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>>Still, one must wonder: could having the stick in the dominant hand at the
moment of
truth (bounced landing, vortex flipping you inverted close to the
ground, etc) ever make a difference in outcome? It's surprising that
no one has investigated this question.<<
Paul Davis,
I don't know if anyone has specifically investigated this question, but
there are so many planes of varying configuration, all successful designs,
that it is not as significant as you think it may be. As a CFI that also
owns his own airplane (left seat flyer 99% of the time in THAT airplane), I
can switch hit in the worst of crosswinds with no loss of precision.
Also, as an instructor at the USAF Test Pilot School, I am afforded the
opportunity to fly an enviable variety of different aircraft. The C-17 has
a left hand stick in the left seat and a right hand stick in the right seat.
So does the A3XX series. I have heard of no adverse human factors issues
from either airplane. There are a number of homebuilts with center (between
the two front seats) sticks with outboard throttles. Still no known adverse
human factors issues.
The other day I was trying some instrument flight in an F-16 (right hand
side stick). It was actually a pain to not be able to write and fly at the
same time. At least with a center stick I can change hands even if the
stick grip is molded for the right hand (like a T-38).
Unless I am special (trust me, I'm not), then the fineness of control
required for aircraft control even in demanding conditions is not that
great. The true difficulty or skill is in seeing and recognizing the error,
then computing the correction required. Making the correction is not the
weak link.
Flying isn't as difficult as handwriting... weird to think that way but
true. The cognitive demands are extreme in flying, but not the basic motor
skills. Teaching someone to solo is indeed a mere trained monkey act.
Believe me, that first solo of yours was emotionally significant, but not
that important in the big picture... UNLESS you had an emergency... get the
picture?
Doug Dodson
Glasair II-S FT
Flight Test Engineer, CFI-A,G
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