ORIGINAL: SeamusG
snip ...
I'm guessing that this information is what prompted the disagreement. Like any unknown internet source it may or may not be gospel. If, however, you buy into to it as the basis for orienting the controls to the sticks - it places pitch and roll controls on the right side.
Our club has a excellent instructor / aerobatic flyer that is no longer an instructor candidate - he has chosen mode 1 for benefits in flying aerobatic maneuvers. Our loss
Good stuff.
I have never seen that specifc material before but would like to have the link.
What you posted is in 100% agreement with what I wrote.
ORIGINAL: Bonified Wingnut
Yes, that is what I disagree with. But it has nothing to do with Mode. I think the Rudder should never be controlled by the Aileron stick for ANY reason. The rudder is very important to learning to fly an airplane correctly. When Beginners go from 3 to 4 channel control they usually only learn to use the rudder as little as possible, resulting in alot of unhelpful banking on landings and takeoffs. I have recently stated this in other threads dealing with crosswind landings. I have not been flying for as long as a lot of people but I have taught myself and it just never made sense. I appologize for not clarifying my statement, I should have taken the time to explain my opinion.-BW
I understand and agree with your desire to see people make better use of the rudder. As a glider pilot ( primarily) I make extensive use of the rudder as Iwork thermals. Coordianted turns are the most efficient.
However I must point out that there is no such thing as "the aileron stick", there is the roll control. We may speak of it as the aileron stick but technically that is incorrect.
But learning the proper use of the controls and their locationhas little to do with surface provides those funtions.Your concern is that, when a pilot adds an additional axis of conttrol they are not making the effort to learn to use it to best advantage. That is an entirely different discussion and I agree with you.
What you are saying is that you would like to see more use of coordinated turns and better use of yaw during landings. I agree completely.
So, let's walk the learning tree.
Many electric and glider pilots start out on R/E models. Many of these are on single stick radios. That stick controls pitch and roll. There is no separate yaw control. You can fly a model airplane without separate yaw control. You can't fly it without pitch and roll.
This would also be true of an elevon plane, like a flying wing. Pitch and roll, no yaw. On the same right or single stick. No transition going from single to dual stick radios.
When moving to a 2 stick radio you can fly that same plane by putting the R and E or the elevons on the right stick, which again controls pitch and roll. There is no separate yaw control. Nothing new to learn. No transition effort from single to dual stick.
When you go to a 4 channel plane, you still have pitch and roll on the right stick, just as always. Now you have added the ability to have a new control, yaw control, and have a new skill to learn.
So, again I say, this has nothing to do with the surfaces in play but upon functions and what functions you have on your plane. A R/E plane or anelevon planedoes not have a separate yaw control. These two configurations are wildly popular.
If we start on a 2 stick radio on a R/E plane with R on left and E on right, we have Yaw control and pitch control. The normal roll control is not there on the right stick, where it belongs.
Now you move to a 4 channel aileron ship, or a 3 channel elevon ship, and suddenly your roll control moved from the left stick to the right stick.
NOWyou have to remember what kind of plane you are flying in order to know what controls you have. <u>This is an invitation to disaster</u>.
In order to be consistent across all airplanes of all configurations, regardless of the surfaces they have, pitch and roll on the right, for all configurations at all times. Then the pilots reflexesalways know where to go and that is the number onekey to safety.
Adding the use of yaw can be learned and incorporated into the total.
In fact, onmy R/E gliders, Ihave the rudder on the right stick, on the roll control channel as that is its primary purpose.I have that mixed to the left stick at 50% so that I can reach foryaw control if I wish but will not have so much that I am likely to over roll the plane. If I am looking for yaw control I still find some on the left.
As I said, think function not surface. The alternative is inconsistant and therefore, in my opinion, dangerous.