wrote:

There have been gliders with small sidesticks (original Zuni, HP-18,
Monerai) but sidesticks have not really caught on - probably because
they make it really hard to fly left (or both) handed - which can be
useful during some cockpit chores.
Note that some newer designs do feature sidesticks though, the Diana 2 being
one of them. It's not a dead concept.

The problem with a real short sidestick is the motion becomes a bit
awkward, especially in pitch, while with a longer stick the arm can be
rested on the pilot's leg and precise control is easy.
I have never flown one, but can't you rest your hand on the side just as
well?

Control wheels in small airplanes are abominations, mainly there to
make the spamcan seem either like a car (Arrgh!) or a DC-3. How manly.
Note that the new crop of lightplanes have more sticks in them -
including sidesticks, which open up the cockpit a lot. Also, the trend
in large military (B-1, C-17) and commercial fly-by-wire planes is also
to sticks, since the leverage provided by a wheel is no longer
required. Boeing is an exception in it's commercial designs - the 777
could have used a stick. It will be interesting to see if the 787
keeps a wheel, now that the B-1 and C-17 are Boeing planes.
Airbus uses only sidesticks nowadays, I believe. There also have been
cardesigns using sidesticks, but they are not allowed (here) because of
regulations that forbid "drive by wire" somehow.

André