Stick or yoke?
Couldonlyaffordafiver
Joined: Dec 2000
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From: The Twilight Zone near 30W
Originally Posted by eharding
A yoke is a device for attaching a humble beast of burden to an agricultural implement in order to drag it laboriously across the landscape.
In times of economic hardship, once the beast of burden is no longer able to perform this simple task, it will be shot, cooked, and eaten.
Either way, it things don't look that good if you're attached to a yoke.....
In times of economic hardship, once the beast of burden is no longer able to perform this simple task, it will be shot, cooked, and eaten.
Either way, it things don't look that good if you're attached to a yoke.....
I'm sure there's a touch of irony in there somewhere. So why does the Yak have a stick?
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Bracknell, UK
Joined: May 2010
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From: Hampshire
Stick.
As a former glider pilot and confessed romantic, I just feel a stick is more 'aeroplaney'.
Yokes are for those who don't like the fun side of flying (aerobatics/farm strip flying/etc) and limit themselves to the £100 cup of tea once a month rather than using their license to stretch themselves or seek adventure.
I'll just pop and get my nomex flying suit on in preparation for the Cessna drivers' retaliatory flamage.
Oh, and for touring I prefer a side stick as you get your whole lap for a chart but you still get to fly with stick and not a steering wheel.
As a former glider pilot and confessed romantic, I just feel a stick is more 'aeroplaney'.
Yokes are for those who don't like the fun side of flying (aerobatics/farm strip flying/etc) and limit themselves to the £100 cup of tea once a month rather than using their license to stretch themselves or seek adventure.
I'll just pop and get my nomex flying suit on in preparation for the Cessna drivers' retaliatory flamage.
Oh, and for touring I prefer a side stick as you get your whole lap for a chart but you still get to fly with stick and not a steering wheel.
Joined: Sep 2008
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Scotland
Blues&twos 
I am relatively low time but have flown both. I feel more comfortable touring with a Yoke, and turning things upside down with a stick (though have only ever flown aeros in an aircraft with a stick).
A stick just gets in the way in a touring aircraft. I managed to fly a ~150NM leg in a yoke equipped aircraft yesterday without touching the yoke once trimmed on course (and no, the aircraft didn't have an autopilot).
I am relatively low time but have flown both. I feel more comfortable touring with a Yoke, and turning things upside down with a stick (though have only ever flown aeros in an aircraft with a stick).
A stick just gets in the way in a touring aircraft. I managed to fly a ~150NM leg in a yoke equipped aircraft yesterday without touching the yoke once trimmed on course (and no, the aircraft didn't have an autopilot).
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Cambridge, England, EU
I'll just pop and get my nomex flying suit on in preparation for the Cessna drivers' retaliatory flamage.
Joined: Oct 2010
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From: New Zealand
I think it depends on the aircraft's handling characteristics. I can't imagine the alpha 160 (NZ build r200) having a yoke but the cherokee wouldnt be right with a stick.
If its an agile aircraft definetely stick but for the cruiser I much prefer yoke. When doing an A-B flight in the alpha any small movement of the stick sends you off in a different direction but with the yoke in the Archer 3 it seems to be geared a lot lower and you can be more precise in roll adjustments. The pa28 is a much more stable aircraft than the alpha so that no doubt has an influence.
When dealing with maps, flight logs, and aerodrome plates its definetely beneficial to have the extra room that a yoke provides and less chance of knocking it when you are refolding, rearranging etc.
If its an agile aircraft definetely stick but for the cruiser I much prefer yoke. When doing an A-B flight in the alpha any small movement of the stick sends you off in a different direction but with the yoke in the Archer 3 it seems to be geared a lot lower and you can be more precise in roll adjustments. The pa28 is a much more stable aircraft than the alpha so that no doubt has an influence.
When dealing with maps, flight logs, and aerodrome plates its definetely beneficial to have the extra room that a yoke provides and less chance of knocking it when you are refolding, rearranging etc.
PPRuNe FirstOfficer
Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Surrey, UK
Good Morning,
So far all my training hours have been on yoke aeroplanes, so naturally I prefer yoke.
However I once had a go at flying an Airbus 320 simulator and loved the experience of sidestick flying and how responsive it was and more recently I also had a go at flying a Robin 400 with a stick I enjoyed the flying experience but it did lack the space to put something on my lap shall I need it, so not very impressed about this, but then again it was the first time I guess one can always change and adapt.
So far all my training hours have been on yoke aeroplanes, so naturally I prefer yoke.
However I once had a go at flying an Airbus 320 simulator and loved the experience of sidestick flying and how responsive it was and more recently I also had a go at flying a Robin 400 with a stick I enjoyed the flying experience but it did lack the space to put something on my lap shall I need it, so not very impressed about this, but then again it was the first time I guess one can always change and adapt.
