Left Hand Throttle/Mixture

4kilo · Post by **4kilo** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 12:31 am

1:1_Scale wrote: It could be that I simply haven't come across a situation where I need to be working the throttle and radio at nearly the same time, so if anyone has any input on that, I'm all ears

I do have some input on this. Although I am sure nearly every pilot has heard this at some point, it needs to be restated from time to time:

Aviate
Navigate
Comunicate

Always fly the airplane first.
When you have time, make sure it is pointing in the right direction.
Once the more important things are under control, then you can play with the radios.

I am an instructor for an airline, and even very experienced pilots sometimes have to be reminded that airplanes fly by the principles of Bernouli, not Marconi.

OK, off the soapbox now. Thanks for letting me rant.

Pat

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 6:54 am

Hi Tom!

Great point!

You are absolutely right on track with your strategy! I agree wholeheartedly!

Nice dog too!

CJ

jimrobinette · Post by **jimrobinette** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:58 pm

Chad,

I know where you are coming from. Since I have very little time in GA planes, flying with the throttle in the center is something that seems very uncomfortable to me. I was trained with LH throttle in the T-34, but have done the majority of my flying in King Air's and EP-3's, which have RH throttle (but next to you, not up on the dash).

Add on top of this that both my wife and I are LH! Flying with a LH throttle seems more natural (due to training), but flying with a RH throttle seems more natural also (due to my being LH and flying with my "good" hand)!

I have thought about both setups and don't know what to do. I guess I will go stock, because they both seem to work well and the work to do it differently may not be worth it.

Oh, and by the way, I can't swing a bat or golf club LH'd to save my life!

Jim

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:12 pm

Hi Tom, glad to see you finally signed up!

Here is a photo I took of Tom's RV7A. Nice plane.

I plan on keeping my controls in the location as indicated by the plans. Maybe I just don't have enough hours yet to know any better.

CJ, Tom's wife can fix you up with a couple of nice dogs if you are interested. She shows them.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:18 pm

I know!

We chatted today by PM. I am all "dog set" for now, though! Thanks anyways.

Wyatt would be jealous...

CJ

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 7:18 pm

It's such a small world. I just talked with Tom thru PM's, and found out that we know his wife's website very well, and have several other connections. I just sent a donation to his wife for a memorial fund for a Golden that passed a month or so ago! I had no idea! Too cool!!

Nice airplane Tom!!