Plane guys--a couple of questions

[Oh Haha]

Ok, feeling clueless about this.

I was watching some F16 videos and wondered how the pilot works the throttle.


Is it levers like on a 747 or with a pedal?


One other---what do you if you have to pee in a small plane? Seriously, I have to plan stops on drives. Obviously, you can't just land at a Sunoco to use the bathroom.

[peppy]

BYOB with a big hole in it...Gatorade bottles work very well

[Embraer]

lever for throttle on left., stick on the right.

if you have to pee, gatorade bottles (with the big opening) work great.

[ODDJOB UNO]

since all new planes are "fly by wire" the pilot/ co-pilot have all these wires in the cockpit they pull to go uppy and downey, hence fly by wire. simple huh?


soon it will be "fly by wireless"! go figure...................

[Porsche-O-Phile]

You can pee out the storm window in a pinch. The negative pressure on the outside of the fuselage sucks it right out and you don't get any inside the plane. You do have to be a bit of a contortionist though.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

You can pee out the storm window in a pinch. The negative pressure on the outside of the fuselage sucks it right out and you don't get any inside the plane. You do have to be a bit of a contortionist though.

Yes, I know this from experience. Don't ask.

[crustychief]

Throttle lever on the left hand side.
Pee out the relief tube.

[crustychief]

Pilot Relief Systems

[James Brown]

In a F-16, there is an acronym called HOTAS (hands on throttle and stick) all the controls for flying and shooting are on them. pilot doesn't have to move his hands from ether in combat. Also, the stick does not move, it responds to the pilot "bending" it (strain gages) and it is on the right side. But, on long flights there is a autopilot and pilots carry "piddle packs" There like waterproof zip lock bags with a compressed sponge in it. Pee and seal. dispose back at the base.

[Joeaksa]

Not all throttles are on the left side. Depends on which airplane we are talking about and which seat you are in. Captain on a B-747 has the throttles in his right hand. Copilot has them in their left hand.

Most of the more advanced planes these days have ATS, auto throttle system. You set the speed you want the plane to fly and the ATS moves the throttles for you. You push them forwards on takeoff (or hit the ATS button) and its in auto mode. You do not touch them again until landing.

Ditto on the Gatoraid bottles. Much easier to use!

[m21sniper]

Fighter pilots wear diapers for long missions.

An F-16 uses HOTAS controls. The throttle is controlled with your left hand, the stick is in your right. The stick does not actually move, it is entirely pressure dependent.

I have flown a USAF F-16 simulator several times.

[rick-l]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

An F-16 uses HOTAS controls. )

Hands On Throttle And Stick refers to controls on the throttle and stick that allow you to control other functions without removing your hands from the flight controls. Things like scroll a cursor, designate a selection etc.

Some fly by wire controls do move and have motors that simulate what the response to the input should be.

[Hard-Deck]

Navy/USMC fighters have throttle on left, stick between legs with HOTAS. Pi$s goes into a "piddle pack".....you pee in, it turns to gell, seal it, throw it away after deplaning.

I've never worn diapers in my plane.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by m21sniper

Fighter pilots wear diapers for long missions.

I have flown a USAF F-16 simulator several times.

The "diaper" is not a lot of fun to wear but is in a lot of ways the same as what the NASA people wear. Its for liquid use only, and you are put on a "low bulk" diet a day or three before hand to keep from having any solids looking for a home.

If you can fly the sim, you can fly the jet. They make the sim just a bit more difficult so that if you can pass the check in the sim they are sure you can fly the real thing.

[Hard-Deck]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

The "diaper" is not a lot of fun to wear but is in a lot of ways the same as what the NASA people wear. Its for liquid use only, and you are put on a "low bulk" diet a day or three before hand to keep from having any solids looking for a home.

If you can fly the sim, you can fly the jet. They make the sim just a bit more difficult so that if you can pass the check in the sim they are sure you can fly the real thing.

Yeah, right.....ever done 8g in your chair at home?

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

Yeah, right.....ever done 8g in your chair at home?

You cannot simulate everything, just do the best you can.

I can guarantee you that if a student cannot fly the sim, that they will as well not be able to fly the jet. Have seen this many times...

[Hard-Deck]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

You cannot simulate everything, just do the best you can.

I can guarantee you that if a student cannot fly the sim, that they will as well not be able to fly the jet. Have seen this many times...

Yes....if you're talking basic flying, stick-n-rudder stuff you're correct. The skill of flying and the art of aviation being different discussions.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by Snapper33

Yes....if you're talking basic flying, stick-n-rudder stuff you're correct. The skill of flying and the art of aviation being different discussions.

If you cannot get past the "stick and rudder" portion of this, then you do not need to go any further.

I have been an IP for a lot of students who could memorize the book, charts and so on, and worked the EFIS like a dream, but turn them upside down and they turned green (especially on St. Paddys day!) and became a veggie.

In the end you have to be able to fly the jet and a sim weeds a lot of them out who cannot master this, but once past that point you gotta put them in a real jet and go out and play.

[Hard-Deck]

Originally Posted by Joeaksa

If you cannot get past the "stick and rudder" portion of this, then you do not need to go any further.

I have been an IP for a lot of students who could memorize the book, charts and so on, and worked the EFIS like a dream, but turn them upside down and they turned green (especially on St. Paddys day!) and became a veggie.

In the end you have to be able to fly the jet and a sim weeds a lot of them out who cannot master this, but once past that point you gotta put them in a real jet and go out and play.

Agreed.

The way I learned was to get in a real airplane and start under the hood on the first hop.....that'll weed out the noncapable.

[Oh Haha]

Great info, guys!!! Thank you.

I've never been into planes but I sure respect you guys that fly, privately or for a living.