SonexBuilders.net

I am close to finishing my 2.0 aerovee engine assy. I have all of my avionics and engine instruments. During the course of the winter
I would like to have the insrument panel and engine mounting finished. I am still trying to decide if I want the
throttle in the center or on the left side panel. If it is in the center, do the flap and brakes need to be center mounted as well.
Push pull throttle, or the sonex pull type? I would like a button type mixture control, any suggestions on one that works well? Are lever type circuit breaker switches ok vs breakers or fuses?
Mark #1242

Mark,
A lot of it is personal preference, but I believe you need to pull to open at the throttle for an aerocarb. If you use a Cessna type throttle then you will need a reversing linkage. Regarding switch breakers, they are a good way to save panel space. I used them in my C140 restoration in my previous life.

As far as "human factors" go, it's definitely advisable to have the throttle, flaps, and brakes all accessible with the same hand. This way you can operate everything without having to take your hand off of the yoke. Imagine doing a touch-and-go in a gusty crosswind, having to dance your hands around to move the flaps and throttle while maintaining yoke inputs to keep the plane on centerline.

I originally had center throttle and mixture with left side flap and brake. Kerry saw the picture after my first flight and emailed me. He said they believe all the controls should be on the same side. Either all on left for right hand stick or all in the center for left hand stick right hand throttle (my preference). I moved the flap and brake to the center and it is much easier to control. I did however leave the trim on the side wall but its not an issue there. I usually adjust it with my right hand.

*

grevaly wrote:I am close to finishing my 2.0 aerovee engine assy. I have all of my avionics and engine instruments. During the course of the winter
I would like to have the insrument panel and engine mounting finished. I am still trying to decide if I want the
throttle in the center or on the left side panel. If it is in the center, do the flap and brakes need to be center mounted as well.
Mark #1242

As someone who flew the vast majority of his hours in 172's and Piper Warriors, with all the controls in the center, at my right hand, I can honestly say that transitioning to all the controls on the left side (Citabria, Decathalon, Cub, and now my Sonex) took about 15 minutes. Your mileage may vary, but I found it a non-issue. But definitely the controls should all be in the same location, no matter which one you choose.

Rynoth wrote:As far as "human factors" go, it's definitely advisable to have the throttle, flaps, and brakes all accessible with the same hand. This way you can operate everything without having to take your hand off of the yoke. Imagine doing a touch-and-go in a gusty crosswind, having to dance your hands around to move the flaps and throttle while maintaining yoke inputs to keep the plane on centerline.

As a longtime CFI, I completely agree with Ryan on this one. Choose whatever you'd like but a wise choice is to design your layout so you can have one hand on the stick and the other hand can manipulate throttle, mixture, flaps, brake, etc. A very wise safety choice.

Thanks for your advise, I will be carefull to make it simple, everything I have flown before was left hand on the yoke the rt hand did everything else. If I went to center throttle, is it difficult to move brakes and flaps to the center and does that location take away leg room?
Any suggestions for a mixture control? I was thinking of something with a button type lock,

I just purchased the A700 mixture control from aircraft spruce. Red knob with push button lock.