A Sidestick controller is a lightweight control stick that is located off to the side of the pilot.[1] It is lighter, and better for aircraft with high G maneuvering capabilities.[1] It does not impede the ejection sequence and does not block any flight instruments in front of the pilot.[1] There is a tendency for sidestick-controlled aircraft to be more PIO-prone.[1] Sidesticks are used in conjunction with nonlinear gains, command pre-filters, and signal shaping logic.[1] If the sidestick is not aligned with the pilot’s arm, and it does not have force feedback, it is easy for the pilot to inadvertently apply full deflection commands that may lead to a PIO.[1] Force-sensing sidestick controllers are superior to force sensing center sticks, and displacement sidesticks.[2] The force-sensing sidestick controller have superior high-g tracking, allow easier access to the control panel.[2] The force transducers simplify the inputs, and the pitch and roll axes are better oriented to the pilot’s arm and shoulder muscles.[2]
[[F-16]] – used sidestick controller
[[Wright Flyer]] – single-axis sidestick
[[XB-48]]
[[NT-33A]] – used a unique sidestick controller with up-down rotating around the pilot’s wrist.
[[X-15 Ballistic Control mode]] – used sidestick
[[X-15]] – used sidestick and centerstick as primary control
[[B-47]] – had a FBW program to evaluate the sidestick controller
[[F-104 Starfighter]] – USAF fitted two F-104’s with sidestick controllers
[[Gulfstream]] – some gulfstream aircraft use sidestick controllers
[[Disadvantages of DFBW]] – sidesticks may cause problems not found in other control interceptors
[[Su-27]]
[[VISTA configuration]] – uses a programmable sidestick in the front cockpit.
[[F-8 DFBW Flight Control System]] – evaluated sidestick controllers
Have Blue – used a early F-16 sidestick
[[B-47 Fly-By-Wire]] – used a sidestick controller
Roll Ratchet – common with sidestick controllers
[[B-26]] – tested a sidestick controller
[[B-58 Flight Control System]] – tested a sidestick controller system
F-4 Phantom – tested a sidestick controller
[[F-105 Flight Control System]] – tested a sidestick controller
F-106 Flight Control System]] – tested a sidestick controller
[[A-4 Flight Control System]] – tested a sidestick controller
[[A-6 Intruder]] – tested a sidestick controller
[[A-7 Corsair 2]] – tested a sidestick controller
Sources
- [1] B. J. Goszkowicz, “Sidestick Controllers During High Gain Tasks”.
- [2] C. A. Anderson, “DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTIVE FLY-BY-WIRE FLIGHT CONTROL SYSTEM”.
Backlinks
[[Centerstick Controller]]
F-16 PIO taxi-test
History of Digital Fly-By-Wire
Pilot-Induced Oscillations