Stick or yoke?
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Stick or yoke?
Reading in another thread "most of the others have sticks, which are much better for everything except pretending you're still in a car" I am hesitating to follow my club's change of planes. All my flying till now has been on stick-equipped planes, but these have been discarded and I am now supposed to change to using a yoke. Is it really very different? Why are sticks better for most things? If yokes are really poorer, why are they being used?
Obviously, yokes will be preferred by those wearing long tight skirts... but I can't remember ever seeing such on an aerodrome, more's the pity.
Obviously, yokes will be preferred by those wearing long tight skirts... but I can't remember ever seeing such on an aerodrome, more's the pity.
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I prefer a stick for aerobatics, and a yoke for long-distance touring.
A stick in general has less control linkages so feels more direct. But the disadvantage of most sticks (except Airbus or Cirrus-style side-sticks I presume) is that you can't hold anything in your lap.
I transitioned from yoke (PA28) to stick (Robins, Diamonds) and never found it a problem whatsoever. Both feel really natural to me.
A stick in general has less control linkages so feels more direct. But the disadvantage of most sticks (except Airbus or Cirrus-style side-sticks I presume) is that you can't hold anything in your lap.
I transitioned from yoke (PA28) to stick (Robins, Diamonds) and never found it a problem whatsoever. Both feel really natural to me.
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Having flown wearing a skirt, I can tell you that it's less about the experience inside the cockpit and more about the difficulty in climbing up to dip the fuel tanks in the Cessna 
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I dislike sticks immensely in FW.
They're always in the way, they tire your wrist, they look like some cheesy stick shift nob from Halfords. And, they make every aircraft look like a newly baked homebuilt.
If I see one more bloody 2-seat LSA low wing with a stick and 912 Rotax, I might not be responsible for my actions. Real men fly yokes. Just look at all the bush aircraft out there, not a stick in sight.
They're always in the way, they tire your wrist, they look like some cheesy stick shift nob from Halfords. And, they make every aircraft look like a newly baked homebuilt.
If I see one more bloody 2-seat LSA low wing with a stick and 912 Rotax, I might not be responsible for my actions. Real men fly yokes. Just look at all the bush aircraft out there, not a stick in sight.
A little less conversation,
a little more aviation...
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I dislike sticks immensely in FW.
They're always in the way, they tire your wrist, they look like some cheesy stick shift nob from Halfords. And, they make every aircraft look like a newly baked homebuilt.
If I see one more bloody 2-seat LSA low wing with a stick and 912 Rotax, I might not be responsible for my actions. Real men fly yokes. Just look at all the bush aircraft out there, not a stick in sight.
They're always in the way, they tire your wrist, they look like some cheesy stick shift nob from Halfords. And, they make every aircraft look like a newly baked homebuilt.
If I see one more bloody 2-seat LSA low wing with a stick and 912 Rotax, I might not be responsible for my actions. Real men fly yokes. Just look at all the bush aircraft out there, not a stick in sight.
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.....
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The thing I miss with stick is inability to mount anything on it (e.g. chart holder, or GPS) whereas yoke comes very handy 
Plus you can always put your right hand on the yoke if you don't have anything else to do with it.
I prefer yoke, but as said, stick gives you better feel of controls.
Plus you can always put your right hand on the yoke if you don't have anything else to do with it.I prefer yoke, but as said, stick gives you better feel of controls.
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I must admit I much prefer a yoke, but then my time on yoke v. stick is at least 100:1.
However it depends to some extent whether the yoke goes between your legs or is a side-stick. The former is IMHO a stupid idea for touring because it just gets in the way - long skirt or not The latter will naturally be a lot shorter (in lever length terms) which I don't like but I suppose one gets used to it.
I bet yoke touring planes (Cirruses etc) get flown mostly on the autopilot.
