Navigation Display

Louie1975 · February 21st, 2003, 15:15

I read in a couple of places that one of the benefits of Airbus going to sidestick controller vs. the traditional control column was better visibilty of the displays in the cockpit.
Since then, I've wondered, does the control wheel get in the way of any displays? In some pictures on airliners.net, especially on MD-80s and maybe 757/767s, it looks like the crt right below the main one(nav display?) is completely blocked off by the wheel. Is this the case when you are really sitting there?

I_Money · February 21st, 2003, 15:24

No the yoke will not block your panel if the seat is position correctly.

The real advantage of the sidestick (apart from the extra room) is it actually costs less to operate. It cost approximately $3 a month in fuel to fly a can of soda around on an airliner for a month, I would estimate a yoke ways about as much as 50 cans of soda costing the airline $150 per month or $1800 per year. If you had a fleet of 300 aircraft with yokes in a year you would save $540,000 in fuel.

pilot602 · February 21st, 2003, 16:23

Iain, you have entirely too much time on your hands.

I_Money · February 21st, 2003, 16:40

Nope not really I am at working waitin got meet with my credit manager about a deal.

davetheflyer · February 21st, 2003, 17:01

Sometimes it is hard to see items behind the yoke. For example, in my current airplane, even with the seat positioned correctly, I sometimes have to move my head to see the FMS. The trick is to make that anything that is flight critical can be easily seen.

If you have a yoke mounted GPS or kneeboard, those can also block some of the instruments.

If you have a chance, look in an airplane that uses sidesticks (the Cirrus, for example) and you will be truly amazed at how much panel real estate the sidestick frees up.

Doug Taylor · February 21st, 2003, 17:20

The yoke often blocks the NAV display on the -88/90

albatross · February 22nd, 2003, 23:31

Hey everybody, it's silly question time. Is the sidestick difficult to get used to? I don't know how similar a joystick may handle as compared to a sidestick, but I find them kind of annoying. Making turns while keeping the nose level is particularly problematic, it's often hard to tell whether the joystick is perfectly centered. Turns with a yoke seem to be much easier. Any Airbus drivers care to comment?

I_Money · February 23rd, 2003, 01:01

It is all about getting used to it. Remember the F-16 is also side stick as was the Wright Flyer I believe. The yoke is the new guy on the block!

Doug Taylor · February 23rd, 2003, 19:57

The captain I'm flying with flew the A-7, F-16, F-117 and the F-15 and he could probably tell you all about the center versus sidestick. Even shot some bad guys in Iraq part one.

I almost had him talked into an 'interview' for the website, but he backed out after I pulled a few sheets out of the ACARS printer and started asking questions.

Ack!

pilot602 · February 24th, 2003, 12:42

[ QUOTE ]
Remember the F-16 is also side stick as was the Wright Flyer I believe.

[/ QUOTE ]

The Wright Flyer didn't have a stick at all!

It used a saddle that the pilot layed in and moved with his hips side to side to control the "warp" of the the wings (essentially alieron) and the rudder/elevator was controlled with a flat board similar to a sled's steering mechanism only rigged to handle rudder and elevator inputs.

averyrm · February 24th, 2003, 13:51

Actually the flyer did have a stick - the left hand was used to control the elevator and the rudder was linked to the wing warping.

pilot602 · February 24th, 2003, 14:37

Hehe knew that would get me - never, ever use blanket statements.

But, technically it's still not a stick - it would be a lever (it only had motion in one plane).

I'd never heard that the rudder was linked to the wing warp. Interesting.
Tri-pacers or Colts (and Ercoupes) do the same thing with the rudder/alierons.

February 21st, 2003, 15:15	#1
Louie1975 Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: New York Posts: 220	Navigation Display I read in a couple of places that one of the benefits of Airbus going to sidestick controller vs. the traditional control column was better visibilty of the displays in the cockpit. Since then, I've wondered, does the control wheel get in the way of any displays? In some pictures on airliners.net, especially on MD-80s and maybe 757/767s, it looks like the crt right below the main one(nav display?) is completely blocked off by the wheel. Is this the case when you are really sitting there?

