Brief Description: Moving the Aileron/Elevator Controls
After installing the hammock and sitting inside the glider I decided that the range of motion for the aileron/elevator control was extremely limited and presented a serious hazard for a pilot of my size. I am 6'1" and my legs are about 5 inches in diameter. The original configuration would have meant that I would need to push my right leg toward the center of the glider to get just 15 degrees range of motion, and that would also mean that my right hand would be rubbing against the 40-grit texture on the interior of the glider. So, after much thought I decided that I would move the control to the center of the glider and have a control stick between my legs. This control stick will operate much like the yoke in a Cessna Skycatcher. The stick will slide forward and backward along a linear bearing to control elevator while the stick will rotate for the aileron. This will provide about a 20 degree range of motion (good), not involve placing my right leg behind my head (good), and not taking the skin off my right hand while flying (good). So, unfortunately I have some more fabricating and welding ahead of me. Still waiting on the new LiFePO4 batteries and EFIS to arrive and its 18 weeks till Airventure 2014.
