Todd Rayner wrote: >>Do you have a center stick or duel control sticks? If you have used both >>configurations which do you prefer? If you fly with a center stick do you >>sit in the middle when you solo? Does anyone have the throttle in the >>middle of the panel so people can fly from the right seat?<<
I've flown both, and I consider the center stick to be almost dangerous. Your right hand is stuck flying the plane, period. I can use the other hand on rare occasions, but only by reaching under my right leg to the stick while I do whatever is was I needed to do with my right hand for a few seconds and then switching back. With one hand tied up, you are extremely limited doing MANY things, like swapping headset batteries, opening a ziploc bag of trail mix, etc. The beauty of dual sticks is that you can trap it between your thighs and do a pretty decent job of flying the plane for a while, and do whatever you need to do with your hands...little things like refastening your seat belt after you have to get something out of the back, or latch the canopy after you discover it's open on takeoff, for example! A single center stick is another safety issue in my mind. N56ML never sees the passenger's stick, except at Gatherings training expectant pilots. I agree with Brian that I couldn't even put my finger on which hand I use to fly N56ML...I knew it was often my right, because the throttle's on the left, but I also use my left much of the time as well. It's not something I even thought about...it just happens without thinking. And I'm with Larry on the throttle...nobody needs to touch it but me, and that goes double for the ignition switch! Build or buy double sticks, or regret it, would be my advice. One way to do it is at http://www.n56ml.com/kcontrol.html , but Steve Glover at nvAero sells a very nice one also... Mark Langford ML at N56ML.com website at http://www.N56ML.com --------------------------------------------------------
