fatboy
Member
Hello RVers,
I wanted to try and get a wide open dialogue going here regarding all things "Throttle Quadrant" and "Flight Control". I have had quite a bit of success with my FatBoy grips (think slightly modified AR15 rifles and you'll get the picture or visit the site -- www.fatboythrottlequadrants.com), and as we go into a new year we are currently working on some design changes/additions based on customer suggestions.
I have had recent conversations with various airline/career, military and GA pilots and switches are invariably a hot topic. So I wanted to try and get some feedback before we commit to new grip and switch offerings.
We are looking at providing more of a selection regarding switching. Does anyone have any personal thoughts/perspective on toggle (double and single pole) and/or 4way mini trim hats, as well as momentary on push buttons? I'd like to find out folks' ideas regarding the following. I'd really appreciate a "have your cake and eat it too" dialogue here. If you really could have anything and everything in a throttle and flight control grip, especially as it relates to your home built project (not to an F-18 fighter jet, although that would be nice) what would it be? ::
1. If you don't already have a quadrant or grip picked out for flight controls and quadrants, what are you looking for in general?
2. What type of electronics would you like to see in a throttle quadrant vs. a flight control grip?
3. Toggle switch: one or two circuits, type of toggle (concave button, standard, convex button), 2, 3, 4 toggles, any other specifications
4. 4way hat switch: where on a grip should this go? what should it be used for? Put it on the flight control stick, both throttle and stick, 2 on the stick and 2 on the throttle, no thanks, none for me?
5. What switch functionality should be left on the flight control grip vs. throttle control grip?
6. Type, number and location of push buttons (momentary on, push on) and position on the throttle/flight grip.
7. Push to talk button -- the ex-fighter jocks are quite religious about this being on the throttle grip. Any other ideas?
8. Centermounts! -- We are currently mounting the throttle grip with a fairly low profile, almost parallel with the quadrant top which gives as much panel clearance and visibility as possible. Any ideas here on electronics as well as placement? I heard from David Shelton (RV10 group) on another thread a good point: how to make the grip symmetrical so that both left and right pilots can use it and have the finger knurls feel the same.
Answer all these questions and I personally guarantee you a white Christmas. Well, if you have any other ideas or suggestions, they are greatly appreciated. This is an area that I think is long overdue for an overhaul of sorts.
Thanks very much for your time, and Happy Holidays to everyone --
Andy
I wanted to try and get a wide open dialogue going here regarding all things "Throttle Quadrant" and "Flight Control". I have had quite a bit of success with my FatBoy grips (think slightly modified AR15 rifles and you'll get the picture or visit the site -- www.fatboythrottlequadrants.com), and as we go into a new year we are currently working on some design changes/additions based on customer suggestions.
I have had recent conversations with various airline/career, military and GA pilots and switches are invariably a hot topic. So I wanted to try and get some feedback before we commit to new grip and switch offerings.
We are looking at providing more of a selection regarding switching. Does anyone have any personal thoughts/perspective on toggle (double and single pole) and/or 4way mini trim hats, as well as momentary on push buttons? I'd like to find out folks' ideas regarding the following. I'd really appreciate a "have your cake and eat it too" dialogue here. If you really could have anything and everything in a throttle and flight control grip, especially as it relates to your home built project (not to an F-18 fighter jet, although that would be nice) what would it be? ::
1. If you don't already have a quadrant or grip picked out for flight controls and quadrants, what are you looking for in general?
2. What type of electronics would you like to see in a throttle quadrant vs. a flight control grip?
3. Toggle switch: one or two circuits, type of toggle (concave button, standard, convex button), 2, 3, 4 toggles, any other specifications
4. 4way hat switch: where on a grip should this go? what should it be used for? Put it on the flight control stick, both throttle and stick, 2 on the stick and 2 on the throttle, no thanks, none for me?
5. What switch functionality should be left on the flight control grip vs. throttle control grip?
6. Type, number and location of push buttons (momentary on, push on) and position on the throttle/flight grip.
7. Push to talk button -- the ex-fighter jocks are quite religious about this being on the throttle grip. Any other ideas?
8. Centermounts! -- We are currently mounting the throttle grip with a fairly low profile, almost parallel with the quadrant top which gives as much panel clearance and visibility as possible. Any ideas here on electronics as well as placement? I heard from David Shelton (RV10 group) on another thread a good point: how to make the grip symmetrical so that both left and right pilots can use it and have the finger knurls feel the same.
Answer all these questions and I personally guarantee you a white Christmas. Well, if you have any other ideas or suggestions, they are greatly appreciated. This is an area that I think is long overdue for an overhaul of sorts.
Thanks very much for your time, and Happy Holidays to everyone --
Andy