Control Question

[Shadowcaster]

Morning all

Hope everyone had a good Christmas. OK the question, why in FSX and real aircraft do the controls differ. Most single seat machines like Fighters, Tandem Trainers and the like have joystick/aileron control on the right hand and throttle on the left. Yet big airliners, transport craft and side by side light aircraft the skipper/captain have throttle control on the right. Is there some logical reason for this or has it been lost in the depths of time.

Cheers
Rich

[Souichiro]

Perhaps it is that with the controls on the right side of the captain, the co-pilot can also reach them thus eliminating the need of duplicating every control system on the aircraft. Also i'f I'm not mistaken, on elderly aircraft isn't it the co-pilots job to manage throttle input while the pilot keeps busy maneuvring the plane?

[Hagar]

I suspect you're left-handed. Even today, the majority of people are right-handed & it's more comfortable to hold the control stick in the right hand with the throttle on the left. On dual-controlled aircraft with side-by-side seating it's practical to have the engine controls mounted on a central console for use by both pilots. As the PIC usually sits in the left-hand seat this means flying the aircraft "left-handed".

There are exceptions to this. From observation most helicopters are flown from the right-hand seat. The RAF Tutor basic trainer has side-by-side seating but is flown solo from the right seat.

I know when I used to fly RC Heli's that I had cyclic on the right and rudder/throttle/collective on the left others however  flew a different mode.

I wouldn't know about helicopters but I have a lot of experience with fixed-wing R/C models of all types. It might be more natural for left-handers to use a different TX mode or find a left-handed joystick for use in FS but my advice would be to learn to use the standard set-up if possible. This will be a great help if you ever wish to learn to fly "for real". They don't make left or right-handed aircraft or cars for that matter. You have to manage with what you've got.

[olderndirt]

Then you have the Airbuses with their sidesticks.

[Hagar]

[quote] Seems like it's all about sharing.

[Spitfire_Ace]

Most single seat machines like Fighters, Tandem Trainers and the like have joystick/aileron control on the right hand and throttle on the left.

The reason fighters have a joystick type control is that you do not have to have use both hands to control the movement of the aircraft. Which leaves the other hand for the throttle and weapon systems. It also makes it easier to control the aircraft at very high speeds, where there are a lot of G's acting upon your body, because you don't have to make such big movements to steer the aircraft.  I learned all this from my uncle who is in the  USAF and flies a fighter jet.

[Shadowcaster]

Some interesting observations here chaps, I am right handed and prefer throttle left. Perhaps when I can afford a yoke/pedal system I might change my mind, but it still strikes me as odd to have two different layouts depending on the aircraft.

[Hagar]

Some interesting observations here chaps,

It's an interesting subject. There have been some very unusual control layouts over the years. The throttle levers on French & some Eastern European aircraft worked in the opposite direction from what we think of as normal until well after the end of WWII. Pull back for more power. Very confusing what!!

I am right handed and prefer throttle left.

Ah, so I was wrong. Sorry.

Perhaps when I can afford a yoke/pedal system I might change my mind, but it still strikes me as odd to have two different layouts depending on the aircraft.

That would depend on the type of aircraft you intend flying. Pedals are fine but there's no sense in spending out on a yoke for single-seaters with a typical stick & rudder layout. In my opinion of course.

PS. Perhaps I'm biased but I never liked yokes on light aircraft.

[Splinter562]

In addition the the seating configuration issues discussed above, there are good reasons for various control style choices.

A yoke (rotating control wheel), offers light aileron control force but is not very good for large, rapid control inputs. That's why you typically see it on older airliners and most light GA.

A center stick is much better for large, rapid control inputs. The stick is mounted in the center because it puts your arm in a position where you can roll left just as well as right. That is why you typically see it on older fighter jets and light aerobatic airplanes.

A side stick is similar to a center stick, but it has the advantage of being out of the way (good for airliners) and in a position where you can put your forearm on an armrest (good for fighters pulling Gs). The problem is that it puts your arm in a very poor position for making large-force roll inputs. You can pull the stick to the inside easily but it is very difficult to push the stick to the outside. So the left-seat pilot can roll right easily but has a difficult time rolling left. So this is a poor choice if your airplane has high roll forces. Fortunately, fly-by-wire gets rid of control forces and your inputs to the stick are made with wrist motion instead of arm motion. This takes care of the roll issue and makes the side stick a good choice. This is why you see it on modern airliners and modern fighters.

[SaultFresh]

I can't say I'm a fan of the yoke. It kind of promotes the use of two hands, in my opinion.

[C]

I can't say I'm a fan of the yoke. It kind of promotes the use of two hands, in my opinion.

Some aircraft, you need two hands!