Mystery turn control device on older jets

I recall seeing, long ago, a sort of large knob on the pedestal of a jet (I
can't remember which kind) that, when turned, put the aircraft into a
coordinated turn ... at least if I recall correctly. No modern jets seem to
have anything like this. Am I imagining things, or did something like this
exist on earlier jets. I recall it being called a flight director, I think,
but the behavior doesn't seem to be like the devices people call flight
directors today.

--
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Mxsmanic wrote

I recall seeing, long ago, a sort of large knob on the pedestal of a
jet (I can't remember which kind) that, when turned, put the aircraft
into a coordinated turn ... at least if I recall correctly. No modern
jets seem to have anything like this. Am I imagining things, or did
something like this exist on earlier jets. I recall it being called a
flight director, I think, but the behavior doesn't seem to be like the
devices people call flight directors today.

Probably the autopilot manual turn controller.

Bob Moore

Mxsmanic wrote in
:

I recall seeing, long ago, a sort of large knob on the pedestal of a
jet (I can't remember which kind) that, when turned, put the aircraft
into a coordinated turn ... at least if I recall correctly. No modern
jets seem to have anything like this.

You're an idiot.

Send me $500 and I'll tell you all about it.


Bertie

Is Mxsmanic a Terrorist wrote in
:


I recall seeing, long ago, a sort of large knob on the pedestal of a
jet (I can't remember which kind) that, when turned, put the aircraft
into a coordinated turn ... at least if I recall correctly. No modern
jets seem to have anything like this. Am I imagining things, or did
something like this exist on earlier jets. I recall it being called a
flight director, I think, but the behavior doesn't seem to be like the
devices people call flight directors today.

I can see a terrorist having a use for this information. I don't know
why a simmer would.


'Xacly.

On May 6, 5:18 pm, Mxsmanic wrote:
I recall seeing, long ago, a sort of large knob on the pedestal of a jet (I
can't remember which kind) that, when turned, put the aircraft into a
coordinated turn ... at least if I recall correctly. No modern jets seem to
have anything like this. Am I imagining things, or did something like this
exist on earlier jets. I recall it being called a flight director, I think,
but the behavior doesn't seem to be like the devices people call flight
directors today.

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

Well not remembering which jet leaves the field wide open...but if it
was on the pedestal of a B737 200 series or a B727 or a B707 you were
looking at the rudder trim knob.

Robert

"Nancy Pryor" wrote in message
news:gbss33hccvktansmb6poj2u1vgckhg020i@lga...
OMG...the stewardess is flying the plane!


Yeah, but she plays Microsoft Flight Simulator a lot, so you're in safe
hands!
Crash Lander

Luke Skywalker wrote

On May 6, 5:18 pm, Mxsmanic wrote:
I recall seeing, long ago, a sort of large knob on the pedestal of a
jet (I can't remember which kind) that, when turned, put the aircraft
into a coordinated turn ...
Well not remembering which jet leaves the field wide open...but if it
was on the pedestal of a B737 200 series or a B727 or a B707 you were
looking at the rudder trim knob.

I've never seen a rudder trim knob that would put a 707/727 into a
coordinated turn.
I stand by my "autopilot turn knob" answer. Of course, if he had not
mentioned "coordinated turn", I would agree on "Rudder Trim Knob".

Bob Moore
ATP B-707 B-727
PanAm (retired)

Luke Skywalker writes:

Well not remembering which jet leaves the field wide open...but if it
was on the pedestal of a B737 200 series or a B727 or a B707 you were
looking at the rudder trim knob.

I thought of that, but this was larger ... and you wouldn't normally use
rudder trim to turn the aircraft.

I guess it could be a manual turn controller for the autopilot, as Bob said,
but I wonder how it was used and why it's gone now. Maybe it was something
like control wheel steering (also apparently not used much in practice).

--
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On May 6, 8:23 pm, Mxsmanic wrote:
Luke Skywalker writes:
Well not remembering which jet leaves the field wide open...but if it
was on the pedestal of a B737 200 series or a B727 or a B707 you were
looking at the rudder trim knob.

I thought of that, but this was larger ... and you wouldn't normally use
rudder trim to turn the aircraft.

I guess it could be a manual turn controller for the autopilot, as Bob said,
but I wonder how it was used and why it's gone now. Maybe it was something
like control wheel steering (also apparently not used much in practice).

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

In a Boeing I doubt it was Control Wheel steering. CWS (in a older
boeing at least...and even in the -300 series 737) was done by the
Actual Control wheel...IT with a certian force you moved the control
where and it then "froze" whereever you left it. I find/found it
useful in turbulence...but you had to recognize that in that mode it
didnt recognize any pitch or roll commands. It has been so long since
I flew a -200 737 but I seem to recall that aileron trim was also a
"large" knob on the pedastal...

I've never seen ANY autopilot controls on the pedestal for two
reasons. First they are out of "normal line of sight" which the FAA
requires and second they are vunerable (at least in the 737) to jump
seat riders putting their feet on the pedestal.

The early 737/300's had a "blade" knob for the electric Rudder trim.
This caused at least one accident when a person (on the ground) put
their foot on the pedestal and part of their shoe inadvertantly moved
the knob and ran the rudder trim full deflection.

Now it is a knurled knob to prevent that and there is a two inch guard
around the pedestal...

Sorry I cant help more

Robert

But if she has any doubts she can just call the Tower and we'll talk
her through it.

Patroni


Both Doris Day and Lauren Holly did that quite well!

Robert