Fast jets

[iiyama]

Was watching that program with the McGregor brothers this morning. Saw it first time round and quite enjoyed it for what it was, however something caught my ear this morning which had strangly passed me by last time round.

The brother that was in the RAF did "training" to fly a Spit, this included a Tigermoth and a Harvard. Obviously these are both piston engined/prop driven aircraft and will be subject to torque which I assume is something alien to a fast jet pilot.

What caught my ear was the fact that he alluded to the fact that fast jets don't have rudder pedals, is this the case? If so how is yaw controlled? Twist grip or the like?

[Eric Mc]

Tornado GR4 front cockpit.

Those look like quite big rudder pedals to me.

[Skii]

No, they all still have rudder pedals, pilots are less reliant on them due to fly by wire and computer stabilised airframes. Still used for nosewheel steering as well.

[iiyama]

TV land is wonderful isn't it? And to think he actually flew GR4's as well.

[LimaDelta]

IIRC Pilatus make a two-seat turboprop "fast-jet" trainer, which has little boxes of magic which automatically counter any adverse yaw, allowing it to be flown with both feet flat on the floor, like real fast jets.

[Simpo Two]

LimaDelta said:

IIRC Pilatus make a two-seat turboprop "fast-jet" trainer, which has little boxes of magic which automatically counter any adverse yaw, allowing it to be flown with both feet flat on the floor, like real fast jets.

In other words ailerons and rudder are proportionally/variably linked with electronic gubbins - a sort of 3D version of variable power steering in cars I guess.


Pilot - electronic gubbins - control surfaces. Yep, looks good

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

For the average FJ pilot the rudder pedals are used for steering on the ground but become foot rests in the air.

[Mojocvh]

[quote=Eric Mc]Tornado GR4 front cockpit.

Those look like quite big rudder pedals to me.

Toe brakes.

[Eric Mc]

Mojocvh]ric Mc said:

Tornado GR4 front cockpit.

Those look like quite big rudder pedals to me.

Toe brakes.

Are they not combined? Most rudder pedals operate the brakes too. They certainly did on the Cessnas I used to fly.

[MarkK]

Mojocvh said:

Toe brakes.

You must have bloody big toes!

[Bosshogg76]

Eric Mc said:

Are they not combined? Most rudder pedals operate the brakes too. They certainly did on the Cessnas I used to fly.

yep, all combined brakes, rudder and nose wheel steering

[Ginge R]

The accident report of Tornado ZE982, from 2009, made reference to potentially inappropriate rudder input at low level.

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploa...