Hard Point Handle

[proparc]

Why is a Hard Point Handle superior to a cable handle. No arguments please, just the facts!! Okay-okay, you can argue if you want too for crying out loud. Figured I'd put that in, or I won't get any responses LOL.

[Bob Reeves]

Think the general feeling is they are less springy which equates to more precise control.

[Peter Nevai]

Cable handles at some point bend the cable 90 degrees from vertical. The thicker twisted braid cable wants to return back to being straight at these bends this tendancy to straighten causes a small degeree of control loss at lighter line tensions. Hard point handles connect the lines sirectly to the handle in a straight line and hence the leadouts in a straight line. So hard points will give better feedback and control in lightly loaded conditions. If you have a model that pulls like a ton of bricks you would probably not notice the difference.

Same holds true to a certain degree with solid lines vs twisted strand steel and with the leadouts as well. Twisted strand lines teend to be stretchier by default.

[proparc]

Peter,
What you are saying makes complete sense to me. Along those lines, if you think about, either a lightly loaded,  OR plane with smaller diameter lines; say .015 is going to have a significantly different dynamic then the telephone pole cable used at the handle.

[Steve Helmick]

Peter,
What you are saying makes complete sense to me. Along those lines, if you think about, either a lightly loaded,  OR plane with smaller diameter lines; say .015 is going to have a significanatly different dynamic then the telephone pole cable used at the handle.

The bending of the handle cable is the biggest source of springy feel. Your lines are straight, so not as much of an issue, tho certainly line stretch is not insignificant. The fact is that some of us don't live in a climate where solid lines are practical, and if we do live where they are mostly ok, what happens when the weather is such that they are NOT workable? Change to braids? Wouldn't it be better to just use braids all the time? Or should you seek out the imported 3 strand lines that some like? Opinions vary on lines and handles, but fact is that if you once try a hardpoint TED Handle, you won't want to use any cable handle, Yatsenko handle, or a Rock Crusher handle ever again.  Steve

[bill bischoff]

How is a "Ted" handle different than the old Tatone "U-Control'er" handle from way back in the day? (Other than you can buy one today). I've been flying since 1971, and I don't think I've ever seen anyone use the Tatone handle. Why were they not popular before, and how did this style of handle return to favor?

[Steve Helmick]

A lot lighter, adjustable overhang, and more spacing adjustment? Also, in those days, Derek Moran had not invented the homemade line clips or a way to make them in 1/16" length increments.

I don't think I ever saw a Tatone handle in the LHS, and not many bothered to buy mail order. I don't think there was such thing as phone order then,  and besides, Dad would have murdered me for the long distance phone calls. I didn't have a checking account until '65, and then I was flying mostly monoline or Hot Rocks. EZ Just had the handle business pretty much to themselves then.  Steve 

[Marvin Denny]

  They were VERY uncomfortable to hold if you had a plane that pulled even moderately.  The forward face of the grip portion was curved the wrong way.  It should have been filled in so the forward face of the grip was similar to the E-Z Just types.  But if they did that, the line adjustment would have to  have been reworked.
  I had one and used it only a few times.  I still have it somewhere in the junk barrel.

  Bigiron

[Larry Cunningham]

I had a hard point handle way before they were cool.. (Lou Crane handle) ;->

L.

"Life is like playing a violin solo in public and learning the instrument as one goes on." -Samuel Butler

[john e. holliday]

My son and I used one of those for racing.   Replaced the plastic with wood.   Still have it when we do get to go racing.