However it depends to some extent whether the yoke goes between your legs or is a side-stick. The former is IMHO a stupid idea for touring because it just gets in the way - long skirt or not
The latter will naturally be a lot shorter (in lever length terms) which I don't like but I suppose one gets used to it.I bet yoke touring planes (Cirruses etc) get flown mostly on the autopilot.
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Same as with backpacker I really don't care they both feel right.
Only slight advantage with a stick is if the aircraft is out of trim in roll and you can't adjust it from the cockpit you can just lean your leg on it to make it fly S&L which is a whole heap more comfy than pushing your knee up.
Also as well with a stick you can rest your hand on your lap and fly with your finger tips when in cruise.
But I am not bothered either way.
Only slight advantage with a stick is if the aircraft is out of trim in roll and you can't adjust it from the cockpit you can just lean your leg on it to make it fly S&L which is a whole heap more comfy than pushing your knee up.
Also as well with a stick you can rest your hand on your lap and fly with your finger tips when in cruise.
But I am not bothered either way.
Thread Starter
Just look at all the bush aircraft out there, not a stick in sight.
... or the Do-27 / Do-28 Dornier Do-27 and 28
But Backpacker's reply brought most inspiration - as I am into touring - and not into aerobatics at all - a yoke might be not too bad for me. Couldn't help wondering what to keep on my lap, though. Map? Mug of coffee? Co-pilot?
But the hand on the thigh, steering with fingertips, is quite an habit of mine. Probably because I'm a beginner. OTOH I never imagined applying my legs to the stick! They're in full time-use on the rudder (few microlights having directional trim).
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Anything as long as its not your chart with your finger on it screwing with your navigation. Personally I don't have anything or maybe an A4 knee board from tescos if IFR. Coffee bad idea unless its in one of those cups that self seals and you have to press a lever to get any out. Only down side of them is they are a bitch to get out of the footwell if they fall down there. I knew a pilot that got some quite nasty burns from sugary coffee spilling on his lap.
Some sticks don't get in your way and for me are at thigh level. Others you could use as a brush handle. There is no issues touring in a robin. And from experence you can fly both with a kilt on
Personally I don't have anything or maybe an A4 knee board from tescos if IFR. Coffee bad idea unless its in one of those cups that self seals and you have to press a lever to get any out. Only down side of them is they are a bitch to get out of the footwell if they fall down there. I knew a pilot that got some quite nasty burns from sugary coffee spilling on his lap. Some sticks don't get in your way and for me are at thigh level. Others you could use as a brush handle. There is no issues touring in a robin. And from experence you can fly both with a kilt on
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Control column or yoke
Hi Jan,
Basically, nowadays in club aircraft it's horses for courses. The control column does tend to have fewer linkages and is definitely more direct and more sensitive, so it's much better for aerobatics. It's also easier with a stick on the landing approach when you have one hand on the throttle. The yoke is better on long journeys as you can hold it with both hands and the weight of one hand balances the other.
You need to look at the history of these features. In the early days of flight, aircraft were small and light and had control columns. Then with the introduction of larger, heavier, longer-ranged aircraft the control wheel was introduced. This was partly for reasons of comfort over long trips, but mainly because especially before the days of power-operated or power or servo-assisted controls big aeroplanes were very heavy on the controls and the wheel gave more leverage. In later years, the wheel gradually became abbreviated into a yoke.
This is probably why very, very few fighters have been fitted with yokes. I can only think of one that definitely had a yoke; the Lockheed Lightning, but that was a long-range, escort fighter intended to accompany the bombers. (I have a feint recollection that the Beaufighter, or some other British twin-engine fighter, may have had one, but I'm not sure; anybody know)?
Piper and Cessna began fitting yokes, I think, during the thirties. These were obviously preferable for the long legs a private pilot can fly over that huge country.
I remember flying a new Piper Colt in about 1964, that not only had a yoke, my first experience of this device, but also a hand-held microphone for radio transmission, held in a clip on the instrument panel, and a large loudspeaker, inches in diameter, in the rear wall of the cockpit for radio reception.
