Francois,

I just got my very own G207 from the UPS man yesterday. $112 delivered to
my doorstep directly from the manufacturer with the 2 non-standard switches
installed.

My speed brake will be controlled by an on-off-on switch and I will have a
deployment light on the instrument panel.. If I should happen to
accidentally bump the switch I would have an idiot light come on in front of
my face and I suspect I will fell that 13" x 15" hanging out in the breeze
http://www.fly-raptor.org/~jeff/Latest.htm My reflexor will be controlled
by a (on)-off-(on) switch and a accidental momentary activation would have
little or no effect.

As far as your nightmare goes.....(I am an Aviation Safety Officer by
profession) most fixed wing accidents happen within a mile of so of the
airport, most during take-off or landing. When you are within a few miles
of the airport you attention has to be on flying the airplane. At this
point of your flight the cockpit should be a sterile environment and all
activities should be limited to what it takes to safely operate the
airplane. Your scenario is not very likely with the Ray Allen stick grip.
If you are flying the plane, you would have to want to activate one of the 2
special switches. They are not located in a position where your thumb would
naturally be located.

Jeff




"Francois Marquis" wrote in message
...
Jeff,

Thanks for the info. This is literally what i'd call *first hand*
information!

But as you mentioned, if the stick is incident prone (like inadvertently
droping a map on it, for exemple) I'd, for my part, would be reluctant
to have speed brakes, or anything other than system related switches on
that stick, unless there was a safety device to prevent accidental
activation. I'd nightmired myself accidently activating speed brakes
while *fighting* in a xwind flare in gusty winds...

But I guess that flying Helios have a different human interface than
fixed wing. You have both hands tied, so to say, so all is left are
your fingers!

Francois

Jeff wrote:
Francois,

IMO there is nothing wrong with multiple switches on a control stick as
long
as they are done properly. You would not want to have a 1" long switch
hanging out the side of a control stick that is very prone to accidental
activation. I fly OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopter in the Army and our
co-pilot cyclic stick has about 10 switches to control a wide variety of
systems.. The pilot cyclic stick has a few less, but they still more
than
the maximum number on a Ray Allen stick.

I have flown briefly with the exact stick grip you are talking about.
It
was very comfortable....in fact I ordered one last week for my plane
directly from the manufacturer. Go to
http://www.rayallencompany.com/index.html and you will find all the
details.
I ordered the G207 and opted for switch #3 and #5 to be used in place of
the
extra 2 push-button switches found on the 207. I will use the 4 small
push
button switches for elevator and aileron trim. The #3 switch will be
used
to operate my speed brake and the #5 switch will control my reflexor.

Included with the control are some really nice labels so you can
identify
the switch functions. The stick can be mounted on a 3/4", 7/8", or 1"
tube.
The real advantage of directly ordering from Ray Allen is you can
specify 4
different types of switches that will be used for those 2 extra switches
on
the G207.

Jeff
Dragonfly N1277W - http://fly-raptor.org/~jeff/
Tandem Wing Fly-In web site - http://www.fidnet.com/~letempt/


"Francois Marquis" wrote in message
...

A agree too. My intented usage is:
PTT, of course,
Aileron trim (my pitch trim is mechanical)
AutoPilot Engage/Disengage
Argus Moving map select/Info modes
Approach timer (although this is not absolutely necessary there)

It is hard to imagine that someone would put the starter and other
things on the baseball bat as stated in another post.

Here's what I am talking about, particularely the model G7:
http://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalo...stickgrips.php

Francois

Ed Wischmeyer wrote:

Has anyone got an appreciation of the RAC (formerly Menzimer Aircraft
Corporation) stick grips? I am particularely interested in the
multiple
switch model.


Don't know which one that is, but there's a lot of very bad human
factors that goes into stick grips with lots of switches.

Attributes of things you want on the switch:
* You use 'em a lot
* You need 'em in a hurry
* If you push 'em by mistake, no big deal

A disadvantage of things on the stick is that they're usually not
labeled, and if they are, you may have to remove your hand to [try to]
read the label.

Best examples of things that may belong on the stick are electric trim
and push to talk.

Things you should *not* have on the stick are starter, flaps, and cowl
flaps. Some folks do that, but...

Ed Wischmeyer