Left handed GIII

[Greg Siemon]

I have owned a Glasair III in the past and look back in that as the most fun
flying ever. I sold that and got a T210 in the hope that my wife would join
me in my passion. Well that didn't happen so I've sold the T210 and now on
the hunt for a replacement GIII. I've found one that looks nice but has the
throttle controls on the left, fighter pilot style. This seems awkward to
me. Does anybody have any experience with this configuration? Seems that
you would be switching back and forth on the stick to operate the throttles
and the radios. Any input would be appreciated.



Greg

[Bill Daniels]

I've done it both ways and it's NBD. Switching hands on the stick gets
routine fast.

Just a thought, many radios have the option of stick mounted remote
controls. You get one of those fancy stick grips with lots of buttons - one
of which steps through the frequency memory.

Bill D

"Greg Siemon" > wrote in message
...
>I have owned a Glasair III in the past and look back in that as the most
>fun flying ever. I sold that and got a T210 in the hope that my wife would
>join me in my passion. Well that didn't happen so I've sold the T210 and
>now on the hunt for a replacement GIII. I've found one that looks nice but
>has the throttle controls on the left, fighter pilot style. This seems
>awkward to me. Does anybody have any experience with this configuration?
>Seems that you would be switching back and forth on the stick to operate
>the throttles and the radios. Any input would be appreciated.
>
>
>
> Greg
>
>

[Jay Maynard]

On 2008-05-29, Greg Siemon > wrote:
> Does anybody have any experience with this configuration? Seems that you
> would be switching back and forth on the stick to operate the throttles
> and the radios. Any input would be appreciated.

I've been wondering about this ever since taking my first flight in a
Zodiac. I've always heard that the correct way was to fly with your right
hand on the stick and the left on the throttle, but the Zodiac I flew had
the throttle in the center. This seemed natural to my 172-trained reflexes;
I'd never flown an aircraft with a stick before, so I didn't know any
better.

N55ZC will have^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hhas (they've built it that far; it goes
into the paint shop Friday) dual throttles, so I can use either hand. It
still seems to me that using the left hand on the stick and the right on the
throttle would work better, since the right hand can move to the other
things in the aircraft that need adjusting more easily than swapping hands
on the stick. Is there a reason that aircraft with a stick are
conventionally flown with the right hand aside from just having the controls
laid out that way?
--
Jay Maynard, K5ZC http://www.conmicro.com
http://jmaynard.livejournal.com http://www.tronguy.net
Fairmont, MN (FRM) (Yes, that's me!)
AMD Zodiac CH601XLi N55ZC (ordered 17 March, delivery 10 June)

[Ed Sullivan]

On Thu, 29 May 2008 01:32:55 GMT, Jay Maynard
> wrote:

>On 2008-05-29, Greg Siemon > wrote:
>> Does anybody have any experience with this configuration? Seems that you
>> would be switching back and forth on the stick to operate the throttles
>> and the radios. Any input would be appreciated.
>
>I've been wondering about this ever since taking my first flight in a
>Zodiac. I've always heard that the correct way was to fly with your right
>hand on the stick and the left on the throttle, but the Zodiac I flew had
>the throttle in the center. This seemed natural to my 172-trained reflexes;
>I'd never flown an aircraft with a stick before, so I didn't know any
>better.
>
>N55ZC will have^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hhas (they've built it that far; it goes
>into the paint shop Friday) dual throttles, so I can use either hand. It
>still seems to me that using the left hand on the stick and the right on the
>throttle would work better, since the right hand can move to the other
>things in the aircraft that need adjusting more easily than swapping hands
>on the stick. Is there a reason that aircraft with a stick are
>conventionally flown with the right hand aside from just having the controls
>laid out that way?

Most early aircraft particularly the open cockpit biplanes and the
like had the throttle quadrant on the left, there were notable
exceptions mostly side by side types. Working the radios was rather
acedemic early on. It has been my experience that one adapts rather
quickly to whatever configuration he is faced with.
A lot of the posts on this newsgroup sound as if aviation started ten
years ago. In fact the experimental movement started more than 60
years ago and was simply that. Many forms of construction and
materials were tried some successful some not so. To criticize Rutan
for his experiments is pretty naive. The first time I went to Oshkosh
the sky was filled with his designs and most of those who built them
enjoyed them. The mostly built kits so evident today weren't around so
you worked frequently only from plans and had to track down all the
components on your own and learn a bunch in the process. It would
behoove many of you to look at some early Sport Aviations to see where
we came from.

