About 35 years ago, some of the top pattern flyers in the US got together
and formed their own company to manufacture competition level radios.  I
don't know all the founders but the included Ron Chidgney, Jim Kirkland,
Jim Whitley, Doc Edwards, and Doc Colman, all top pattern flyers of the
era.  They hired the top designer from EK and set up Proline in Decatur,
Alabama.  Naturally the owners had their pick of the best.  I remember
hearing Ron Chidgney talking about how he selected servos.  He would stop
at the plant every time he passed through the area and go through the stock
of servos until he had the best.  He would plug the servos into a receiver
and check for buzz under no load.  No buzz was a reject because of too wide
a dead band.  He considered the slight increase in current drain to be a
small price to pay for the increased precision. 

I bought my first Proline back in 1969 when they were still in Alabama.
Nice to have a local manufacturer for quick service.  Not long after, the
company moved to Arizona.

Chuck Anderson
RCSE-List facilities provided by Model Airplane News.  Send "subscribe" and 
"unsubscribe" requests to [EMAIL PROTECTED]

Reply via email to