Switchology wrong way round?

[hazzer]

I have just been reading flypast magazine, with Steve Hinton discussing the mosquito. 

He says how everything is a bit odd in the mosquito like the on position is down and not up. This has made me check and realise the dcs mosquito is different. The question is, is it wrong? In the mossie the magneto on should have the switches down, but in DCS it is reversed. 

[Slippa]

I haven’t read a Flypast for a bit, I’ll have one here later now so cheers for that bit at least.

Shouldn’t be difficult to swap or correct switches if they’re not right but I’ve seen similar things on the P-47 and P-51 that are left as is. There was a great thread about the P-47s cockpit layout being odd but it was locked up for some reason.

I’m hoping to use the wiper one day and the switches above and behind the radios. I don’t know what they’d do but they’re modelled. There’s a bit of wiring on the ol girl that needs doing I think? Some day.

 

 

[Nealius]

Perhaps an overgeneralization. Most switches except the battery and two magneto switches (going off memory) in the Mosquito is reversed from an American perspective. With only three switches not conforming to the standard of the other umpteen, one is apt to say "every switch is backwards" while not meaning that literally every switch is in fact backwards.

People have a tendency to change "most" into "all," and "hardly ever" into "never," etc. Drives me nuts when people aren't more specific and/or accurate in their communication.

Edited July 8, 2024 by Nealius

[Slippa]

I’d prolly drive you nuts then mate . I drive myself nuts enough but I am nuts so fair dos.

Had a good read of Flypast anyhow. Being nuts of course I got this months copy as opposed to last months with no mention of the Mossie . I’ll have to back order one for the piece.

Nice article on getting the Lancs together a few years back anyhow. Reminded me of seeing them fly over here as I was getting in my car then I saw them properly at Duxford. Never seen worse traffic there than when they were displaying.

Back to the Mossie then. Since it’s British built, some put together in Canada etc. ‘our’ switches should be correct, no? Albeit just the mag switches.

[MAXsenna]

I’d prolly drive you nuts then mate . I drive myself nuts enough but I am nuts so fair dos.
Had a good read of Flypast anyhow. Being nuts of course I got this months copy as opposed to last months with no mention of the Mossie . I’ll have to back order one for the piece.
Nice article on getting the Lancs together a few years back anyhow. Reminded me of seeing them fly over here as I was getting in my car then I saw them properly at Duxford. Never seen worse traffic there than when they were displaying.
Back to the Mossie then. Since it’s British built, some put together in Canada etc. ‘our’ switches should be correct, no? Albeit just the mag switches.

Being nuts and all. How does that differ from having a screw loose? I consider myself thick in the head. Luckily at that.

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk

[Bozon]

I used to think that the Mosquito cockpit layout was an afterthought. Now I am convinced it was carefully designed to maximize the number of accidents. If all the switches were “on” down, then the pilot will get used to it - so, just most of the switches are “on”-down to build a false sense of confidence in the pilot and then trip him with the few switches that are reversed. Frankly, I am surprised they didn’t include a few left-right switches to fail the dyslexics.

I mean how else can you explain fuel tank selectors that are behind and under the seat that you have to “feel for”, and 3 identical levers for the bay, undercarriage, and flaps, in a position that forces the pilot to switch hands on the stick to operate them. God knows how many pilots opened their bomb bays instead of lowering the undercarriage, before someone forced DH to end to their prank and add different latches on these levers to prevent such mistakes. 

[ARM505]

British cockpit ergonomics (but not only them!) were utterly disastrous, for far longer than you'd expect. I've sat in a Lightning....coming from modern airliners, but even being familiar with previous generation aircraft like the Spitfire and Hurricane, I was appalled at the layout and positioning, switch directions etc. It could have been improved with literally 30 seconds of thought, but for some reason the ethos seems to have been "Properly trained men don't need common switchology! They are without fault, and do not make mistakes under pressure! Terrible layouts separate the men from the boys!"

[Nealius]

You guys should try the K-4. Literally no consistency in switch position in relation to function, and a number of them don't even have labels 

[Slippa]

They’d be in German too .

We should really have a duplicate thread discussing which switches are wrong if flying differently. Preaching to the inverted or something.

i’ll get me coat 

[AndyJWest]

Take a look at Spitfire cockpits, where they can't even agree what to call something.  'Undercarriage' on the instrument panel placard. 'Chassis' on the control itself.

[Nightdare]

7 hours ago, AndyJWest said:

Take a look at Spitfire cockpits, where they can't even agree what to call something.  'Undercarriage' on the instrument panel placard. 'Chassis' on the control itself.

Testpilot: "What is this lever: 'Chassis'?"

Engineer: "That's for the undercarriage"

Testpilot: "Well, why doesn't it say 'Undercarriage' then?"

Engineer: "....Uhhhmmmm"

[Bozon]

1 hour ago, Nightdare said:

Testpilot: "Well, why doesn't it say 'Undercarriage' then?"

It was changed for the benefit of women pilots. “Undercarriage” sounds too much like some kind of abortion.

[Nealius]

Pilot: "Why do we have to fly left-handed while raising/lowering the chas.....underca.....f***it gear?"

Engineer: "Sounds like a you problem."

[MAXsenna]

It was changed for the benefit of women pilots. “Undercarriage” sounds too much like some kind of abortion.

Typical men finding women fragile. Oh, Lord!

Sent from my SM-A536B using Tapatalk