How do pilots control 737s with 1 hand?
 

I remember a while back I had a look in a 737 cockpit and the controls were very heavy- I needed two hands to pull the yoke back and two hands to turn it.

I assume one pilot controls the throttle and the yoke, so how on earth do they have the strength to turn and pull the yoke whilst also moving the throttle?! I've seen some videos where pilots control the plane as if the yoke is as easy to move as a car steering wheel.

It was a simulator I looked in, so I assume the controls are similar to that of a real aeroplane.

Unless i'm getting confused somewhere, how do they (you) do it?!

Was the sim switched on?

We all take steroids and do p90x.

Yes it was switched on.

Should it have been light (like a car steering wheel) or heavy?

har har har!

The answer is that it should have been light, perfectly controllable with one hand only on the control wheel. It sounds as if the hydraulic powered controls had been failed, to simulate a situation called 'manual reversion' where the 737 is then flown through a direct linkage to servo-tabs on the control surfaces. The control forces do then get considerably heavier, but still manageable.

By the way it's a golden rule to keep your hands and feet well away from the controls in the sim while it's being powered up. I've seen a couple of occasions when the thing has 'glitched' causing the control wheel to slam fully forward and left with sufficient force to break the wrists of anyone holding it.

To be honest most 737s can be flown with two or at most three fingers. Controls are hydraulically powered and are not that heavy. However it is good airmanship to use the full hand, but not in a hamfisted manner :)

Oh... I did mention to the instructor after that the controls were very heavy (It felt like I was manually controlling the control surfaces) and he didn't really say anything, just that it was a very heavy aircraft and does take a bit of effort...

I eat me spinach:ok: