Triple throttle controls, allowing right or left hand on stick from either seat

[Schmevn]

Hello everyone. I don't have a kitfox yet, just in dreamer phase at the moment. But I had a thought, as my title suggests. I have seen people in KitFox's, and in other aircraft like Pipistrel Virus, fly from the right seat so they can use their right hand on the stick.

So, my idea is, how about setup a three throttle controls, middle, left and right. They would all be linked in behind the dash so the controls all move together, I can see it in my head now. This would allow for right or left hand on the stick, from either seat. Whatever you prefer or are most comfortable with.

Has anyone done this in their aircraft, or would also find this useful?



Your thoughts?




Evan.

[tracstarr]

Well, everyone will have an opinion - mine is that it's over complicated and would be a bad place to have something fail.

You should also think about it - how often would you really be using other throttles? And why would you let anyone else fly?

I originally had thoughts about moving the throttle to left side only, and then making it more like a level throttle. But, i've since decided to keep it simple and stick to the normal position.

There is someone on here (an Australian guy) who has left and center setup i think. It looked awesome.

[avidflyer]

This topic comes up every so often. I was thinking the same thing when I had to switch from using the right hand on stick, and left hand on throttle. After taxing around a bunch in my first Avid, the muscle memory developed, and it really wasn't an issue once I flew the plane. It actually was harder to get used to sitting off center from the prop. I had a tendency to come in for landing crossed up. I had been flying a Himax ultralight and then a Champ before the Avid. Of course, in both of those, the prop is straight ahead of you, and you get used to seeing it there. Then you move a foot to the side, but you still want to see the prop straight ahead of you cause that's what you are used to. Makes for some interesting landings. Good thing I was on grass. :-) JImChuk

[Dave S]

Correct, everyone will have an opinion on this. I guess mine is I fly from either seat with the standard center mount throttle and find the the switch with throttle and stick to be just another learning deal easily adjusted to.



Less complicated is better for reliability. One of the last things a person would want to have muck-up is the throttle - just my opinion.


Now, If a person wants to test their coordination skills, sit in the middle straddling the console with your right foot on the co-pilots left pedal and left foot on the pilots right pedal

[jiott]

If your engine is going to be a Lyc/Cont with a single carb cable, then maybe a triple throttle would be doable, but I personally wouldn't do for the reasons already given. With a Rotax and twin carb cables, a trple setup would be a rube goldberg mess subject to failure and/or adjustment nightmare.

[Schmevn]

I have an idea in my head, but not seeing behind the panel of a KitFox, I don't know if it would work. My thought has the three throttle's connected to some solid linkage, a pivoting bar perhaps, bearings on the ends attached to the frame. Each throttle is connected to a lobe coming off this pivoting bar. They all move in unison 100%. Then another lobe coming off the bar is the connection point for the throttle cable(s). I'm quite sure it could be made failure proof.

However, as others have pointed out, once you have the muscle memory to fly from either seat, this all become irrelevant.

[Tom Waid]

If your engine is going to be a Lyc/Cont with a single carb cable, then maybe a triple throttle would be doable, but I personally wouldn't do for the reasons already given. With a Rotax and twin carb cables, a trple setup would be a rube goldberg mess subject to failure and/or adjustment nightmare.

Not to mention the excess friction!