Why are the yokes always turned?

Why does it seem that the control yokes of small aircraft are always
turned completely to one side or the other in photographs? Is there
some sort of convention about doing this? A safety reason? Why is it
so common?

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"Mxsmanic" wrote in message
...
Why does it seem that the control yokes of small aircraft are always
turned completely to one side or the other in photographs? Is there
some sort of convention about doing this? A safety reason? Why is it
so common?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

If it is during taxi operations... It is so that the wind doesn't get under
the wing and flip the plane over... Basically "Quartering headwind, turn
into it, quartering tailwind, turn away from it and elevator forward."

There is a standard practice of looping the pilot's seatbelt through
the yoke and latching it on non-cessna aircraft (or any plane that does
not have a built-in controll locking mechanism), this pulls the yoke
all the way back and over, and might be what you're describing.

It actually isn't the best practice, its hard on the yoke... There are
several after-market control locks for airplanes that don't have them
built in, but they can be hard to find.

A Control lock is a device which holds the controls of the aircraft so
they do not bang around if winds gusts. The practice above is
essentially using the seatbelt to do the same thing.

Cessna's have a hole in the pilot's side yoke shaft in which you put a
peg that bends around and covers the magneto switch (so you can't
accidentally start with the control lock in place). Its a very simple,
functional system... not sure why other aircraft makers didn't use it
too (I'm sure other AC makers use other systems as well I dont' know
about).


Mxsmanic wrote:
Why does it seem that the control yokes of small aircraft are always
turned completely to one side or the other in photographs? Is there
some sort of convention about doing this? A safety reason? Why is it
so common?

--
Transpose mxsmanic and gmail to reach me by e-mail.

On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 07:03:12 +0200, Mxsmanic wrote:

Why does it seem that the control yokes of small aircraft are always
turned completely to one side or the other in photographs? Is there
some sort of convention about doing this? A safety reason? Why is it
so common?

I've never seen this. Can you post a link to some examples?

Ron Wanttaja

Wade Hasbrouck writes:

If it is during taxi operations... It is so that the wind doesn't get under
the wing and flip the plane over... Basically "Quartering headwind, turn
into it, quartering tailwind, turn away from it and elevator forward."

OK. I neglected to mention that the photos I've seen were normally of
aircraft that were parked. I'll make a note of the adjustments for
taxi.

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Often the ailerons are connect to the rudder with a bungee.
The rudder is connected to the nose wheel steering. Ergo.


"Ron Wanttaja" wrote in message
...
| On Mon, 16 Oct 2006 07:03:12 +0200, Mxsmanic
wrote:
|
| Why does it seem that the control yokes of small
aircraft are always
| turned completely to one side or the other in
photographs? Is there
| some sort of convention about doing this? A safety
reason? Why is it
| so common?
|
| I've never seen this. Can you post a link to some
examples?
|
| Ron Wanttaja

Mxsmanic wrote:
Why does it seem that the control yokes of small aircraft are always
turned completely to one side or the other in photographs? Is there
some sort of convention about doing this? A safety reason? Why is it
so common?

Without any airflow over the ailerons, it's kind of hard to hold
them in the center. As soon as the control flops over to one
side or the other, it tends to stay there.

There are usually slight differences in weight between the control surfaces,
due to the manufacturing process. For example, it is not uncommon for one
aileron to be a pound or two heavier than the other.

Gravity, plus the force of winds, will inevitably cause one to droop.
Likewise, rudders are not always hinged in a straight line, and the hinge
lines are off center, so the rudder will tend to tilt toward the heavier
side.

This is simply a factor in owning planes that are frequently over 20+ years
old.

It's for photo purposes. Usually to allow an unobstructed view of the
panel.
Jim

EridanMan wrote:
There is a standard practice of looping the pilot's seatbelt through
the yoke and latching it on non-cessna aircraft (or any plane that does
not have a built-in controll locking mechanism), this pulls the yoke
all the way back and over, and might be what you're describing.

It actually isn't the best practice, its hard on the yoke... There are
several after-market control locks for airplanes that don't have them
built in, but they can be hard to find.

A Control lock is a device which holds the controls of the aircraft so
they do not bang around if winds gusts. The practice above is
essentially using the seatbelt to do the same thing.

Cessna's have a hole in the pilot's side yoke shaft in which you put a
peg that bends around and covers the magneto switch (so you can't
accidentally start with the control lock in place). Its a very simple,
functional system... not sure why other aircraft makers didn't use it
too (I'm sure other AC makers use other systems as well I dont' know
about).


I know some manufactures no longer make control locks for liability
reasons. People would try to take off with the control lock still in
place and crash; then sue the manufacturer. Seems really stupid, but
thats what I heard.