Kneeboards, etc.

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 13:50:43 GMT, "Dudley Henriques"
wrote:


wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 01:28:57 GMT, "Dudley Henriques"
wrote:

I'm not a fan of kneeboards when used in yoke equipped aircraft. I had a
friend killed demonstrating a P38 while wearing a kneeboard that was
considered a major contributing cause in the crash.
As for GA airplanes with yokes, I just don't like the distance equation
between the yoke and the kneeboard as the yoke comes aft in it's normal
travel for positive pitch.
It's a judgment call of course, and some pilots do use them and haven't
complained of issues, but my business is flight safety, and I always make
it
a point to mention how I feel about kneeboards when asked, or when not
asked
:-) if someone posts here about using them.
Just be extremely careful and aware of the possible control confliction
issue.
Dudley Henriques


A very interesting reply Dudley. I have short legs so sit fully
forward in PA28/C172. I also make a point of reducing the seat height
to it's lowest to give maximum clearance for just that reason. When
checking for 'controls full & free movement' it's the mid range fully
left or right which affects me! Unfortunately my wife has very much
longer legs and I have to remember to warn her when I'm checking 'full
& free movement' :-)

David

As I said David, it's a toss up, like everything else in the add on goodies
category you can stuff in the cockpit with you :-)
A lot depends on the specific airplane you're flying as to exactly where
something will go. You can put something one place in one airplane that will
conflict like hell in the next one you fly.
The basic answer with these things is to be aware, which obviously you are.
What I would do in your case is to actually sit down in the cockpit of each
airplane of choice on the ramp and physically check your favored seat
position vs control movement vs the exact kneeboard of choice. You will
either find it's a non issue or a POSSIBLE issue. If it's a POSSIBLE issue
in any situation,(consider the crosswind flare carefully) then make your
decision based on this input.
Dudley Henriques


Dudley, thanks.
If there was any problem my answer is to keep my knees slightly
further apart and let the left side of the kneeboard fall between my
legs. As for my Wife she knows that she'll have to move!!!

Most 172's means I only get full rudder using the balls of my feet but
the Warrior allows me to be more flat footed, which I prefer!

As you say you need to just sit in the cockpit and work it all out.
I once deliberately made a X/wind landing in the Warrior with about
15Kt X/w and 25° flap, just to see if I could cope if I had to. I'm
pleased to say it went well and I'm still here, although one pilot
listening on the frequency said afterwards why on earth would you want
to do that :-) Why? for the same reason I took off to 200ft and did a
PFL to the runway, just to make sure I could, should the fan stop for
real.

David