Dick Byron's adjustable handle

Around January timeframe, I had aquired Dick Byron's hardpoint handle with adjustable sliders. The handle has just been introduced and I think I was the first one to get it. I did not have an opportunity to test it until recentyl when we were lucky to get one good day of flying up here in New England. So here's my review of it:

I have bought one of Dick's hardpoint handles back in the early 90's I was using it with my Banshee. It was a very good handle. The only problem I had with it is that I could not get sensitivity just right. You see, the bar on which the hardpoints are mounted had holes 1/4 inch apart. This meant that I could only adjust the line spacing 1/2 inch at a time. Basically, one setting was not sensitive enough, the other was just a little too sensitive. This frustrated me endlessly.

When the topic of handles came up on SSWF, it was one of those sore points that come up every now and then(BOM,presidents, handles, etc). Looking at some of the postings, I saw the picture of my handle and figured I ask Dick if he was interested of bringing back his hardpoint handles. He said he was. Then I figured I try for gold and ask if he would be interested in making a hardpoint handle that had sliders. two days later, I see this post http://www.clstunt.com/htdocs/dcforum/DCForumID2/1098.html
Boy, was I surprised! I immediatly contacted Bob about procuring a handle for myself. The handle came already finished and ready for use. Fast forward to the first flying day of the season.

I came to the field with the new handle and the Banshee. Prior to leaving for the field, I made sure to set the new handle to the same settings as the original handle was setup for last: over sensitive. One flight at the field confirmed that the plane was just too sensitive for my tastes. I mean Rick Campbell sensitive! As a matter of fact, I think Rick was the last person to fly the Banshee last season. Anyways, out comes the allen wrench. A small tweak to the handle to bring it back to a more sane setting. The next flight was just perfect! I was so happy with the setup, I stuck around for another hour after most folks left to enjoy good weather and perfect setup.

In stunt, we strive to find that perfect ship, that perfect configuration that will make flying pure joy. If a silly little thing like a handle with a slider adjustments gets me to want to fly, then buying it was a good decision.

As a summary: the handle is your classic hardpoint handle with infinite adjustment possibilites. It comes finished and needs no painting or staining. The safety dongle is allready installed. The only suggestion I would make is to make the dongle string a little bit longer. It was kinda hard to slip my palm through it thus breaking my concentration before the flight. One of the hard point bolts has a yellow heat shrink tube over it to help indicate the UP side: simple answer to a common problem of grabbing the handle worong side up.

So, in conclusion, if hard point handles are your cup of tea, I suggest you check out Dick Byron's offering!

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Thanks Steve,
The response at VSC was very good to the hard point slider. There were many fliers still interested in the cable type also. The nice words did a lot to convince me that I need to continue to make both types. I will.

One more note to everybody that came by my table, thanks for your good words. They did a lot to confirm my handles.

Warmest regards to all.