| Sport Aviator's The
Radio Stack (Radio
Reviews) |
Mounted vertically, straight down the center, in most light planes’
instrument panels, where both pilot and co-pilot can reach, is the
radio stack. The radio stack contains all of the aircraft’s
communication and navigation radios plus the plane’s transponder
(radar identification device). Without these radios, no plane can
operate in most of today’s American airspace. Similarly,
radio control pilots would find it difficult to operate RC model
aircraft without their “radio”. Well, at least they
would without their transmitter, receiver and servos anyway. Most
pilots can still fly without an FM radio blaring at them.
Often overlooked
by most new pilots, the RC “radios” they are using are
critically important. Some transmitters can compensate for poor
airframe flying traits. The proper servos can increase the “bond”
between the R’C pilot and the aircraft. Some receivers contain
autopilots that could save a plane; others have extra channels that
make flying easier.
Sport Aviator’s
“Radio Stack” will always contain useful information,
from the pilot’s viewpoint, about any RC radio system. Our
entire focus when studying a system will be on what the radio can
or will do for the RC pilot. Servo pulse rates and receiver decoding
systems are interesting, But knowing these radio stats doesn’t
tell you if the radio system will stop knife-edge walking, remember
the trim settings or allow flaperon use.
Sport Aviator
will always tell you these things in the Radio Stack column. |
