Question from an ancient
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 10
From: France
Question from an ancient
My apologies right from the start for this question, just plain curiosity from an ancient.....
I've flown as a flight test support engineer on helicopter flight tests (INTERESTING....) a long time ago. Agusta-Bell 212 mostly.
As such I've had about an hour in the right-hand seat, which I will never forget.
Somehow the question cropped up the other day... why is it "left-hand seat" in fixed-wing aircraft, and "right-hand seat" in rotary?
Left-hand seat in fixed wing dates from before WWII, but how did right-hand seat in rotary happen?
I've flown as a flight test support engineer on helicopter flight tests (INTERESTING....) a long time ago. Agusta-Bell 212 mostly.
As such I've had about an hour in the right-hand seat, which I will never forget.
Somehow the question cropped up the other day... why is it "left-hand seat" in fixed-wing aircraft, and "right-hand seat" in rotary?
Left-hand seat in fixed wing dates from before WWII, but how did right-hand seat in rotary happen?
Hovering AND talking
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 5,711
Likes: 1
From: Propping up bars in the Lands of D H Lawrence and Bishop Bonner
Here you go - with other links as well!
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ight=hand+seat
Cheers
Whirls
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ight=hand+seat
Cheers
Whirls
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 2,315
Likes: 10
From: France
Whirlygig,
MANY THANKS!
I'll go through the "links to links" some more, but somehow this one makes sense to me.
"The very early helicopters had their controls fed straight to the mixing unit which was centrally located and there was seldom a second set of controls. Therefore having the collective in the centre of the aircraft meant less linkages - therefore flying pilot sits in right hand seat."
MANY THANKS!
I'll go through the "links to links" some more, but somehow this one makes sense to me.
"The very early helicopters had their controls fed straight to the mixing unit which was centrally located and there was seldom a second set of controls. Therefore having the collective in the centre of the aircraft meant less linkages - therefore flying pilot sits in right hand seat."
