Question
: How come seaplanes, amphibians, even some carrier aircraft (eg, DHC-6 Twin Otter, DHC-2 Beaver, Grumman Goose, S2F1 Tracker, etc) have their throttles on the ceiling? Why not the floor? Isn't it inconvenient for the pilots to have to reach up every time they want to change the throttle settings?
Answer : We spoke with Dave Thurston, an experienced engineer and author of two outstanding books on aircraft design, Design for Flying and Design for Safety, about this question. In addition to being the designer of the Colonial Skimmer, the original aircraft that later became the Lake Buccaneer. Dave worked as a design engineer for Grumman for many years, and is intimately familiar with the reasons for the use of overhead throttles. He tells us that first and foremost, the reason the throttle are overhead is due to a physiological issue related to the g-forces encountered during water landings. At times, forces as high as 3 gs can be registered on contact with the water, and by having the throttles hanging down from a pivot point above, it's nearly impossible for the hand of the pilot to bend the throttle. When the downward force is encountered, the pilot's hands will move downward as well, so the force is applied to the throttle in a way that will not damage the linkage, and it will not likely result in an abrupt throttle position change. With a panel mounted throttle, it's likely that a higher-g landing on the water (or on the deck of a carrier) would result in a bent throttle. Also, the rigging for an overhead throttle system is less complex. Finally, Dave tells us that pilots who fly aircraft equipped with such a throttle system don't find it inconvenient, but instead find it to be in just the right spot for accurate and comfortable throttle use. Best Regards, H.G. Frautschy Executive Director, EAA's Vintage Aircraft Association Editor, Vintage Airplane magazine
1001 Aviation Photos | Ask the Expert | This Day in Aviation | Airplane of the Month
Privacy Policy 
