Question about handles!

[steve pagano]

I was wondering i there a handle out there that gives the pilot the ability to adjust neutral during a flight?  If not would it be possible to make one?
Has anyone tried?


                                           T.I.A.
                                                -Steve

[john e. holliday]

I have two handles that were made that are adjustable while flying.  One is a wooden one that I seldom use.  The other one is formed d-ring type handle that used to be available from a foreign supplier.  Got mine at the NATS one year and it is the one my grandaughter loves.  I do not recommend them for competition flying as far as racing and stunt.  DOC Holliday

[Marvin Denny]

  Bill Lee produces one that is pretty good.  Adjustable neutral  in flight and spacing is also adjustable as is bias, but those two last items are not in flight adjustable.

  I have three of them

  bigiron

[Mark Scarborough]

I thiink Bob Hunt used to make a handle as well that was adjustable in flight, had a knob on the top (or bottom?) out of production but still available, I saw one on the 'bay a few weeks back

[Leonard Rennick]

As bigron says, Bill Lee has one which is very nice his web page is:
http://wrlee.com/EdomEnterprises/index.html

Aslo GRS Models has one  that is used for comabat with fixed line spacing.

Leonard

[Paul Smith]

Flight adjustable handle.

I made this Tom Morris handle "flight adjustable" by simply replacing the Allen 'n Nylock combo with a wing nut.  A flathead screw is epoxied to the back plate.  Green side up just like laying sod.

Same-same with the Byron unit.

Works perfect.
 

[Ralph Wenzel (d)]

This is just my opinion, but I think it's a questionable (bad) idea to have that kind of in-flight adjustabiliby. I have a specific handle (and a couple of sets of lines) for each plane, and they have been set (and cut) to match that plane.

If anything were adjustable, something could go ka-ka between flights or between flight sessions; someone could "play" (innocently or maliciously) with the handle adjustments and and mess with the setup; and I might not notice until the next flight was underway. This could cause problems ranging from confusing to catastrophic. For example, I can remember several times with the old EZ-Just handle having the main cable shift in the slider just a bit, but enough to throw off flight settings.

Again, just my opinion; your mileage (as they say) may vary . . .

Ralph

[Mark Scarborough]

I have used an adjustable handle to get the neutral point set and spacing, then make my handle for that airplane specifically. Now I have learned to make my lines more accurate and have a better feel for what I need so its not as neccessary anylonger. but still a valid approach, and I personally cant imagine anyone messing with the adjustments on your handle maliciously, that seems out of character for anybody I have flown with. Possible exception, I have heard the story about one Scott Riese getting ready to make an official, gets engine started and goes out to center circle and his handle was GONE! not thats a prank I would have loved to see, I wont name the other guilty party though,,

[Bob Reeves]

I wouldn't hesitate to use either the old Hunt handle or Bill Lee's at a contest.. In fact I have and do.. Own a couple of each.

The old Tru-Just (Hunt) handle is my favorite but you can't adjust the line spacing and it's a bit wide. They show up on eBay from time to time.. Am pretty sure Bobby won the NATS and the worlds using a Tru-Just handle in 76 or 77.

The Lee handle is what I use to fly any new airplane with for initial trim flights. Once I have the handle adjusted for neutral and spacing I can make up a hard point handle, set it the same and I'm good to go. Didn't bother making a hard point for my Score last season and just flew the whole season with one of my Lee handles. Did pretty good except in Memphis, my brain went completly stupid and I flew like I was back in Intermediate.

These are excelent handles, highly reccommended...

[Randy Powell]

>>I have heard the story about one Scott Riese getting ready to make an official, gets engine started and goes out to center circle and his handle was GONE! not thats a prank I would have loved to see, I wont name the other guilty party though,, <<

Though I had absolutely nothing to do with this, ah, prank, I did witness it. Well, I might have been distracting Scott since I think I was holding his plane at the time. I have to admit, the look on Scott's face was beyond price. I laughed a very long time.

[steve pagano]

>>I have heard the story about one Scott Riese getting ready to make an official, gets engine started and goes out to center circle and his handle was GONE! not thats a prank I would have loved to see, I wont name the other guilty party though,, <<

Though I had absolutely nothing to do with this, ah, prank, I did witness it. Well, I might have been distracting Scott since I think I was holding his plane at the time. I have to admit, the look on Scott's face was beyond price. I laughed a very long time.

Randy

PPPPPLLLLEEEEEAAAAASSSEEE remind me never to ask you for a launch, Especially when i attend my first nats in 08'

[peabody]

Steve...
See if you can get Windy's video about handles....it is one of the BEST, most accurate tapes that he has ever made....
There is a lot more to a handle than just neutral....
Merry Christmas!

[Paul Smith]

This is just my opinion, but I think it's a questionable (bad) idea to have that kind of in-flight adjustabiliby. I have a specific handle (and a couple of sets of lines) for each plane, and they have been set (and cut) to match that plane.

If anything were adjustable, something could go ka-ka between flights or between flight sessions; someone could "play" (innocently or maliciously) with the handle adjustments and and mess with the setup; and I might not notice until the next flight was underway.
Ralph

No doubt about it,,,, tweeking the handle whislst you fly can be risky bidness,,,,,, but some of us are up for it,,,,,, for me,,,,, it beats wasting 2 or 3 flights to get dialed in,,,,,, if you can't hack it, don't try,,,,,,,, but, we have the technology.

It is by will alone
I set my mind in motion.

Is by the juice of safu that
the mind acquires the speed
the lips acquire the stains
the stains become a warning.

It is by will alone
I set my mind in motion.