Ed Sullivan, aged curmudgeon

[Stealth Pilot[_2_]]

On Wed, 28 May 2008 23:16:49 -0700, Ed Sullivan
> wrote:


>>on the stick. Is there a reason that aircraft with a stick are
>>conventionally flown with the right hand aside from just having the controls
>>laid out that way?
>

why do you think that they are conventionally flown right handed?

I fly my tailwind left handed with cessna style controls in the
centre. (it has a Y stick not the original T handle)

Fly your aeroplane left handed. the benefits to your brain
organisation are subtle but they are benefits.

Stealth Pilot

[BobR]

Ed Sullivan wrote:
> On Thu, 29 May 2008 01:32:55 GMT, Jay Maynard
> > wrote:
>
> >On 2008-05-29, Greg Siemon > wrote:
> >> Does anybody have any experience with this configuration? Seems that you
> >> would be switching back and forth on the stick to operate the throttles
> >> and the radios. Any input would be appreciated.
> >
> >I've been wondering about this ever since taking my first flight in a
> >Zodiac. I've always heard that the correct way was to fly with your right
> >hand on the stick and the left on the throttle, but the Zodiac I flew had
> >the throttle in the center. This seemed natural to my 172-trained reflexes;
> >I'd never flown an aircraft with a stick before, so I didn't know any
> >better.
> >
> >N55ZC will have^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hhas (they've built it that far; it goes
> >into the paint shop Friday) dual throttles, so I can use either hand. It
> >still seems to me that using the left hand on the stick and the right on the
> >throttle would work better, since the right hand can move to the other
> >things in the aircraft that need adjusting more easily than swapping hands
> >on the stick. Is there a reason that aircraft with a stick are
> >conventionally flown with the right hand aside from just having the controls
> >laid out that way?
>
> Most early aircraft particularly the open cockpit biplanes and the
> like had the throttle quadrant on the left, there were notable
> exceptions mostly side by side types. Working the radios was rather
> acedemic early on. It has been my experience that one adapts rather
> quickly to whatever configuration he is faced with.
> A lot of the posts on this newsgroup sound as if aviation started ten
> years ago. In fact the experimental movement started more than 60
> years ago and was simply that. Many forms of construction and
> materials were tried some successful some not so. To criticize Rutan
> for his experiments is pretty naive. The first time I went to Oshkosh
> the sky was filled with his designs and most of those who built them
> enjoyed them. The mostly built kits so evident today weren't around so
> you worked frequently only from plans and had to track down all the
> components on your own and learn a bunch in the process. It would
> behoove many of you to look at some early Sport Aviations to see where
> we came from.
>
> Ed Sullivan, aged curmudgeon

Thanks Ed, that was very well said.

[Orval Fairbairn[_2_]]

In article >,
Ed Sullivan > wrote:

> On Thu, 29 May 2008 01:32:55 GMT, Jay Maynard
> > wrote:
>
> >On 2008-05-29, Greg Siemon > wrote:
> >> Does anybody have any experience with this configuration? Seems that you
> >> would be switching back and forth on the stick to operate the throttles
> >> and the radios. Any input would be appreciated.
> >
> >I've been wondering about this ever since taking my first flight in a
> >Zodiac. I've always heard that the correct way was to fly with your right
> >hand on the stick and the left on the throttle, but the Zodiac I flew had
> >the throttle in the center. This seemed natural to my 172-trained reflexes;
> >I'd never flown an aircraft with a stick before, so I didn't know any
> >better.
> >
> >N55ZC will have^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^H^Hhas (they've built it that far; it goes
> >into the paint shop Friday) dual throttles, so I can use either hand. It
> >still seems to me that using the left hand on the stick and the right on the
> >throttle would work better, since the right hand can move to the other
> >things in the aircraft that need adjusting more easily than swapping hands
> >on the stick. Is there a reason that aircraft with a stick are
> >conventionally flown with the right hand aside from just having the controls
> >laid out that way?
>
> Most early aircraft particularly the open cockpit biplanes and the
> like had the throttle quadrant on the left, there were notable
> exceptions mostly side by side types. Working the radios was rather
> acedemic early on. It has been my experience that one adapts rather
> quickly to whatever configuration he is faced with.
> A lot of the posts on this newsgroup sound as if aviation started ten
> years ago. In fact the experimental movement started more than 60
> years ago and was simply that. Many forms of construction and
> materials were tried some successful some not so. To criticize Rutan
> for his experiments is pretty naive. The first time I went to Oshkosh
> the sky was filled with his designs and most of those who built them
> enjoyed them. The mostly built kits so evident today weren't around so
> you worked frequently only from plans and had to track down all the
> components on your own and learn a bunch in the process. It would
> behoove many of you to look at some early Sport Aviations to see where
> we came from.
>

