Absolutely true in a 300 which you fly from the left seat as previously mentioned. When I did my first solo in one I was slightly freaked out by having the left skid so low in the hover.

So that the Pilot doesn't scratch his Breitling on the door when operating the collective.

I've always been told that the reason most helicopters are flown from the right seat is that helicopter's are inherently unstable in pitch and roll. so flying from the right allows you to keep hold of the floppy cyclic while you release the collective momentarily to carry out other duties, ie radios etc. Flying from the left seat means there is a need to release the left hand from the collective to cover the cyclic, whilst you use the right to operate radio's etc. tricky especially if you are right handed.

This is a very simplistic argument, as for the weight and balance argument, clockwise / anticlockwise that may be an issue for some small helicopters, but take the army lynx and Gazelle as an example, one has a clockwise rotor, one has an anticlockwise rotor, Both are flown from the right seat.

Rotornut, I seem to remember that in the latest version of the 300, solo pilots sit on the right. Stand to be corrected, of course, but I'm sure that's what the salesman said last time I was at North Weald for Aerofair.

Breitling? What's that? :}

I use a Timex - it takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Plus, it's cheap, which is a necessary characteristic for a helicopter pilot's equipment.

In some of the smaller aircraft such as the H300, R22 & R44, have a look at how wide the cabin is and where the "main" fuel tank is located.
This may sometimes dictate in which position the P1 is seated as this will have an effect on lateral C of G.
As far as the LH or RH seat is concerned while changing radios, think of the left handed pilot who has to fly right hand on the cyclic all the time and not only all you RH handed pilots.
As far as the collective is concerned, you could always use the mark 1 collective friction (ie your knee). Pilots have been using this device for eons!
800:)

Slightly off topic, but which cab has P1 and P2 sitting farthest apart?
I'm thinking of the Blackhawk where you have to throw a stick across the cockpit to get each other's attention?

That's in the USA - in the UK the pilot sits on the left, as is proper...

OK, actually you can get the 300CBi in either flavour, right or left PIC. Not sure about the 300C.

A Different Tack
 

Here is a response to the question that I have not seen in the thread, though it may be as wrong as any other postulation.

When landing on a Helicopter Carrier (as in LPH/LHA) the aircraft approaches from the port (left) side on a 45 degree angle. The PIC has the best view of the deck and superstructure.

Although I think the translating tendancy is the real reason, the above was proposed in a discussion of this subject in the 80s.

:E

I thought the 300CBi was left PIC only in 3 seat config?

Have to go with the idea that I sit on the right because that's where the controls are!

All US military helos will have the pilot in the RH seat for Navy shipboard landing purposes. Apparently this is writen into the milspec.

As far as civilian aircraft go, I guess you're all right.

I think its a part of a plot amongst helicopter manufacturer's chief engineers.

They made helicopters this way to keep us dumbasses that fly them, busy thinking excactly about why the h*** we fly out of this seat and not the other one.

Aeromys,

You should sit in the Sikorsky CH-37 Mojave (Moe Jay Vee).....now that was a commodious cockpit! Makes a Blackhawk look like the inside of a Mini!

I assume it's been said before: because that's the side the controls are on?That's why I do it anyway.

Because I can't see worth a d*mn from the back...

I would like to know why I as treatead such a c#unt for asking the same question.

What a strange response. You obviously didn't bother to search for this thread, so I closed your query with a link to this one with 7 years worth of replies.


:confused: :hmm: :rolleyes:

I think jofm's missing letter is "o" and he is really pleased for being treated like nobility by having a mod point him in the direction of a thread with a plethora of replies.

That's right, isn't it jofm? 'Cos otherwise, your response comes across as very rude and you're not like that, are you? :)

Cheers

Whirls

I am sensing more friendly vibes here than before.

Whirlygig, you have a good eye for things ;)