February 21st, 2003, 15:24	#2
I_Money Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Socal Posts: 5,645	Re: Navigation Display No the yoke will not block your panel if the seat is position correctly. The real advantage of the sidestick (apart from the extra room) is it actually costs less to operate. It cost approximately $3 a month in fuel to fly a can of soda around on an airliner for a month, I would estimate a yoke ways about as much as 50 cans of soda costing the airline $150 per month or $1800 per year. If you had a fleet of 300 aircraft with yokes in a year you would save $540,000 in fuel.

February 21st, 2003, 16:23	#3
pilot602 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: who haa Posts: 3,750	Re: Navigation Display Iain, you have entirely too much time on your hands.

February 21st, 2003, 16:40	#4
I_Money Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Socal Posts: 5,645	Re: Navigation Display Nope not really I am at working waitin got meet with my credit manager about a deal.

February 21st, 2003, 17:01	#5
davetheflyer Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: KATL, Georgia, Tennessee Posts: 1,016	Re: Navigation Display Sometimes it is hard to see items behind the yoke. For example, in my current airplane, even with the seat positioned correctly, I sometimes have to move my head to see the FMS. The trick is to make that anything that is flight critical can be easily seen. If you have a yoke mounted GPS or kneeboard, those can also block some of the instruments. If you have a chance, look in an airplane that uses sidesticks (the Cirrus, for example) and you will be truly amazed at how much panel real estate the sidestick frees up.

February 21st, 2003, 17:20	#6
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 39,824 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Navigation Display The yoke often blocks the NAV display on the -88/90

February 22nd, 2003, 23:31	#7
albatross Junior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Indiana Posts: 80	Re: Navigation Display Hey everybody, it's silly question time. Is the sidestick difficult to get used to? I don't know how similar a joystick may handle as compared to a sidestick, but I find them kind of annoying. Making turns while keeping the nose level is particularly problematic, it's often hard to tell whether the joystick is perfectly centered. Turns with a yoke seem to be much easier. Any Airbus drivers care to comment?

February 23rd, 2003, 01:01	#8
I_Money Moderator Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Socal Posts: 5,645	Re: Navigation Display It is all about getting used to it. Remember the F-16 is also side stick as was the Wright Flyer I believe. The yoke is the new guy on the block!

February 23rd, 2003, 19:57	#9
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 39,824 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Navigation Display The captain I'm flying with flew the A-7, F-16, F-117 and the F-15 and he could probably tell you all about the center versus sidestick. Even shot some bad guys in Iraq part one. I almost had him talked into an 'interview' for the website, but he backed out after I pulled a few sheets out of the ACARS printer and started asking questions. Ack!

February 24th, 2003, 12:42	#10
pilot602 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: who haa Posts: 3,750	Re: Navigation Display [ QUOTE ] Remember the F-16 is also side stick as was the Wright Flyer I believe. [/ QUOTE ] The Wright Flyer didn't have a stick at all! It used a saddle that the pilot layed in and moved with his hips side to side to control the "warp" of the the wings (essentially alieron) and the rudder/elevator was controlled with a flat board similar to a sled's steering mechanism only rigged to handle rudder and elevator inputs.

February 24th, 2003, 13:51	#11
averyrm Old Skool Join Date: May 2002 Location: LCK Posts: 1,645	Re: Navigation Display Actually the flyer did have a stick - the left hand was used to control the elevator and the rudder was linked to the wing warping.

February 24th, 2003, 14:37	#12
pilot602 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: who haa Posts: 3,750	Re: Navigation Display Hehe knew that would get me - never, ever use blanket statements. But, technically it's still not a stick - it would be a lever (it only had motion in one plane). I'd never heard that the rudder was linked to the wing warp. Interesting. Tri-pacers or Colts (and Ercoupes) do the same thing with the rudder/alierons.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode