P38 Lightning question
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The C-17 and the Airbus stick configurations have always struck me as a bit odd, given that with the throttles located in the centre the captain has to fly the aircraft left-handed (appreciate the same is true for yolk aircraft, but that seems more intuitive like using the steering wheel on a left-hand drive car).
Does this actually present an issue, or is it something that comes pretty naturally?
Does this actually present an issue, or is it something that comes pretty naturally?
"Mildly" Eccentric Stardriver
I've only got a few hundred hours on sticks, as opposed to a few thousand on yokes, but I always felt stick-right, throttle-left, or yoke-left, throttle-right was natural.
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I’ve flown lots of hours with all combinations. My preferences are stick right, throttle left and yoke left, throttle right. No issues at all with the other combinations though. I don’t even think about it especially.
Does this actually present an issue, or is it something that comes pretty naturally?
I've only got a few hundred hours on sticks, as opposed to a few thousand on yokes, but I always felt stick-right, throttle-left, or yoke-left, throttle-right was natural.
In my experience, and in discussions with many pilots, flying "left handed" is not an issue. If it were, then left handed pilots flying "right handed" in the countless right handed only cockpits would be an issue. And it is not.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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I've mentioned this in several threads before - I'm left handed with very limited flying experience in Cessna 152/172 and K-13 gliders. I've flown the 152 both left and right seat and had no problem with left hand yoke/right hand throttle or vice versa. Flying the K-13 was different and my natural hand on the stick was certainly the left and it would take considerable practice to get used to flying righted with the same precision. Aero tows were a bit tricky!
Oddly enough, I write left handed, use a spoon left handed, fork in left hand knife in right, yet I am utterly right handed when it comes to using a computer mouse (doing complicated and intricate graphics work) or on the odd occasion I've played cricket or golf.
Oddly enough, I write left handed, use a spoon left handed, fork in left hand knife in right, yet I am utterly right handed when it comes to using a computer mouse (doing complicated and intricate graphics work) or on the odd occasion I've played cricket or golf.
Oddly enough, I write left handed, use a spoon left handed, fork in left hand knife in right, yet I am utterly right handed when it comes to using a computer mouse (doing complicated and intricate graphics work) or on the odd occasion I've played cricket or golf.
It is curious, but as others have attested to in this thread it seems easier to use a yolk ambidextrously than it does a stick. I wonder if that is the primary reason that most side-by-side flightdecks use this system, which again makes me wonder about the C-17 and Airbus.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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I get along with scissors fairly well, right handed potato peelers are another matter - I have an ambidextrous (?) spud peeler.
Computer joysticks I have to use left handed - be interesting to see how I got along with the right seat side stick in an Airbus.
Computer joysticks I have to use left handed - be interesting to see how I got along with the right seat side stick in an Airbus.
Computer joysticks I have to use left handed - be interesting to see how I got along with the right seat side stick in an Airbus.
Perhaps a yolk was the way to go...
‘Yolk’ is not ‘eggsactly’ right. It’s ‘yoke’ (as used on beasts of burden).
I think older, traditional Brits may have used the quaint term ‘spectacles’.
I think older, traditional Brits may have used the quaint term ‘spectacles’.
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Captain Dart,
As a fairly-old and traditional Brit I have used a 'Human Yoke' to carry water from the well to an older and traditional village cottage. Far less time-consuming and painful than taking one bucket at a time by hand.
As a fairly-old and traditional Brit I have used a 'Human Yoke' to carry water from the well to an older and traditional village cottage. Far less time-consuming and painful than taking one bucket at a time by hand.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning
Model 322 / 3 delivered / RAF order: twin right-hand props and no turbo
Wilson, S, 1996, Zero, Hurricane & P38, Aerospace Publications, Canberra
Lightning 1 (RAF designation)
667 ordered (417 for the French, 250 for RAF) but cancelled after the 3 delivered for evaluation
The 140 already built were transferred to the USAAF as fighter trainers & for defence on the West Coast (and retained RAF serials during their service career)
Model 322 / 3 delivered / RAF order: twin right-hand props and no turbo
Wilson, S, 1996, Zero, Hurricane & P38, Aerospace Publications, Canberra
Lightning 1 (RAF designation)
667 ordered (417 for the French, 250 for RAF) but cancelled after the 3 delivered for evaluation
The 140 already built were transferred to the USAAF as fighter trainers & for defence on the West Coast (and retained RAF serials during their service career)
RAF offered some to RAAF but they were rejected as being to complicated and somewhat an under-performer. The RAAF did operate several F-4 recce birds in Australia and New Guinea.
Yes, the Vulcan is another 'odd' one in that regard.
Interestingly, all fast jet side-by-side types that I can think of (Hunter, Lightning, T-36, Jet Provost etc) had dual stick and throttles, so that the pilot was always flying right-handed. Perhaps this was because they were built as trainers first, and so were meant to replicate the experience of the single-seater, but it does perhaps show that flying 'leftie' with a stick is not quite as natural as some have suggested.
PS; Apologies for taking the thread away from the P-38, again.
Interestingly, all fast jet side-by-side types that I can think of (Hunter, Lightning, T-36, Jet Provost etc) had dual stick and throttles, so that the pilot was always flying right-handed. Perhaps this was because they were built as trainers first, and so were meant to replicate the experience of the single-seater, but it does perhaps show that flying 'leftie' with a stick is not quite as natural as some have suggested.
PS; Apologies for taking the thread away from the P-38, again.
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Two right hand sticks for the 2 seat Lightning only partly true. The T4 was like that but the T5 had throttles on the cockpit wall at both sides so the right seat had right hand throttles, left hand stick.
Sinister Dexter
I am left side dominant, including handedness. The only activities I perform right-handed are batting a baseball and golfing. (My father wouldn't spend the extra few hundred bucks for left-handed clubs when I was 10.) Etiquette does not permit me to discuss urinary guidance issues.
I always found the Cessna aircraft I flew - 150's, 152's, 172's, 185's, and 320's - as well as a Beechcraft V35 - to be an ergonomic and neurologically sound fit for me. Fly the craft holding the yoke gently in my dominant left hand while taking care of navcom, throttle quadrant, trim, flap selection, good-looking passenger's left thigh, etc. with my right hand. Though I had no difficulty switching to the right side in both fixed and rotary winged craft, that did not feel as intrinsically comfortable as flying with my left hand.
Yet I find stick control suits me best of all. Starting in a Blanik LET L-13 and graduating to Grob 103's, I always found stick and rudder to be the most intuitive setup.
Note that the title's icon and the smiley-faced emoticon above are both left-handed. As my right-handed father used to say: "There are only two kinds of people in the World. Those that are left-handed and those who wish they were!"
- Ed
I always found the Cessna aircraft I flew - 150's, 152's, 172's, 185's, and 320's - as well as a Beechcraft V35 - to be an ergonomic and neurologically sound fit for me. Fly the craft holding the yoke gently in my dominant left hand while taking care of navcom, throttle quadrant, trim, flap selection, good-looking passenger's left thigh, etc. with my right hand. Though I had no difficulty switching to the right side in both fixed and rotary winged craft, that did not feel as intrinsically comfortable as flying with my left hand.
Yet I find stick control suits me best of all. Starting in a Blanik LET L-13 and graduating to Grob 103's, I always found stick and rudder to be the most intuitive setup.
Note that the title's icon and the smiley-faced emoticon above are both left-handed. As my right-handed father used to say: "There are only two kinds of people in the World. Those that are left-handed and those who wish they were!"
- Ed