Eric Greenwell wrote:


Is there an operational reason for putting the brake on the stick
instead of the spoiler? As opposed to, say, cost reasons?

I've always preferred the wheel brake on the spoiler handle, even though
it sometimes confused people when they saw the spoilers open as the
towplane began to take up slack.



I have had gliders that did it both ways, and it seems to me that it is
easier to modulate the brake in small amounts with your hand than with
your entire arm. But that could just be me.

I notice that the new 304S still has the bicycle brake lever, but has
moved it to the spoiler handle. It would seem that there are advantages
to getting it off the stick, including the possibility of having the
lever directly act on the hydraulic cylinder. I wonder if the 304S does
it that way, or still uses a bicycle cable going to the cylinder.