question about flight stick in real life

[bin801]

Almost all simulator sticks are spring load back to center.

my question is, in real world aircraft, in majority aricrafts, is the stick mechanically fored back to center?

How about helicopter cyclic stick?

Without using force trim, is cyclic stick spring load forced to center?

Thank you

[PFunk1606688187]

Well with those force sensing sticks in the likes of the F-16 they have a small amount of play but I imagine they recenter if released. For the A-10C it basically works like those old force feedback sticks. Its slack til you turn the engines on then as you trim the stick it physically moves through its travel.

 

If an aircraft is using direct linkages then the stick should mirror the positioning of the ailerons and elevators. Much of the time this system is augmented by hydraulic systems, like the A-10. If its using FBW but with an artificial feel, ie. not force sensing, then thats a computer position to mimic the same effect as a linked system. Those would then be 100% hydraulic or electrically actuated surfaces.

 

Helos tend to be a lot more complicated. I don't pretend to understand it enough to comment.

[bin801]

Well with those force sensing sticks in the likes of the F-16 they have a small amount of play but I imagine they recenter if released. For the A-10C it basically works like those old force feedback sticks. Its slack til you turn the engines on then as you trim the stick it physically moves through its travel.

 

If an aircraft is using direct linkages then the stick should mirror the positioning of the ailerons and elevators. Much of the time this system is augmented by hydraulic systems, like the A-10. If its using FBW but with an artificial feel, ie. not force sensing, then thats a computer position to mimic the same effect as a linked system. Those would then be 100% hydraulic or electrically actuated surfaces.

 

Helos tend to be a lot more complicated. I don't pretend to understand it enough to comment.

 

Thanks

learn alot

[Udat]

All I know for sure is that in the Robinson R22 helicopter, the cyclic is not spring loaded.

[KomodoSim]

Hi,

 

No helicopters have a return to centre spring loaded Cyclic. Some have a Force Trim system where you can create a false centre that the Cyclic will return to if displaced without releasing the Force Trim. This system is used in the cruise, when near the ground or manoeuvring you have the Force Trim release pressed and you effectively have a floppy stick Cyclic as any other helicopter.

 

BR

 

Rich

[Zilch]

Not sure about helos, as I've never taken the controls in one. However, in a fixed wing plane (excepting fly-by-wire, of course,) it's something like a firm resistance when you deflect the control surfaces, and the tendency is to recenter, because the airflow is pushing the surfaces back into streamline. In a simpler plane, it's all just mechanical linkage, so it's a simple push back, roughly equal to the effort you put into the initial deflection assuming you haven't changed airspeed or anything.

 

Closest thing I can think of is like letting go of your steering wheel when it's turned...it kinda wants to recenter. You can feel it in the wheel when you turn, especially if you don't have power steering. Still, that's not quite it, but you get the idea.

 

Trim tabs are designed to take advantage of this effect. You deflect the trim tab in the way you don't want to go, and the air stream pushes the larger control surface back in the opposite direction (the way you do want to go,) giving a net counter-force which relieves pressure on your yoke or stick. You do this every time you change attitude and power settings, unless you want to deal with fatigue trying to keep your attitude where you want it.

 

Not sure about how it feels in hydraulically boosted controls, as I'm not quite that fancy, but I can't imagine it's much different. Maybe softer?

 

As I read, in the prototype YF-16, with its fly by wire system, the stick didn't move at all (it didn't need to,) but only responded to pressure. Pilots ended up not liking it, so they put a few degrees of throw into the stick in later builds. The fly by wire system doesn't need actual motion from the pilot at all, it's just a comfort thing. So, if it re-centers (not sure if it does or not,) it's probably due to a spring or something similar.