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From: UK
Offhand, I think I've flown just about every variation - centre stick, sidestick with direct linkages, sidestick without, powered yoke, directly linked yoke. I currently have shares in an aeroplane with yoke, and an aeroplane with a side-stick, whilst I've recently been flying something with a centre stick.
Do I really care? As an absolute, no.
For precise handling in the cruise, I'd rather have a yoke - preferably nice and high to clear a big kneeboard.
For aerobatics, a centre stick, without a doubt.
I don't like Airbus style zero-feedback sidesticks, but they clearly work on an airbus, where the amount of manual flying is minimal, and on F-16s, where it's continuous - so I've clearly just not flown them enough.
For dropping in and out of little farmstrips, everything works.
I'm more than happy to assess a cockpit in it's own right, for a particular role - but I am very disinclined to make absolute statements.
G
Do I really care? As an absolute, no.
For precise handling in the cruise, I'd rather have a yoke - preferably nice and high to clear a big kneeboard.
For aerobatics, a centre stick, without a doubt.
I don't like Airbus style zero-feedback sidesticks, but they clearly work on an airbus, where the amount of manual flying is minimal, and on F-16s, where it's continuous - so I've clearly just not flown them enough.
For dropping in and out of little farmstrips, everything works.
I'm more than happy to assess a cockpit in it's own right, for a particular role - but I am very disinclined to make absolute statements.
G
Joined: May 2003
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From: Gt. Yarmouth, Norfolk
Yokes are for those who don't like the fun side of flying (aerobatics/farm strip flying/etc) and limit themselves to the £100 cup of tea once a month rather than using their license to stretch themselves or seek adventure
. I am sure that pilots of Aroncas and Taylorcrafts dropping into their short grass strips would disagree with you. And Sheila Scott and Polly Vacher flew around the world in respectively a Commanche and a Dakota,both with yokes. I seem to recall that one of our occasional posters here flies up and down Africa and the Middle East in a Maule, also a yoke.
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From: Massachusetts Bay Colony
I'll back up Justiciar's point to say that a very well-known Taylocraft pilot in the UK has flown his machine to Africa as well as the North Cape and just about every point in between. I've never known another PPL to spread his wings as far and wide, all of it sitting behind a yoke at no more than 100mph.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Ansião (PT)
For aerobatics, a centre stick, without a doubt.
"... because a stick gives the most direct and finest control. For the same reason, it appeals to beginner pilots."
?
Joined: Mar 2006
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From: Warboys
I fly two Rallyes, one with a stick (stripped out tug) and one with a Yoke (tourer), in real terms I don't actually think there is much difference between them and I don't actually think about it when I swap between.
The only issue is that in order to get full 'n' free on the yoked one I have to remove the ashtray to give my knee enough clearance, so there is nowhere to put my Gaouloise in flight.....
The only issue is that in order to get full 'n' free on the yoked one I have to remove the ashtray to give my knee enough clearance, so there is nowhere to put my Gaouloise in flight.....
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: UK
Not necessarily finest. Nor necessarily for beginners. Mostly I think for somebody who wants to make manoeuvres that require large rapid control inputs.
(That said, I flew my first solo, 18 years ago this Saturday, in an aeroplane with a centre stick, and still am very fond of the type.)
G
Joined: May 2010
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From: Hampshire
When you were a child and you asked your elder and/or better how a pilot controls an aeroplane, were you given a rod to hold between your legs or a steering wheel to hold above them to demonstrate the effects of the controls?
I'm trolling a little here and I'm sure most of you know this, but I maintain that adventures are sought because of sticks and had in spite of yokes.
I think I have some fireproof undies somewhere still. I'll just pop and fetch them.
I'm trolling a little here and I'm sure most of you know this, but I maintain that adventures are sought because of sticks and had in spite of yokes.
I think I have some fireproof undies somewhere still. I'll just pop and fetch them.
Joined: May 2010
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From: Hampshire
Oh, and hats off to Polly Vacher et al, I don't mean to do down her's or any other pilot's exploits with a yoke equipped aircraft.
And I love Maules.
I just feel like a yoke doesn't let me 'think' and plane around the sky like a stick does, and I get my jollies from the sense of control rather than the joy of travel that others derive from touring.
It's horses for courses and I recognise that. Its just that my horse is better than yours.
And I love Maules.
I just feel like a yoke doesn't let me 'think' and plane around the sky like a stick does, and I get my jollies from the sense of control rather than the joy of travel that others derive from touring.
It's horses for courses and I recognise that. Its just that my horse is better than yours.