Yoke (aircraft)

Yoke (aircraft)
Aircraft Yoke
Yoke.png
The "W" shaped control yoke of a Boeing 737.

A yoke, alternatively known as control column, is a device used for piloting in most fixed-wing aircraft.[1]

Contents

Principle

The aviator uses the yoke to control the attitude of the plane, usually in both pitch and roll. Rotating the control wheel controls the ailerons and the roll axis. Fore and aft movement of the control column controls the elevator and the pitch axis.[1]

Small to medium-size aircraft, usually limited to propeller driven, feature a mechanical system whereby the yoke is connected directly to the control surfaces with cables and rods. Human muscle power alone is not enough for larger and more powerful aircraft, so hydraulic systems are used, in which yoke movements control hydraulic valves and actuators. In more modern aircraft, inputs may first be sent to a fly-by-wire system, which then sends a corresponding signal to actuators attached to the control surfaces. Yokes may feature a stick shaker, which is designed to help indicate the onset of stall, or even a stick pusher, which assists in stall recovery.[citation needed]

Styles

Yokes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, the most common being of a "U" or "W" design. Some aircraft use an "M" style, such as Embraer and Concorde. There are some rarer exotic or archaic styles, such as circular designs much like a steering wheel.

In larger aircraft they are usually mounted on a post protruding vertically from the floor, referred to as a control column. In most other planes, they are mounted on a horizontal tube that comes out of the instrument panel.

Advantages and disadvantages

Side-sticks and centre-sticks are better for making rapid control inputs and dealing with high g-forces, hence their use in military, sport, and aerobatic aircraft. However, yokes are less sensitive (i.e., more precise) thanks to a larger range of motion and provide more visual feedback to the pilot.[2]

Yokes take up more room than sidesticks in the cockpit, and may even obscure some instruments; by comparison, side-sticks have minimal cockpit intrusion, allowing for the inclusion of retractable tray-tables[3][4] and making it easier to enter/leave small cockpits.

A yoke, unlike a side-stick, may be used comfortably with either hand. This can be useful if one needs to write or manipulate other controls in the cockpit. This advantage is shared with the centre-stick.[2]

Ancillary functions

The yoke often incorporates other key functions such as housing thumb or finger buttons to enable the radio microphone, disengage the autopilot, and trim the aircraft. In addition, there may be a clipboard, checklist, or chronometer located in the yoke's centre.[5][6][7][8]

Alternative control systems

Yokes are not used on all aircraft. Helicopters use a cyclic[9] and the majority of military fighter aircraft use a centre or side-stick. Some light aircraft use a stick because some sport pilots prefer that control system. The latest Airbus family of passenger jets use a side-stick, not unlike a computer game controller, to actuate control surfaces.[10]

There are also computer input devices designed to simulate a yoke, intended for flight simulators.

Image gallery

See also

References


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Yoke (disambiguation) — A yoke is a device borne across the shoulders, e.g. for harnessing two draft animals together, or to assist in carrying heavy loads.Yoke may also refer to: *Yoke (aircraft), a control device *Yoke (Lake District), a high point in Cumbria, England …   Wikipedia

  • Aircraft flight control systems — consist of flight control surfaces, the respective cockpit controls, connecting linkages, and the necessary operating mechanisms to control an aircraft s direction in flight. Aircraft engine controls are also considered as flight controls as they …   Wikipedia

  • Aircraft attitude — is used to mean two closely related aspects of the situation of an aircraft in flight.DefinitionsIn the simplest use it is the orientation of an aircraft with respect to the horizon. This is a function of two angles: pitch and roll. The pitch… …   Wikipedia

  • Aircraft dope — 2699 a World War I Royal Aircraft Factory B.E.2 finished in a clear (non coloured) dope Aircraft dope is a plasticised lacquer that is applied to fabric covered aircraft. It tautens and stiffens fabric stretched over airframes and renders them… …   Wikipedia

  • yoke — The control column of a large aircraft, including the control wheel or the ram’s horn. Back and forth movement of the yoke operates the elevators, whereas sideway movement operates the ailerons …   Aviation dictionary

  • Cirrus Aircraft — Type Private Industry Aerospace Founded 1984 Headquarters Dul …   Wikipedia

  • Rib (aircraft) — Rib Wing ribs of a de Havilland DH.60 Moth In an aircraft, ribs are forming elements of the structure of a wing, especially in traditional construction. By analogy with the anatomical definition of rib , the ribs attach to the main spar, and …   Wikipedia

  • Pointing device — A pointing device is an input interface (specifically a human interface device) that allows a user to input spatial (ie, continuous and multi dimensional) data to a computer. CAD systems and graphical user interfaces (GUI) allow the user to… …   Wikipedia

  • South African Airways Flight 201 — Infobox Airliner accident|name=South African Airways Flight 201 Date=8 April 1954 Type=In flight metal fatigue failure Site=Mediterranean between Naples/Stromboli Origin=London Heathrow Airport Last stopover=Ciampino Airport… …   Wikipedia

  • De Havilland Comet — Infobox Aircraft name= DH.106 Comet type= Airliner manufacturer= de Havilland caption= A Royal Air Force Comet C.2 in flight. first flight= 27 July 1949 introduced= 2 May 1952 with BOAC retired= status=In military service only primary user= BOAC… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”