The reason for this arrangement seems to be explained by an article I read in about 1965 in 'Flying' magazine. This article was written by an American lady commercial pilot/instructor who had been taken on to be the sales pilot in a US Piper or Cessna dealership. The terms of her employment specified that at all times when at work she must be wearing both earings and a skirt, (obviously among other things). I think they allowed her to wear flat heels.
Clearly, this was to demonstrate that with a yoke a woman can fly smartly dressed, (which in those days would mean in a skirt) and with the hand mike and loudspeaker, she didn't even have to wear a headset (that might snag her earings). How the world has changed.
Broomstick.
Basically, nowadays in club aircraft it's horses for courses. The control column does tend to have fewer linkages and is definitely more direct and more sensitive, so it's much better for aerobatics. It's also easier with a stick on the landing approach when you have one hand on the throttle. The yoke is better on long journeys as you can hold it with both hands and the weight of one hand balances the other.
You need to look at the history of these features. In the early days of flight, aircraft were small and light and had control columns. Then with the introduction of larger, heavier, longer-ranged aircraft the control wheel was introduced. This was partly for reasons of comfort over long trips, but mainly because especially before the days of power-operated or power or servo-assisted controls big aeroplanes were very heavy on the controls and the wheel gave more leverage. In later years, the wheel gradually became abbreviated into a yoke.
This is probably why very, very few fighters have been fitted with yokes. I can only think of one that definitely had a yoke; the Lockheed Lightning, but that was a long-range, escort fighter intended to accompany the bombers. (I have a feint recollection that the Beaufighter, or some other British twin-engine fighter, may have had one, but I'm not sure; anybody know)?
Piper and Cessna began fitting yokes, I think, during the thirties. These were obviously preferable for the long legs a private pilot can fly over that huge country.
I remember flying a new Piper Colt in about 1964, that not only had a yoke, my first experience of this device, but also a hand-held microphone for radio transmission, held in a clip on the instrument panel, and a large loudspeaker, inches in diameter, in the rear wall of the cockpit for radio reception.
The reason for this arrangement seems to be explained by an article I read in about 1965 in 'Flying' magazine. This article was written by an American lady commercial pilot/instructor who had been taken on to be the sales pilot in a US Piper or Cessna dealership. The terms of her employment specified that at all times when at work she must be wearing both earings and a skirt, (obviously among other things). I think they allowed her to wear flat heels.
Clearly, this was to demonstrate that with a yoke a woman can fly smartly dressed, (which in those days would mean in a skirt) and with the hand mike and loudspeaker, she didn't even have to wear a headset (that might snag her earings). How the world has changed.
Broomstick.
I suspect any decent pilot can adapt to either, fly without complaining, and still enjoy it. Only a bad plumber blames his tools.
-- IFMU
-- IFMU
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I suspect any decent pilot can adapt to either, fly without complaining, and still enjoy it. Only a bad plumber blames his tools.
BackPacker states:
For that reason alone, I prefer a stick.
I don't know of any gliders with yokes....
A stick in general has less control linkages so feels more direct.
I don't know of any gliders with yokes....
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I fly both as well. I really love the stick in a Diamond, but since i am left handed, i prefer a yoke on longer flights, especially with navigation on paper involved.
Why? Because i need to control the plane with my right hand briefly while i'm updating my nav log with my left hand (my right hand writing is unreadable). My kneeboard is on my right leg, so imagine a stick plane, left with pencil all the way over to the right (in the way of the stick), and my right hand handling the stick, in the way of all mentioned above. Actually looks funny.
Why? Because i need to control the plane with my right hand briefly while i'm updating my nav log with my left hand (my right hand writing is unreadable). My kneeboard is on my right leg, so imagine a stick plane, left with pencil all the way over to the right (in the way of the stick), and my right hand handling the stick, in the way of all mentioned above. Actually looks funny.