Yoke vs. Stick

[corefile]

I know this might be sacrilegious, and I do have over 100hrs in a Citabria so I'm used to flying with a stick. However, I was wondering how hard it would be to build this with a Yoke instead of a Stick?

[MSisk]

I don't know if your building the Patrol or 4 place, but would think to do a tandem yoke would be very complicated due to space available in rear. I think it would be doable in the 4 place but not a challenge that i would want. Next time I run to my hangar, I will shoot a photo of how a Cherokee yoke system works and you should be able to get an idea of whats ingolved. Mike

[corefile]

Thanks Mike, and yes I'm talking about a 4 place, so your traditional side by side Yoke is what I'm thinking.

[MSisk]

Apologize for the poor grammer. I was using my phone to respond.

[MSisk]

Haven't been to the hangar yet but had the service manual at home so here are a couple pictures out of the book. Sorry, no scanner at the house.

[corefile]

And here is one for Cessna, so I'm thinking of I get the control assembly and then retrofit the rest?

[MSisk]

Another option would be to find out how people like the Cessna Skycatcher's yoke. I bet they kept it simple. I don't have any guidance as to how to make it happen but would be interested in seeing how you progress.

[jaredyates]

Unlike paint schemes and whether or not to include an electrical system, I think a yoke vs stick choice is less religion and more science. In most cases, the Bearhawk plans represent the lightest, safest, and simplest way to build the airplane. I have found that there are few cases where Bob made choices by preference- he usually made them based on his building and designing experience. I approached each deviation from the plans as a cost-benefit analysis. I can think of lots of costs for a yoke. How will you get the aileron linkages connected to the cables that need to go up the strut? As designed, that connection occurs above the floorboard, and there is no room to get that system below the floor. Similarly for the pitch control, there is very little under floor space under the pilot's feet, until you get back to the station where the stick mounts. That limited space is also occupied by fuel lines and brake lines. So more than likely, the system would be tying up foot and floor space above the floorboard level. That's all above and beyond the costs of developing a system that will safely and reliably operate the two most important controls in the airplane. I would imagine that the parts count for a yoke would only go up. So what are the benefits of the yoke vs the stick? Is there something more than a matter of pilot preference, such as accessibility issue? Could it be done? Of course. Would the finished product be better than the original, when evaluated objectively? I doubt it. In other words, I would be concerned that the reinvented wheel would turn out square.

[corefile]

Been giving this some more thought, and I think the switching to a Yoke would be a significant change, as some have pointed out. So now I'm looking at possibly going with a "Y" Stick. This seems much more doable really all you are doing is moving the stick from between your legs to a single stick between the two front occupants legs, all the mechanisms are pretty much the same. Since we are all building (or wanting to build) these planes to some our our own personal choices this is one I have. I don't want the the stick in my way, I like having the space free. Its just more comfortable for me and something I prefer, also I prefer to steer with my right hand and throttle with my left. I was basically looking to do it the way the Zenith planes do, Y stick with dual throttle. That would give me what I'm really looking to do get the stick out of my way, and allow for right hand steering and left handle throttle (dual throttle, left for me, right for right seat). I understand this is not how Bob intended it... but it would be my preference and seems possible as it still a stick and I could copy the dual throttle from how Zenith (or Zenair) are doing it.

[Battson]

I am surprised nobody asked yet - what about the yoke/Y-stick do you prefer over a regular stick?

Do you wear dresses often? (JK)

[corefile]

I just like having the clear leg room. I have 95% of my flight time in a Citabria with the stick between my legs, then when I started flying the cessna 170, I really preferred having a clear space in front of me (I'm not the only one that has this preference, there is a "get the stick out of your way" mod for sale in the classifieds. I know its still a stick between the legs when flying so there is a bit of difference, but the reasons are similar) But I do like the control that a stick gives you so I'm thinking that a Y-stick maybe perfect, for my preference (I'm not trying to convince the rest of you to do it, but if I'm going to build a plane for a couple years, makes since that I would build it to my preference, as long as it does not sacrifice airworthiness). The Y-Stick meets two of my preferences, clears the leg room space up and I use my right hand for stick control. Again all preferences here guys, not saying there is anything wrong with the standard design. But it would seem that going to a Y-stick would not be that much of a stray from current design, its still as stick, so the general mechanism works the same, its more about placement.

[corefile]

looking at this more, I do see one challenge, the center Y-stick would be in the way of the lever for flaps.... one solution would be electric flaps.