale and I think carrier.  On any electric powered airplane it is dead easy to set up.  Just plug and play!      Most any cheep 2.4 system will work - all you need is a 60 to 70 ft range.

Go for it!!!!

Andy Borgogna and I have been doing this for a few years. A real plane saver if (when!) things go bad!

Also it is standard practice when the Knights of the Round Circle does training with the ET-1 models at shows. We can abort a flight if the student is a troublemaker (sadly, they do show up) and the pilot doesn't have to count laps. Plus the model can be made to land in front of the crowd every time.

The micro receivers are about the same size and weight as timers, so we just have a velcro panel where we can switch back and forth as needed.

I flew my electric stunter with a 2.4GHz rcvr in place of the Z-Tron timer.  Simple!  I just removed the 3-pin plug from the timer and put it into the "motor" channel of the rx.  Transmitter fastened to an old belt from my clothes drawer.  It worked the first time.

Now I can do a 1-lap take-off run, throttle down for level flight, adjust for overheads, and then land whenever I feel like it!

I don't know why I didn't think of it sooner!

Floyd

I recently tried this using a 2.4G RC car controller and noticed that the car controller was quite large and cumbersome, so I invented one that uses a small key fob button, like a garage door opener. It is a simple on/off operation and seems to work well. I guess it could be expanded to control retracts etc but then it wouldn't be control line would it.

Anyway the receiver unit that goes in the model weighs about 0.4oz and supports BEC ESCs.

Would there be any interest in these do you think for sport flying perhaps?

Hmmm, so could also be modified to be used as a shut off for IC engines too then.... Might be helpful for over runs.

I have tested my "garage door" controller on both IC and Electric motors and it works great.

For electric the unit weighs 10 grams and is powered from the Bec , one press on, press again off.

For IC engines a small lipo and a servo are required taking the weight up to 23 grams. The servo is setup to pinch the fuel line. Operation is button not pressed fuel line open, button pressed fuel line crimped.

We have been developing this idea for F2D shut off on demand however it can be used for many applications.

We are still in the final phases of testing. More details will be available for anyone who may be interested.

Cheers

I really like the ON/OFF idea as it could allow quick test hops without changing the timer setting. Also could help at contests were a contestant has an incident where he takes a wave off, the on/off would get him down and off the circle to keep things moving. At many contests we try to get going early in the morning to avoid the higher wind conditions, being able to move fliers off the circle on a wave off would save time and maybe some airplanes.

This should be allowed for competition.

If one could be developed that would do a fuel shut-off for IC's it would get support.

Best,      DennisT

That is what I have done but rather than using a bulky 2.4 gig transmitter I am using a 433mhz garage door  key fob controller which can fit into a handle. I have used a pic micro controller to send the appropriate signal to a servo to pinch the fuel line and a 120mah  2S lipo. The unit in the model weighs 22 grams all up.