REFLECTOR: Yoke vs. Stick

[Chuck Jensen]

I semi-fixed the reach across to fiddle-with-the-radio problem with a center
stick.  When I redid my panel, I put the EFIS right in front of me and the
radio stack right next to it.  The VOR head was shuffled off to the right on
the angled portion of the panel.  To tune the radio (after ask Center the
third time what that frequency was for Podunk Approach), I reach in front of
me instead having to s-t-r-e-t-c-h all the way over to the normal radio
stack location.  No human-pretzel moves required for normal flying.

Personal opinion on controls:  stick with the stick.

Chuck

-----Original Message-----
From: reflector-bounces at tvbf.org [mailto:reflector-bounces at tvbf.org]On
Behalf Of Scott Derrick
Sent: Wednesday, December 01, 2004 8:55 AM
To: Velocity Aircraft Owners and Builders list
Subject: Re: REFLECTOR: Yoke vs. Stick


I don't think its the stick-handeness.  Adjusting to left or right stick 
takes 5 minutes tops.

In an EZ with a right stick, the panel is on the left, everything within 
easy reach of your left hand.

In a Cozy same thing for the left or right seat if it has dual sticks like 
a Cirrus.


Scenario in my Velocity:  I'm tracking the glideslope down, hand 
flying,  Approach says "contact tower"..  I now have to (1) reach across 
with my left hand and dial/switch the radio, (2)  let go of the stick and 
switch with my right hand.

Either way is not ergonomic. The center stick does not promote safe 
operation of the airplane..  Its a fubar situation any way you do it.

The center stick, while easy to engineer and fabricate is one of the 
Velocities weak operational points.  Like I said, its a shame the factory 
wasted their time designing a dual yoke system, when they could have done a 
dual stick like the Cirrus....  Scott, YOU LISTENING???

That said I still prefer it over a yoke, because of comfort and less stress 
on long flights, which does promote safety.  It cuts both ways.

Scott



At 09:49 PM 11/30/2004, you wrote:
>EZ has right stick, left throttle.  Cozy has left stick, right 
>throttle.  Nobody seems to have a problem going back and forth from one to 
>the other.
>Jim S.
>
>
>Ronnie Brown wrote:
>
>>I have seen several RV's set up this way.  Pilot and instruments on the 
>>right side so they could fly it like a cub or champ, stick in right hand, 
>>throttle in left hand.  I considered doing the same thing, but decided I 
>>didn't want to build another panel - mirrored from the standard panel. I 
>>had 800 hours in a C172 and I thought the opposite throttle and controls 
>>would be a problem - but not.
>>
>>I have flown my plane 150 hours which includes a good bit of IMC and it 
>>turns out to be a non issue.  The Velocity is so steady it is easy to fly 
>>it hands off, or using my left hand on the stick and right hand for the 
>>radios.  Turn the Navaid autopilot on and it is really easy.
>>Copying clearances is a non problem too.  Ronnie
>>
>>
>>     ----- Original Message -----
>>     *From:* HYTEC45 at aol.com <mailto:HYTEC45 at aol.com>
>>     *To:* reflector at tvbf.org <mailto:reflector at tvbf.org>
>>     *Sent:* Tuesday, November 30, 2004 6:06 PM
>>     *Subject:* Re: REFLECTOR: Yoke vs. Stick
>>
>>     In a message dated 11/30/2004 2:30:20 PM Pacific Standard Time,
>>     joel.l.carruth at lmco.com <mailto:joel.l.carruth at lmco.com> writes:
>>
>>         Also, it seems like it would be easier to manage the radio
>>         stack (dual
>>         COMMM/NAVs, a GPS, and a xpdr) with your right hand free...
>>         especially
>>         flying IFR.
>>
>>     That's why most helicopters fly PIC from the right.
>>     TEC
>
>_______________________________________________
>To change your email address, visit 
>http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector
>
>Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
>user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
>Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
>Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html
>


"Those who sacrifice freedom to get security, deserve neither."
- Benjamin Franklin

_______________________________________________
To change your email address, visit
http://www.tvbf.org/mailman/listinfo/reflector

Visit the gallery!  www.tvbf.org/gallery
user:pw = tvbf:jamaicangoose
Check new archives: www.tvbf.org/pipermail
Check old archives: http://www.tvbf.org/archives/velocity/maillist.html