I have to keep one hand on the throttle in the C150 I hire as the friction nut is either so tight you cannot operate the throttle or so loose that the throttle rod just falls in/out by itself.
But then was always taught to fly with one hand on the yoke and one hand always on the throttle unless trimming, changing frequency, blowing your nose etc
Let me add: it always bothered me when people use TWO hands to fly a Cessna or Piper. The second hand MIGHT be necessary sometimes in the flare while landing a Seneca or Baron - with a light single enginge It should (i think) stay on the throttle.
By the way, the sidestick is a life saver. Now, when you crash you don't have that steering wheel in front of you to cause injury. As said before, I fly over 300 hours per year in the Cirrus and love the aircraft and its features, but it is an advanced aircraft and the G1000/Perspective systems is not a beginners system. Taken that, I would not want to fly another aircraft or it must be a TBM850/PA46 for that matter or the upcoming Cirrus jet.
That might be true, because you simply can't get good with the G1000 if you don't fly it a lot. Mine has an Avidyne cockpit plus DFC90 autopilot and while that combination is much easier to learn - it still takes time until you can fly it SAFELY. There's some dangerous traps to avoid and even if the Avidyne Entegra is much more simple it has enough features to confuse the newcomer. And you have to be really good with those GNS430s!
Since the Cirrus is normally flown on A/P
I do not fly the Cirrus any more on autopilot than any other aircraft with a good autopilot... and I have seen pilots over-rely on autopilot on something as modern as a Cherokee Six.
Quite to the contrary, I hazard a guess that most Cirrus non-owner pilots don't even use 20% of the capability of the G1000 and the autopilot.
Well I for one am RIGHT handed but I fly every plane with my left hand because the right hand is on the throttle. Since the Cirrus is nirmally flown on A/P you can of course alwways use your left hand to write if necessary.
THe whole discussion about the Side Yoke (there is no *Side stick") is really somewhat artificial because you fly it pretty much the same as any other aircraft. What's true is that you have to avoid a fuel imbalance or you need a lot of aileron trim to avoid pressure on the wrist.
Ah but a correlation does not prove a causal relationship.
Left-handedness correlates with something else too.
I leave it to you to research that.
Let me give you a clue... the same thing also correlates with a higher income (which of course anyway correlates with a higher IQ).
So do people commonly injure their left hands in flight? ;)
I did, though I wont claim that seriosuly alters the statistics -), and while whatever needed a plaster, I'd have still managed to fly with that hand if I needed to. But the point is, that sometimes these things happen, and when they do, you could imagine it would be more annoying when it's the hand that's also on the side of the stick. As I say, its a bit of a trivial point, and I guess I am just expressing my general dislike for them (up to and including the Airbus).
JasonC
Yes, I realised that. My post wasn't directed at yours :)
Actually I think we could have uncovered the problem. The pilot flying is normally in the left seat with a left sidestick. Now if you are lefthanded, that is fine. As a lefthander you are also likely to be more intelligent so those tricky electronics will be easier for you.
The problem comes when the slightly less bright majority righthander population flies the plane. Unable to retain control with their near useless left hand they are forced to use their right to activate the autopilot. Fortunately the parachute is also able to be operated with the right hand.
Jonzarno, I knew it was a joke. As was my comment.
