Author Topic: the yokes on you? (Read 460 times)

KG45 · « **on:** October 17, 2002, 12:28:06 PM »

this may have been brought up before, but why did the P-38 have a yoke/wheel instead of a stick like most of it contemporaries?

DingHao2 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 17, 2002, 07:12:50 PM »

With a yoke, the pilot can use more of his upper body strength.

LLv34_Camouflage · « **Reply #2 on:** October 17, 2002, 07:20:33 PM »

The design of the P38 steering column shows again what a genius Kurt Tank was. He designed it so that the pilots would have to keep both hands on the wheel. To operate the throttle and other levers, the pilot would have to fly with one hand on the wheel, seriously hampering the ability to maneuver. This gave the enemy pilots a significant edge in air combat.

Camo

OIO · « **Reply #3 on:** October 18, 2002, 06:42:08 PM »

Kelly's reasoning was that unlike other planes, it would require pilots with something more than "wrist time".

Thus, the 38's had the yoke, requiring "2 hands" .. of which only those that did the REAL thing (or had it so big 2 hands were required) would fly it.

The result? All american highest scoring aces flew the 38.

And Kurt Tank barely used 2 fingers FYI. To fish it out.

john9001 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 18, 2002, 06:59:08 PM »

well , it could be because the P38 had two engines and so had two of all engines controls,and because of space limitations the controls had to be placed on both sides of the cockpit and the pilot had to use both hands to work the switches and levers so instead of switching hands on a stick they gave the pilot a yoke to make the job easyer, well maybe

whgates3 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 18, 2002, 11:12:39 PM »

maybe they thought it would be a good idea to let the pilot use both hands trying to pull out of compression dives

Innominate · « **Reply #6 on:** October 18, 2002, 11:14:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by whgates3
maybe they thought it would be a good idea to let the pilot use both hands trying to pull out of compression dives

nah, the pilots could move the elevator, problem is nothing happened.

fdiron · « **Reply #7 on:** October 20, 2002, 09:37:54 AM »

In a compression dive, full elevator deflection PLUS elevator trim would work. Worked on P38, P47, and Me262.

BUG_EAF322 · « **Reply #8 on:** October 20, 2002, 12:31:36 PM »

The Lightning is just a real original concept.

And Kurt tank is just gay

Anyway the head of the lightning project moved to skunkworks after the war.

No wonder

Angus · « **Reply #9 on:** October 21, 2002, 02:37:50 PM »

Just wondering....
Does anyone have P38 cockpit pictures?

Innominate · « **Reply #10 on:** October 21, 2002, 02:51:25 PM »

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/p38cp-2.jpg

Puck · « **Reply #11 on:** October 21, 2002, 05:19:17 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by BUG_EAF322
The Lightning is just a real original concept.

And Kurt tank is just gay

Anyway the head of the lightning project moved to skunkworks after the war.

No wonder

I've always thought Kurt Tank and Kelly Johnson should have been locked in a room for a couple weeks until they came out with a fighter design.

What a marvelous thing that would have been...in six years after the rest of the world caught up to them and ironed all the kinks out...

KG45 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 24, 2002, 12:03:10 PM »

so, i guess this means nobody knows?

Tac · « **Reply #13 on:** October 24, 2002, 12:06:21 PM »

They already answered you KG.

A yoke allowed the pilot to use both his arms to control the plane (remember, no hydraulics back then, pure muscle power) more effectively.

AtmkRstr · « **Reply #14 on:** October 26, 2002, 10:35:47 AM »

The 38 originally had a bad roll rate didn't it? Maybe the yoke makes it easier to put mussle on the ailerons.
From what I understand, later 38s had hydraulic ailerons, giving the 38 the amazing roll, as seen in the AH version.