My Johnson Rocket 185 has sticks, with the throttle in the center. I fly
it with left hand on the stick, throttle in the right. It is not a
problem, as the airplane is a "fingertip/toetip" plane. I have had no
problem switching to a conventional right stick/left throttle
arrangement.

Some of the local side-by-side guys (Marchetti SF-260, SX-300) fly from
the right seat.

It really is no big deal.

--
Remove _'s from email address to talk to me.

[Rich S.[_1_]]

On 2008-05-29, Greg Siemon > wrote:
> Does anybody have any experience with this configuration? Seems that you
> would be switching back and forth on the stick to operate the throttles
> and the radios. Any input would be appreciated.

Ever notice that your instructor (given a side-by-side configuration) is
able to fly either side? After a short period of adjustment, you get used to
flying with either hand on the stick (wheel). The key, as always, is to be
ahead of your aircraft. You shouldn't be so far behind that you need to fly
by knee-jerk reaction - but by well thought-out actions. Even a fighter
pilot's brain is working on the next move.

Rich S.

[Jerry Springer]

Rich S. wrote:

> On 2008-05-29, Greg Siemon > wrote:
>
>>Does anybody have any experience with this configuration? Seems that you
>>would be switching back and forth on the stick to operate the throttles
>>and the radios. Any input would be appreciated.
>
>
> Ever notice that your instructor (given a side-by-side configuration) is
> able to fly either side? After a short period of adjustment, you get used to
> flying with either hand on the stick (wheel). The key, as always, is to be
> ahead of your aircraft. You shouldn't be so far behind that you need to fly
> by knee-jerk reaction - but by well thought-out actions. Even a fighter
> pilot's brain is working on the next move.
>
> Rich S.
>
>

Just going to say that Richard, as an instructor I fly both sides and do
not find it a problem either way. I am left handed and fly my RV-6
with left hand but if I get into a RV-8 or equivalent that has throttle
on left side it still seems natural to fly with right hand on control
stick. As others have said it only takes a few minutes to get used to
either way.

Jerry

[Bill Daniels]

"Jerry Springer" > wrote in message
news:MFI%j.4150$QW.2340@trndny04...
> Rich S. wrote:
>
>> On 2008-05-29, Greg Siemon > wrote:
>>
>>>Does anybody have any experience with this configuration? Seems that you
>>>would be switching back and forth on the stick to operate the throttles
>>>and the radios. Any input would be appreciated.
>>
>>
>> Ever notice that your instructor (given a side-by-side configuration) is
>> able to fly either side? After a short period of adjustment, you get used
>> to flying with either hand on the stick (wheel). The key, as always, is
>> to be ahead of your aircraft. You shouldn't be so far behind that you
>> need to fly by knee-jerk reaction - but by well thought-out actions. Even
>> a fighter pilot's brain is working on the next move.
>>
>> Rich S.
>>
>>
>
> Just going to say that Richard, as an instructor I fly both sides and do
> not find it a problem either way. I am left handed and fly my RV-6
> with left hand but if I get into a RV-8 or equivalent that has throttle on
> left side it still seems natural to fly with right hand on control stick.
> As others have said it only takes a few minutes to get used to either way.
>
> Jerry

I sometimes do instruction in gliders for airplane pilots seeking a glider
rating. Gliders have sticks with the spoiler/flaps/trim/rope release on the
left. Transition pilots have to learn formation flying in order to follow
the tow plane - flying with their right hand so the rope release is handy
with their left.

This seems to give some people trouble. It took a while for CFI-glider
types to figure out that part of the problem was that many transition pilots
were not used to flying with their right hand - especially in a demanding
situation like aero tow. It takes a bit longer than most expect but they
eventually get it.

Bill D