anyone grab their stick with both hands?

I'm guessing if you're flying a DC3 or a B25 maybe you get a pass using two hands on the yoke. For anything most of us fly, um,

no.
 
I learned in a C162 Skycatcher, single stick yoke, made it easy for me to get past the "two-handed" approach, there was no room for two hands on that and if I tried I would have looked silly.

I switched to a C172 and one of the things the CFI said to me during our first flight was now you a yoke with two sides but guess what, you only get to use one. Enroute I've flown with two hands (rarely) and maybe ONCE I've used two hands to land, but it felt awkward, haven't done it again.

Going farther back to a 152 I trained in (the first flight I took) I used two hands and the instructor admonished me saying that you should be able to fly a plane with your pinky and your thumb if it's properly setup.
 
Every single person I see try to land with two hands over controls the hell out of the airplane. I won't typically say anything if I'm just doing a flight review or IPC with someone. But if I'm doing extensive training, or they're a primary student, I prohibit it.
 
Sac Arrow said:
I'm guessing if you're flying a DC3 or a B25 maybe you get a pass using two hands on the yoke. For anything most of us fly, um,

no.
Click to expand...
Even in those two airplanes you don't NEED two hands.

Only time I could have used two hands in the DC-3 is holding the heavy azz elevator up while taxiing.....but, I couldn't because I still needed that second hand to control the throttles for taxiing.

If you are the FO, the way you taxi the DC-3 is to pull the yoke back and cradle it with your arm against your chest and hold it there while you work the throttles. If you are the Captain.....you have the FO hold the yoke back for you.

In those airplanes, we do use two hands on the yoke during takeoff though (like the jet folks do), but that is for a very different reason entirely.
 
Fearless Tower said:
...In those airplanes, we do use two hands on the yoke during takeoff though (like the jet folks do), but that is for a very different reason entirely.
Click to expand...


My reason was "just for the hell of it". That's all. It's not a habit, I'm not justifying it, I don't 'need' to do it.
 
I get nervous if my hand is off the throttle for long, even in cruise.

In landing throttle is a primary control, I would not keep a hand off it any more than I'd land with my feet off the rudder pedals.
 
Fearless Tower said:
I know a guy who could 3-point a Beech 18 hands off.
Click to expand...

Most every pilot who flew them regularly could. Some of the old freighters were awesome. I mean like high cross winds squeekers
 
Tom-D said:
Most every pilot who flew them regularly could. Some of the old freighters were awesome. I mean like high cross winds squeekers
Click to expand...
It depends on the model. Apparently the original WWII ones (C Model) would three point very easily. As the model developed, they kept modifying the angle of the horizontal stabilizer to achieve higher cruise speeds to the point where the low speed handling was not conducive to safely three-pointing.
 
James331 said:
For landing keeping one hand on the yoke and the other on the power is a VERY important habit to develop.
Click to expand...

I'll add takeoffs too. A few weeks ago on a breakfast run, I let my buddy fly over, and I flew back. The climbout was very bumpy and I was using both hands on the yoke for while. I was over very rough terrain and was only climbing a couple hundred feet per minute and couldn't understand why. RPM was at 2700, flaps were in, and needless to say, I was concerned. I told the right seater about it and said I don't understand why it isn't climbing better cause I'm at 100% power, and he looked at the JPI and said, No you're not". Sure enough, he had loosened my throttle friction on the flight over and unbeknownst to me, it had crept out and I was at 50% power.
 
JohnAJohnson said:
I'll add takeoffs too. A few weeks ago on a breakfast run, I let my buddy fly over, and I flew back. The climbout was very bumpy and I was using both hands on the yoke for while. I was over very rough terrain and was only climbing a couple hundred feet per minute and couldn't understand why. RPM was at 2700, flaps were in, and needless to say, I was concerned. I told the right seater about it and said I don't understand why it isn't climbing better cause I'm at 100% power, and he looked at the JPI and said, No you're not". Sure enough, he had loosened my throttle friction on the flight over and unbeknownst to me, it had crept out and I was at 50% power.
Click to expand...

Good reason I only take my hand off the power on initial climb out is to raise the gear...
 
jesse said:
Every single person I see try to land with two hands over controls the hell out of the airplane. I won't typically say anything if I'm just doing a flight review or IPC with someone. But if I'm doing extensive training, or they're a primary student, I prohibit it.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. I'm slightly less concerned about not having a hand on the throttle (though that's a big issue), but I have yet to fly with someone who can smoothly fly down final to a flare with both hands on the yoke. Always, always, always ends up over-controlling.
 
Yeah good point John, I get "throttle creep" on my plane as well. I've gotten used to (on takeoffs) not taking my hand off the power for any reason until at least 700 ft. I've forgotten a few times and had the same problem (not as bad as 50% power, but still).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top