What's with the joy sticks?

[Scotch]

Greeting all,
[br]
What's with the joy sticks in real aircraft these days?  I notices that the Airbus A380 and the new Adam Aircraft's Carbonaero (picture) has joy sticks instead of a yoke.  Is this a new trend? Does that mean that the pilot will set in the right seat like in a helo?

Kevin "Scotch" McGlothlin
Denver
[br]

[Craig.]

its just airbuses way of design really,and as you stated a couple of others since its all fly by wire theres no need for anything bigger, although i still like the yoke personally, no reason to change seats though

[Mr. Bones]

the captain remains in the left seat! i know airbus pilots who like the joytick alot...they now have a small table and tons of space. others claim the yokes are more classic, nostalgic and for some they give a better feeling during flying. personally i wouldn't care if i was a pilot, as long as i can fly, doesn't matter if it's a stick or a yoke.  ;)

[Fozzer]

Joysticks...
The thought of having a joystick between my legs* always makes my eyes water with the thought of a sudden stop, with my seat belt a little bit on the slack side... ...!
I bet there are a lot of fighter pilots out there with high pitched voices... ...!

LOL...!

Paul,

*the long, wriggly thing, with a button on the end...
..now I am confused... ...!
LOL...!

[OTTOL]

......now THIS  is the point where the thread goes COMPLETELY off topic. Hey Paul, I'm guessing you have been riding bikes for quite some time. Have you ever noticed that most crashed bikes have a dent in the gas tank(trans./ Petrol tank  :D ), in close proximity to the groin area. Around certain circles, here in the States, we call this the "telltale PEn1$ print". It's a sign that you were really excited about riding at the point that you crashed. .......all in bad good humor of course.  :-[

Pat

[Scotch]

I just rememberd the F-16's stick is to the right of the pilot and the throttol on the left but the F-18's is still in between the legs. Helo pilots set right seat so they don't have to take their hand off the cyclic to acess radio's etc. But that is a whole diffrent world of flying than General aviation or a bird as big as an air bus.

I would not mind flying with a stick but only in my right hand. It's the way I have been simming for years and would not like to have to re-train my brain to use my left hand. Personaly, should the Gods ever grant me a lottery winning I'd stick with a yoke... Pun inteneded.

Scotch

[Hagar]

So then you experts. Why is it called a joystick?

I have fond memories of working at the flying club. As a young innocent lad of 17 it was one of my jobs to strap passengers into the aircraft. Many club members used to bring their girlfriends for a trip in our Tiger Moths at weekends. Just as the girls were about to sit down in the front seat the pilot would haul the stick back with the inevitable results. Squeals of delight & lots of laughter with my eyes popping out on stalks.
I then had to remove the joystick from the front cockpit, between their legs. This was a club rule. Happy days.

[Meinas]

I think it will feel weird flying with a joystick in my left hand, Im somewhat coordinated with the lefty but I wouldnt feel safe doing an approach

[Hagar]

I think it will feel weird flying with a joystick in my left hand, Im somewhat coordinated with the lefty but I wouldnt feel safe doing an approach

"Practice makes perfect" as the old adage goes.

[loomex]

Greeting all,
[br]
What's with the joy sticks in real aircraft these days?  I notices that the Airbus A380 and the new Adam Aircraft's Carbonaero (picture) has joy sticks instead of a yoke.  Is this a new trend? Does that mean that the pilot will set in the right seat like in a helo?

Kevin "Scotch" McGlothlin
Denver
[br]

This is a no-brainer guys! Over 90% of the new up and coming pilots played video games as kids, and what did they use? Thats right, a joystick!!

[Travis]

Well, ever since I got my M$ Yoke and Pedals (last Christmas) I have been using them almost exclusively, except when I fly aircraft that actually have the stick.  Then I use my FF stick.  And it has made a difference!  I can now switch between the two with no trouble, even in midflight.

I might add that doing approaches left-handed on a stick is a cinch after about the third try.  Your body remembers the motions, but it does feel kinda strange.

[Craig.]

whys it any differant to using the Yoke with your left hand? its just to the side thats all.

[Hagar]

Bear in mind that the joysticks on the Airbus & similar fly-by-wire aircraft are shaped to fit whichever hand you use them with. As Craig points out, this would be similar to using a yoke with either hand. I imagine the position of the throttle control on the average gaming joystick would make it more difficult than on the real aircraft.

[Politically Incorrect]

I flew the new Diamond Star and it has joysticks. And I was amazed at how quick I got used to it after flying with a yoke!
It was allot more comfortable and your arms are in a more comfortable position.
I think the fact that i fly the sim with a stick made it a easier transition. In the Star the joystick is between your legs (for some of us it doesn't matter what your in it is between your legs:) )
I don't know how  i could fly with my left hand?
My force feedback like everyone else's is made for right handed use, so it is real uncomfortable flying left handed, but I try because I want to be able to fly either way because you never know when the time might come and your offered a chance to fly another plane!!
And I never refuse to fly!!!!!!!

[Hagar]

I've had this argument with left-handers in the past & will most likely do so again. Maybe OTTOL will confirm it but I never heard a pilot complain about the position of the controls on an aircraft. I worked for a flying school for 2 years & the fact that a pupil was left or right handed never occurred to me & I don't remember the subject cropping up.

The joysticks on most WWII RAF fighters had a "spade grip" which could be held comfortably with either hand. This was important on aircraft like the Spitfire where the pilot had to change hands on the stick just after taking off in order to raise the gear.