Stick in center vs right-side stick

[Black_Hawk]

Maybe a stupid question, but what are the advantages of each?

Some aircraft have the stick in the center while others have it on right hand side.

Where's the catch? :D

[Prophet]

Ergonomics.

[Deadman]

Types of different system side stick on the fly by wire IE F-16. Center stick in the Hydraulic and manual system IE the A-10A

[urze]

When you have the stick at the right side (F-16) the aircraft is controled indirect (Fly by wire) but you don't have the place to move the stick in so a wide range like the stick is between yor legs. In a F-16 for exampel the stick dont moves at all it only

measures the force you pull/drag at the stick and the computer tells the aricraft what to do. The advantage is that you have a better handling in high G-loads, because you don't have to move your arm and you have a better sight at a third MDF,(or you can place a cupholder instead the stick in front of you! ;) ).

When you steer mechanically the input of your movement goes over servos directly to the wings. Because the size of the mechanical parts ,they wouldn't fit in the right side of a small fighter-cokpit.

I hope that answers your question. Maybe someone can post more about the controls of a F-16.

[Black_Hawk]

Your replies make sense. Now I think that the center layout better fits carrier based a/c because of the smooth corrections needed when landing on a carrier :book:

[nscode]

I remamber reading that when NoviAvion was in development, in the beginig they were gonna put the stick to the side, but later they moved it back to the center (still FBW) after some studies showed that the pilot has better mental awareness and control that way.

[Kula66]

I remember something about being able to fly with either hand on a central stick ... in case in injury/would on the RHS, you can use your left hand!

[BiggestPig]

Speaking of right vs. center stick. Is there any other "right-stick" plane than F-16 in active duty?

[DarkStar]

F/A-22 Raptor ;)

[urze]

This is the cockpit of the Su-27 experimental aircraft "ACE" = Advanced Control Experiment.

[Force_Feedback]

Hmm, no FCS override on the sidestick?

[Alfa]

The Su-27 is fly-by-wire, while the F-15 and MiG-29(old versions) aren't - yet they all have a center stick.

 

In the F-16 the pilot is not sitting upright like in most other fighters, but is laying down in order to reduce G-strain - this makes a traditional center stick impractical......hence the side-stick configuration.

 

So it has nothing to do with FBW or not - except that FBW is necessary for a side stick, but not for a center stick :) .

 

- JJ.

[veit]

Also, the F-16 stick does move slightly around, it's not stuck in place. This was implemented when test pilots complained about the stick being completely stationary.

[LawnDart]

It moves around about the lenght of half a fingernail at the seen from the top, so it really isn't much at all and only to give the pilot a bit of tactile feedback of where he's moving the stick.

[Force_Feedback]

The throttle on the Su-37 (and offered as an option for the su-30 mk2/3 series) is also touch sensitive.

 

The F-16 had a reclined seat because they had to fit in a pilot, and the sidestick bacause he wouldn't be able to eject had there been a rod blocking the way. The reclined seat excuse was part of, well, 'advertising'.

[Vekkinho]

If you place "normal" stick with gimbal to gimbal movement at your right hand side you'll have a hard time conducting right rolls because you'll have to push the stick away. This can be practiced to perfection like everything else but I still have better control over the AC when flying with centerlined stick.

 

In case of F-16, stick moves a bit but not as our Saiteks and Cougars do. "Movement quantity" can be compared to center wobble that we experience on our worn out controllers.

 

That's why pilots in F-16 don't have to push away the stick in order to make a roll 'cause this can be extermely hard thing to do during 9G turns when centrifugal force allows you to pull more than you can push.

 

All aircraft with movable sticks have them placed in center, at least I think so because those sticks are too complicated to operate when placed aside.

 

But hey, it's just my 2 cents...

[britgliderpilot]

Been looking for, but can't find, the photo of the single F-16 with a centre stick.

 

Some kind of flying laboratory - still has the sidestick fitted, but they added the more conventional central stick for experimenting. Worth a look.

[Groove]

The Israeli Lavi has center stick config afaik:

 

 

But it never entered service though.

[Guest IguanaKing]

So it has nothing to do with FBW or not - except that FBW is necessary for a side stick, but not for a center stick :) .

 

- JJ.

 

Not quite true. Here's a pic of the Cirrus SR22 cockpit. http://www.airliners.net/open.file?id=0906576&size=L. It has 2 sidesticks, and no FBW. Given its current safety record though, it may need an FLCS. :)

[Kula66]

The F-16 had a reclined seat because they had to fit in a pilot, and the sidestick bacause he wouldn't be able to eject had there been a rod blocking the way. The reclined seat excuse was part of, well, 'advertising'.

 

I thought the reclined seat was to improve G tolerance ...

[Black_Hawk]

Nope. The whole bubble canopy thing and reclined seat were because of fitting in the pilot. Sure, you have better G tolerance but I bet it isn't really comfy inside

[pschelchshorn]

the f-16 is the most comfortable aircraft to sit in, im talking of personal experience. It wasnt all about fitting the pilot it, prove otherwise with sources. The seat specifically was slanted to enable higher g resistance of the pilot. Flying with the sidestick is amazing too, you "think" the jet....i mean..you think where it has to go and it goes there..its fantastic!

 

Flip

[OldFrankHog]

I might be completly off the point but how does a Bubble canopy help in fitting a pilot in the plane ? it still sits on the cockpit even if it wasnt bubbly the only thing it changes is that the pilot can tilt his/her head sideways to see further down ?

[MBot]

Speaking of right vs. center stick. Is there any other "right-stick" plane than F-16 in active duty?

 

Whole Airbus family after A-310 :) Altough they have a left- or right-stick, depending on wich seat you sit.

[Black_Hawk]

From what I have read, the seat was reclined so that the pilot doesn't stick out of the plane so much. And the canopy is bubble shaped because it would be too big if it were regular size.

 

And of course, I cannot possibly tell wether it is or isn't comfortable inside a cockpit of a Viper since I never sat in any fighter jet cockpit, I was just guessing that it wouldn't feel natural to fly from in position.