Cyclic shapes...
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 230
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From: Murica.
Cyclic shapes...
I do not mean the Robbie version of the cyclic!!
But what is the reason for these massively bent looking cyclic sticks. I can understand them being a litte bent, maybe to get the grip back over the edge of the seat, but some of them out there just look rather stoopid.
So what am I missing??
But what is the reason for these massively bent looking cyclic sticks. I can understand them being a litte bent, maybe to get the grip back over the edge of the seat, but some of them out there just look rather stoopid.
So what am I missing??
Joined: Sep 2002
Aviation Qualifications: CPL
Posts: 4,721
Likes: 636
From: Great South East, tired and retired
Just have a closer look. Often the control emerges from under the seat (B206) or out of the floor.
From there it has to get to the pilot's hand in a comfy position on his leg. Then move the stick to full control deflection in all directions without hitting the seat cushion / console/ dashboard / beer esky.
Still gotta be able to grip the stick between the knees while map reading / writing / opening a beer. Sometimes tricky in the R22 if you are a short@rse and the thingy has to be pulled a long way over to reach your stubby knees while keeping your feet on the pedals.
Also the front seaters have to be able to get in and out or top up the esky without knocking the stick too badly.
From there it has to get to the pilot's hand in a comfy position on his leg. Then move the stick to full control deflection in all directions without hitting the seat cushion / console/ dashboard / beer esky.
Still gotta be able to grip the stick between the knees while map reading / writing / opening a beer. Sometimes tricky in the R22 if you are a short@rse and the thingy has to be pulled a long way over to reach your stubby knees while keeping your feet on the pedals.
Also the front seaters have to be able to get in and out or top up the esky without knocking the stick too badly.
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,012
Likes: 1
From: USA
The bent cyclic is something we learned to do early on, here is an early R-6A from 1944 with a straight stick:
and a Bell 47 with a bent one:
Why the loopy cyclic? Ascend Charlie and Gaseous have it right, the stick has to bend around the seat and end up above the pilot's crotch, and a straight stick won't do that. Ideally, the stick should be over your crotch, so you can rest your wrist on your leg. Entry ease is also a nice feature, too.
and a Bell 47 with a bent one:
Why the loopy cyclic? Ascend Charlie and Gaseous have it right, the stick has to bend around the seat and end up above the pilot's crotch, and a straight stick won't do that. Ideally, the stick should be over your crotch, so you can rest your wrist on your leg. Entry ease is also a nice feature, too.
