Fly Boss Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 For those of us with apparently shorter arms, the control stick seems a bit short. I find my left arm tending to pull the stick to the left when in flight. It isn't an aileron issue, it is just that my arm isn't quite long enough to comfortably sit on my leg and hold the stick in the neutral position. What kind of options might I have to deal with this? I have placed a pillow behind me with the seat in the most forward position already, but this is not quite enough. I look normal in the mirror, but sound like I'm deformed in this post. Does anyone else have this issue? What are others doing to accommodate? Thanks Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbigs Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 For those of us with apparently shorter arms, the control stick seems a bit short. I find my left arm tending to pull the stick to the left when in flight. It isn't an aileron issue, it is just that my arm isn't quite long enough to comfortably sit on my leg and hold the stick in the neutral position. What kind of options might I have to deal with this? I have placed a pillow behind me with the seat in the most forward position already, but this is not quite enough. I look normal in the mirror, but sound like I'm deformed in this post. Does anyone else have this issue? What are others doing to accommodate? Thanks Danny Are you saying you can't reach the rudder peddles? Or are you saying you tend to turn the plane left when you assume you are flying straight? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed Cesnalis Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Most of the time I am just touching the stick with a fingertip and not holding it. I can't inadvertently pull it that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 As a kind of tall guy with long arms, this has never even occurred to me. But I guess if you were a guy with short arms and a barrel chest, this would really be an issue. Seems like under the handle you could slide a piece of aluminum tubing inside the handle to lengthen it a bit. I'd want it pinned in place or otherwise secured. Then slide the handle back in place and you'd have a longer stick that looked factory. Best to ask FD USA and go through the MRA process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 +1 for only using finger tips. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anticept Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 Same on finger tips. When transition training, we really drill it home how incredibly sensitive the controls are, and not to grasp the stick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FastEddieB Posted March 16, 2016 Report Share Posted March 16, 2016 A light touch is desirable most of the time... ...but I do grip pretty tightly in some specific circumstances - turbulence, gusty crosswinds, steep turns and the like. Time and place for everything - IOW, whatever it takes! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fly Boss Posted March 17, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Since I am in the transitioning part of this life cycle, I'll work on the finger tip logic. Before you guess that I am vertically challenged, I am 5'7" tall, 250 lbs. With the seat in the most forward position, my feet easily work the rudders, but with my left hand on my left leg it seems that even with finger tips i'd be twisting my body to work the stick. Part of this problem might be that i'm pulling the aileron to the left for arm comfort only, but since that puts the plane out of level, then it is necessary to hold the stick from going back to neutral. That causes a lot of work to have to hold it where it doesn't belong. Aileron trim helps this some (offsetting the left pulling pressure), but longer arms would be better, or some way to adjust my position. I'd rather not modify the stick at all. I may try to more pillow behind me, but my rather low barrel chest might get in the way of that some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug G. Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Would rudder pedal extensions help? I think someone on here has used them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 RE: fingertips, that doesn't work for every airplane, or even every CT. My 2007 SW has the last version of the control system, which has higher spring rates and an additional pitch spring. This all makes the control forces heavy compared to most LSA. Fingertip pressure is inadequate to provide good control; what I end up doing is wrapping my forefinger and thumb around the top of the stick handle. It's still two fingers, but gives me leverage to move the controls adequately that fingertips would not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Baker Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 RE: fingertips, that doesn't work for every airplane, or even every CT. My 2007 SW has the last version of the control system, which has higher spring rates and an additional pitch spring. This all makes the control forces heavy compared to most LSA. Fingertip pressure is inadequate to provide good control; what I end up doing is wrapping my forefinger and thumb around the top of the stick handle. It's still two fingers, but gives me leverage to move the controls adequately that fingertips would not. Andy, I have a fair amount of time in a SW like yours with the spring. For general flying I would still recommend the use of finger tips on the stick, unless you are making BIG pitch changes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlyingMonkey Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Andy, I have a fair amount of time in a SW like yours with the spring. For general flying I would still recommend the use of finger tips on the stick, unless you are making BIG pitch changes. In cruise high up with no turbulence I can do that. Down low where I'm constantly making corrections and watching for birds, I want more control authority. Maybe my fingertips are just puny and weak. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SportFlyer1 Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Hmm, of all the things I've grumbled about in my mind with my CTLS, a short stick didn't come up. Some stick related things (in no particular order) might be: Stick too far forward for way back seat positions (and not adjustable). Stick running into my (fat) right thigh, pinning it to the center console before full right aileron is reached. Heavy stick pressure (2010 CTLS) against centering springs, which would snap off one or two fingers if you tried it. And lastly, suggested by Dan Johnson, stick should fold down for entry and exit by old geezers. --- Other than that, it's perfect. --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbigs Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 Sounds like some need to lose a little weight. I had to fashion some neoprene blocks to attach to the rudders for my 4-9 wife. Adjustable rudders would have been a nice to have, but I never thought the stick would be an issue for pilots. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CT4ME Posted March 17, 2016 Report Share Posted March 17, 2016 I've thought about the folding stick thing. It would be nice, but I wonder if it would introduce a potential mechanical point of failure. There have been times, in turbulence, where the stick has to deal with notable stress. I'd hate to have it fold or fail at the wrong time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fly Boss Posted March 21, 2016 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2016 So, in summary: 1. My legs are fine on the rudder pedals, with the proper bend at the knee 2. My arms might need to be a tad longer even though the seat is all the way forward with pillow behind me. 3. I need to practice the finger control rather than the full hand on stick control 4. I also need to work the aileron trim more to see if that helps. Thanks all for the responses. Not sure if any of them will make a difference, other than the lose some weight comment. THAT might make a difference in many areas, but not sure about the hand on stick area. Danny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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