jeb (04/29/83)
REAL PILOTS prefer to fly a plane controlled with a stick rather than a yoke, because everyone knows that REAL AIRPLANES have control sticks. The Cessna 195 is the only known exception to this rule. However, like all REAL AIRPLANES, it does have the extra wheel at the back end of the aircraft, where it belongs. (Further note: all REAL RUNWAYS are made out of grass.)
normb@tekred.UUCP (Norm Babcock ) (08/21/84)
During a recent trip to Alaska, I decided to see what float flying was like. I arranged a flight with Aviation Network at Lake Hood, and was a little concerned about adjusting to a stick control in addition to a float equipped aircraft. As it turned out, the stick seemed to be a far more natural way of controling an a/c compared to the wheel. I'm wondering now if other pilots have the same reaction, or do they prefer the wheel? Is there any good reason why the 150 (for example) was designed with a wheel rather than a stick? Are sticks appropiate for tandom a/c only? Any comments appreciated.
cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP (Jeff Williams) (08/23/84)
The stick is, indeed, the more natural control. However, way back when (like in the mid to late 30's), the marketing types looked at the light plane and decided to make it look more like an automobile. Hence, you find the Aeronca K with an outsized airspeed indicator that looks like a car speedometer. The Piper Cruiser had the chrome trim on the panel, just like the 1938 Plymouth. The marketing types also asked for wheels rather than sticks. As an aside, on the airline type aircraft of the 20's and 30's, a wheel was needed so that two hands could be used on the controls. Some of the big airplanes had very heavy controls. Only recently, have the manufacturers of big airplanes gone back to powered controls and sticks as a test (Airbus 300 test) or for special purpose aircraft (B-1 series). In 1939 to 1942, Funk advertised their control wheel setup as "airline style control wheels." The other manufacturers soon followed with "automobile style" controls. Remember, this was also the time of the Ercoupe, Skyfarer, and several other 2-control "drive like a car" aircraft. Wheels sold better than sticks, so the light aircraft that could have used sticks had wheels. Several people have converted Taylorcrafts and Funks to stick controls, but the modification is rather rare. Several side-by-side aircraft use sticks rather than wheels. These include the Luscombe, CAP-10 (French), Grob Motorglider (German), Valmet PIK-19 and PIK-23 (Finnish), as well as the afore mentioned B-1. (This is not by any means an all inclusive list.) One problem with a stick in a side-by-side airplane is that of throttle placement. Traditionally the throttle is on the left side of the cockpit, but on a side-by-side it is in the center. This forces the pilot to use the left hand on the stick which is considered "backwards." Several designs use dual throttles so that each pilot uses the right hand on the stick. The wheel vs. stick is an interesting subject, to say the least. Jeff Williams AT&T Bell Laboratories, Naperville, Ill ihnp4!cfiaime