Why do plane and helicopter pilots have to pysically fight with their control stick when flying and something goes wrong?
In: Engineering
Another pilot here. All the controls in my plane are directly connected to the yoke and pedals (manual). When airflow is low, especially during slow flight such as during landings, controls require exaggerated expression. They don’t have much lift being generated to cause a change.
Alternatively, very strong winds in lighter aircraft can definitely cause you to fight. They can quickly push you and change your pitch, yaw, and roll (these are the axis of motion). In this case you have to counter the effects of the wind.
Most of this is experienced extensively by all pilots in training. But it can take real physical effort (without much return from the controls). Usually however, you fly with “two fingers”. A light touch will do it 9 times out of 10 if you’re trimmed in (tuned controls to stable). Remember, flight is across long distances and you generally navigate on 10° increments (eg 010° – 360°) or smaller so planes must fly on small movements and corrections not grant turns like you see on movies.
The only times I’ve ever done movement like that when not training and with passengers was during some landings where the wind goes dead on me or once with an engine out on takeoff with about 400 feet below me to return to runway.
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