Simviation Forums

You see most people are are right-handed, But I was wondering, for example the Airbus, the Capt has to be left handed, as the flight stick is on the left hand side. Where the first officer's flight stick is on the right hand side. Does that me that in real aviation world, he Capt has to be trained to be a LEFT-HANDED to handled the flight stick?

So, when we fly in FS2004/FS9, we assume that we are the Capt, so do you guys fly with your left hand or right hand??

Cheers...

makes no difference which side you sit on or which hand you use. Pilot's are great learners ... and in white knuckle situations you grab the sucker with both hands!!
papa-metro usaf 1953-57

Interesting. I've pointed this out to left-handers before. I worked at a flying club for a couple of years & the question of whether a pupil was left or right-handed never cropped up. Aircraft controls are generally laid out to be flown "right-handed" so they had to fly holding the joystick with their right hand. I don't remember anyone complaining & had no way of knowing if pupils or experienced pilots were lefties or righties. As you say, the latest fly-by-wire airliners like the Airbus have the captain's stick on the left-hand side. Logically, if you wish it to be "As real as it gets" you would do the same in the sim.

Hmmmmm a F16 flight stick is at the right hand side! haha.... I tried using left hand, hmmmm not so use to it! hahah but if I have a chance to be a real Airbus Pilot, I wouldn't mind staying as the first officer!! hahah.

I spoke to an Airbus A330 FO about this subject and he says that after a couple of hours you get used to flying the plane with the "other hand"
It's just like a regular yoke if you think about it. On the approach/climb  you use one hand to steer the aircraft and the other hand is on the throttle

Nexus is right. It takes just a few minutes to get used to a left hand stick. Just like changing from right hand drive in a car with a stick shift really. Unfortunately, all Flight Sim sticks appear to be made emulating a fighter stick which is either between the knees or on the right side. Hard to use a stick like that with the left hand, sort of like wearing your shoes on the wrong feet. Can be done but it's uncomfortable. I do use my Saitek X45 by swapping over the hotas and stick, but the throttle then becomes hard to use. Maybe soon one of the manufacturers will make an ambidexterous stick.

Yeah, think about a smaller aircraft, the Captain uses his left hand on the yoke and right for the throttles and the FO uses his right hand on the yoke and left for the throttles.  It is like that on all two crew aircraft.  Cheers!

Don't bother getting a lefty stick, you'll increase your dexterity in your right hand if you just use it more often.

This is the same question that I had about 2 months ago when I started school for my private pilots. I fly a Cessna -172 and sit on the left side of the aircraft. If you look at the virtual cockpit of the 172 it is very close to the real thing. The throttle, carb heat, mixture are on the right side. As well as the fuel selectoer valve is also on the right side floor. The radio and transponder are on the right center. Cabin heat is on the far right side. I have been taught that you fly with your LEFT hand. Beacause in the real aircraft when you are flying, your right hand will rest on your leg so that your finger can lay up against the throttle. Throttle locks work but if you have it too tight you can't use it in case of an emergency. I have my student permit and have been  doing my circuits for the last 5 hours or so. Getting ready for my cross country flight. If I forget to keep my hand on the throttle it is the first thing my FS will remind me. ESPECIALLY durring landing or take-off. I NEVER take my hand off the throttle. OH, by the way, I am right handed. It took all but about 2 hours of flying to get used to using my left hand. Especially durring those spin and spiral recouveries. Boy, you havn't been an a roller coaster until you are spinning around looking out straight at the ground. he he he.........my first time I had the bag out but DIDN'T use it

Along the lines of what flightmedic said, basically, in smaller props where one person is meant to fly the plane you sit in the left seat, use your left hand on the yoke, and your right on the throttle.  I found I had no problem using my left hand to fly, even though I am a righty.

[quote]Along the lines of what flightmedic said, basically, in smaller props where one person is meant to fly the plane you sit in the left seat, use your left hand on the yoke, and your right on the throttle.

I trained in a Cessna with a yoke too. Didn't have any difficulty being right handed and using my left for the yoke. Of course I was ambidextrous until about fourth grade so that might have had something to do with it. I also learned to drive with a stick and have driven farm trucks most of my life.

For someone who hasn't had a lot of experience with controlling a vehicle with their left hand it might give them some difficulty. In RW aviation however there is a lot of switching around to do so most pilots have had a range of experience.

Silly me. I forgot that everything has changed since my day. Training used to be done in tandem cockpits with a proper joystick, not side-by-side with a yoke as it is now. The throttle is usually on the left-hand side in single-seat cockpits & you hold the stick in the right hand.

Not that it matters. You have to learn to fly it how it is cos you can't change it.

This is the way man was made to fly.................buzzing around the skywith your underwear on fire in a spit!!!!!

One day I will make this dream come true

hmmmmmm.... .....where did CFS 3 go.........hehe

Learn to use both, then you can't be caught out when use lose your hand mid flight...

And if you ever want to fly a Spitfire you'll need to be able to as well....

Maybe soon one of the manufacturers will make an ambidexterous stick.

I had a Cyborg Graphite stick that could be set up for left or right handed. it was pretty cool, but I dismanteled it to make rudder pedals. the only draw back it had was it didnt have force feedback.