Aerobats with conventional yoke - no stick

[elche]

G'day dear ppruners,

I'm looking at doing an aerobatics endo. but due to a disability can only do it in a plane with your usual horn instead of the stick type controls.

Any ideas on what types are out there, who operates them and where I could find them would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. I would really like to stay away from the C150/52A :E

Cheers.

[Old Akro]

The 152 aerobat is a surprisingly goot aerobatic trainer. It certainly teaches energy management. I've got a lot of hours in Pitts and would not be concerned about learning in a C152. Other options are Victa, Fuji Robin & possibly Zlin (I forget). Aerobatics is more about the flying than the aeroplane.

[ForkTailedDrKiller]

I would really like to stay away from the C150/52A :E

Why?

If you can do good aerobatics in a C150/152, I reckon you can do'em in anything!

Me? Nah, I was pretty crap once I tried to move beyond loops, rolls, spins and stall-turns - but I have flown with a very few who could wring the best out of the little Cessna - eg very precise snap rolls!

Dr :8

[elche]

There's really nothing wrong with the 152. I've only ever flown one for 2 or 3hrs and never really felt comfortable in it.

I was hoping there were other options out there, but if not, the 152 will do. My other option me thinks is taking a Robin out with an instructor and do some basic strait and level, turns, steep turns and see if I can handle the stick. Who knows, it might even be another form of strength straining for me. :ok:

Akro, Dr - Thanks for your reply. By the way Dr... Glad to hear your Bo is finally able to stretch its wings again! From what I've been reading on here, it sounds like she could fly herself to the moon and back at the flick of a switch! :ok:

[Mark1234]

The Robin 2160/Alpha 160A has stick-yokes - that makes no sense I know! It has sticks, but they come from the bottom of the panel like a yoke, rather than poking up from the floor.

Not sure whether that would be practical for your particular issue - Picking up your strength comment, Loadings are similar to a yoke with the exception that the design is deliberately elevator heavy to help avoid people overstressing the aeroplane. Should be perfectly feasible to apply two hands.

[edit] you're in sydney.. I know red baron has the alpha..

Alternatively, if you can find one, the extra 200 has a stick, but is super light in all axes. To the point I almost wiped myself out on my first pullup with what was by alpha standards a fairly light backwards tug. It'll also put a grin on your face that takes weeks to fade :D

[djpil]

I agree with the others - the Cessna Aerobat is a great little trainer. Take a read of The Basic Aerobatic Manual by Kershner (http://www.kershnerflightmanuals.com/)

An alternative is the Fuji, although not many around - it snaps about as well as the Cessna. Not sure if there are any aerobatic Musketeers in Oz.

[elche]

Thanks for the info guys. I will definitely have a chat with the guys at Red Baron about the Alpha and have a read of the Kershner book. And if the Alpha doesn't work out I'll go hunting for a 152A :}

Cheers! :ok:

[HarleyD]

I agree with the others regarding the Aerobat 152, you don't have to love 152's but the aerobat is an excellent ab-initio aeros trainer, do not underestimate it. djpil certainly knows what he is talking about.

It is not just the plane but very much about who/where as well. use a specialist aero's school, there are a few in your neck of the woods, look carefully and ask many who are in the local scene.

HD