Warbird Information Exchange

very cool site. It's neat to see the cockpits of airplanes that you're so familiar with the outside of.

Looking at the PBY Catalina it reminded me about how odd the control column is on them. Why is it that both control columns are so solidly attached to eachother? It just seems like overkill and I'd think it would really get in the way. Mind you, that box of switches in the middle can be brought to you, instead of having to lean forward to get at them.

Can anyone explain why they built the control columns like this?

Cheers,

David

One of the reasons they built control columns this way was that there were few aircraft with any power-boosting on the controls at this time (P-38's the only one I can think of off the top of my head). Big aircraft, like the PBY, required a lot of force to control in some situations (like pulling out of a dive) and needed the strength from two pilots on occaision. Having the columns linked this way was also an efficient and effective means of control too.

Richard

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Richard Mallory Allnutt - Photography - http://www.rmallnutt.com

The B-26 panel is interesting........with the access to the nose down by the co-pilots legs. Also interesting how the instruments are laid out and the non-similar control wheels.


Ted