Control Yokes

lowing · #1 11-19-2009, 10:45 PM

Has anyone ever installed a control yoke in a RV instead of a control stick? I have 31 years flying with yokes and do not wish to convert to a control stick.

jetjok · #2 11-19-2009, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowing

Has anyone ever installed a control yoke in a RV instead of a control stick? I have 31 years flying with yokes and do not wish to convert to a control stick.

Have you ever flown with a stick? I am quite curious about what would cause such an aversion to flying with a stick.
I suppose that it could be done with a T or Y arrangement coupling the two yokes to a single actuator.
The RV has such a nice feel in the stick forces, that it really seems to be a shame to make this mod. However, as many have stated before....build the plane you want, not what someone else wants.

rvbuilder2002 · #3 11-19-2009, 11:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowing

Has anyone ever installed a control yoke in a RV instead of a control stick? I have 31 years flying with yokes and do not wish to convert to a control stick.

For many decades now most pilots have taken all of there training in airplanes with a yolk instead of a stick. With that being the case, the majority of people flying RV's these days made the transition from only knowing how to fly with a yolk, to flying with a stick. If you took a poll I think most people would tell you that the movements are much more natural for making the airplane do what they want it to do. Most people make the transition in only an hour or two. I bet you would too. Give it a try and see what you think.

noelf · #4 11-20-2009, 04:07 AM

...All of my previous flying was done with a yoke. I am right handed, flew the yoke with my left. I had always envisioned flying the stick with my right hand, but my RV-6A is set up in the standard configuration. It took about 1 hour to get completely comfortable with using my left hand on the stick. During that first hour, there were no big issues either, just different.

I have seen pictures of some side x side RV's where the instrument panel was designed with the intent that PIC would be flown from the right seat. This was to put the stick in the PIC's right hand.

pierre smith · #5 11-20-2009, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lowing

Has anyone ever installed a control yoke in a RV instead of a control stick? I have 31 years flying with yokes and do not wish to convert to a control stick.

...to my knowledge,

The best,

jsharkey · #6 11-20-2009, 05:29 AM

I'm a right handed RV6 pilot who learned mainly on Cessnas. For most flying my left forearm rests on my left thigh and I move the stick from just below the grip with my left middle and index finger and thumb. The biggest nuisance is having to raise my hand to press the PTT switch on top of the grip

I'll move my hand further up the stick for take-off and landing.

A yoke might be better for allowing you to put things on you lap but with a top entry RV it would make access harder.

Jim Sharkey
RV6 - Phase 1

flion · #7 11-20-2009, 07:50 AM

I never understood the right/left handed thing. Yoke or not, I fly with both hands. If I need to use the engine controls or adjust the radios (i.e., usually), I'm flying with my left hand on the yoke/stick. But if I need to adjust altimeter, air vent, etc., or my left hand simply needs a rest, I fly with the right hand. And, yes, I am strongly right handed.

As for transitioning to the stick, by the time I had done all the hangar flying before my RV's first flight, it was a total non-issue.

Now, to the downsides of yokes in an RV. More weight because the linkages would have to go from behind the panel down to the floor and back under the seats. Also, much more complexity. Then, you'd have the control system under your feet, so less foot room, and possibly a re-design of the rudder pedals. Too much trouble.

RV8iator · #8 11-20-2009, 07:58 AM

I just took a friend flying a couple days ago that had never flown with a stick and his first comment was how much more natural it seemed to him to use the stick rather than the yolk.
Different strokes I guess.
Besides, yolks look funny in tandem planes

The X-3 Stilletto had a big wheel in it and I actually laughed when I saw it..

N941WR · #9 11-20-2009, 08:00 AM

I think you might risk being voted off the RV island with that question.

Sticks are much more intuitive to fly than yokes, just point the thing where you want to go, and you are there.

If it is the safety thing you are worried about, a good harness w/ sub-strap should make you feel better about that.

Since you grew up with yokes, you are probably very comfortable with flying with your left hand, so that is not an issue.

As for the "transition" to yokes, what's to transition? You are transitioning to a new plane, with different switches, flight characteristics, etc. The stick is just part of it.

Regarding the right hand / left hand thing, I will occasionally fly my RV from the right seat. Not a big deal switching back and forth.

PS. Welcome to the VAF forum!

912ry · #10 11-20-2009, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N941WR

I think you might risk being voted off the RV island with that question.

Sticks are much more intuitive to fly than yokes, just point the thing where you want to go, and you are there.

If it is the safety thing you are worried about, a good harness w/ sub-strap should make you feel better about that.

Since you grew up with yokes, you are probably very comfortable with flying with your left hand, so that is not an issue.

As for the "transition" to yokes, what's to transition? You are transitioning to a new plane, with different switches, flight characteristics, etc. The stick is just part of it.

Regarding the right hand / left hand thing, I will occasionally fly my RV from the right seat. Not a big deal switching back and forth.

PS. Welcome to the VAF forum!

I am pretty sure that this mod would drastically reduce the value of the plane.