Which hand do you prefer to use...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: High seas
Which hand do you prefer to use...
...on the throttle? Me, I prefer left hand on throttle, right hand on stick (assuming the throttle is on the left of course!).
I learned on conventional setup (ie centre throttle) but immediately liked the left side throttle arrangement once I tried it.
Anyone agree?
I learned on conventional setup (ie centre throttle) but immediately liked the left side throttle arrangement once I tried it.
Anyone agree?
Joined: Apr 2003
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From: Midlands
It is not quite that simple. I learned on Gliders, so right hand on stick, left on airbrake. If I am flying a single seat I always fly right handed. However in a DR400 there is a throttle on the left, but nothing else. To fly a go around from 200ft you open the throttle with your left hand, swap hands, and push the carb heat in with your right hand, not good! In this case I fly left handed.
Rod1
Rod1
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: USA
It makes no difference.
One airplane requires you to fly with your left hand on the stick, another the right. Even the same airplane, swapping one seat for the other in a side-by-side seating arrangement, requires swapping hands. Think in terms of what you want the airplane to do, rather than what inputs you make with your hands, and very quickly you won't notice which hand is doing what.
One airplane requires you to fly with your left hand on the stick, another the right. Even the same airplane, swapping one seat for the other in a side-by-side seating arrangement, requires swapping hands. Think in terms of what you want the airplane to do, rather than what inputs you make with your hands, and very quickly you won't notice which hand is doing what.
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: In the boot of my car!
No hands 
just stick it on auto jump in the back and do a crossword ? and who has their hands on the throttles anyway ? (only joking but I know a few who have to be told to put their hand there
Believe going off subject a little there was an RAF technique for turning which involved rudder followed by aeleron to centre the ball and another using rudder with the aircraft trimmed in level flight to hold a heading thus iliminating hands for other uses.
Throttles maybe voice control ??? up up or lower lower comes to mind for future development. But really it doesnt matter and its good practice to get used to flying from both sides
Pace
just stick it on auto jump in the back and do a crossword ? and who has their hands on the throttles anyway ? (only joking but I know a few who have to be told to put their hand there Believe going off subject a little there was an RAF technique for turning which involved rudder followed by aeleron to centre the ball and another using rudder with the aircraft trimmed in level flight to hold a heading thus iliminating hands for other uses.
Throttles maybe voice control
??? up up or lower lower comes to mind for future development. But really it doesnt matter and its good practice to get used to flying from both sidesPace
Red On, Green On
Joined: May 2004
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From: Between the woods and the water
The first aircraft I flew in training was the Chipmunk - left hand throttle, right hand on the stick. So of course the Bulldog which came next was the other way round when sitting in the LHS.
Perfectly happy with either as a result, which was good, because the next one had right hand on the stick and a strange hand-brake type thingy in the left hand
Perfectly happy with either as a result, which was good, because the next one had right hand on the stick and a strange hand-brake type thingy in the left hand
Fly Conventional Gear
Joined: May 2007
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From: Winchester
So of course the Bulldog which came next was the other way round when sitting in the LHS.
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Poplar Grove, IL, USA
I learned to fly in a PA12. Right hand stick, left hand throttle. I transitioned to helicopter, same thing plus collective in the left hand. Later, when I transitioned to Cessnas, it was not hard to fly with the yoke in the left and use the right hand for the throttle. Flying with either hand with a yoke seems natural, but for some reason if I switch hands in an airplane with a stick it feels weird. Probably because I haven't done it much.
-- IFMU
-- IFMU
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: LFMD
I don't think it matters. I fly the Pitts mainly with my right hand on the stick and left for the throttle when needed, but in cruise I'll sometimes swap over (not that you do MUCH cruising in the Pitts but you have to get to and from the practice area).
My 182 I fly with my left hand on the yoke, right hand for throttle, radio etc.
I learned Acro on a 115 and that was left hand for the stick, right for the throttle. I also flew an SR20 for a while (not impressed), and that was LH for the side-yoke, RH for the throttle etc.
I've never flown from the right seat but if I did I guess I'd fly with my right hand - if it's a side-stick or -yoke you don't have much choice.
Incidentally the Marchetti is also a side-by-side plane with primary flying on the right, for the same reason as the RAF 115s.
n5296s / n15ta (in this case)
My 182 I fly with my left hand on the yoke, right hand for throttle, radio etc.
I learned Acro on a 115 and that was left hand for the stick, right for the throttle. I also flew an SR20 for a while (not impressed), and that was LH for the side-yoke, RH for the throttle etc.
I've never flown from the right seat but if I did I guess I'd fly with my right hand - if it's a side-stick or -yoke you don't have much choice.
Incidentally the Marchetti is also a side-by-side plane with primary flying on the right, for the same reason as the RAF 115s.
n5296s / n15ta (in this case)