Stirring the Pot

[slick1537]

I have a bad habit of stirring the cycling around. My instructor even told me I was doing it during instrument training. On my private check ride I guess the examiner noticed it but forgot to tell my instructor until like a week later. They said it is very important I break this habit. I would notice it sometimes during VFR and consciously stop it, however I had no idea I was even doing it "under the hood" on the IFR flights I have done so far. Anyone have special techniques they have used or heard of to break this bad habit? My instructor says next flight he wants me to fly with 2 fingers and my thumb and keep my wrist firm on my thy.

 

Anyone else stir the pot?

[PhotoFlyer]

Relax and rest your arm on your leg so that you can feel it moving if it is.

[Goldy]

Anyone else stir the pot?

 

And I here I thought you meant replying to posts in a manner which stirs responses...of which I am guilty of many times over !!

 

But since I am here, I always fly with both hands rested on something...right hand on thigh, left thumb on the seat cushion with the left hand on collective...small leverage allows for small movements !

 

Goldy

[rodrop]

So what does one do, if their arms can't reach their leg when sitting? My very first CFI told me to rest my arm on my leg(s) and when he saw that it doesn't reach ... we both laughed...

 

 

I also invisioned "stirring the pot"... a little differently, I guess I have been reading this forum too much the last month or so...alot of pot stirrers (in a good way).

[JDHelicopterPilot]

So what does one do, if their arms can't reach their leg when sitting? My very first CFI told me to rest my arm on my leg(s) and when he saw that it doesn't reach ... we both laughed...

 

 

I also invisioned "stirring the pot"... a little differently, I guess I have been reading this forum too much the last month or so...alot of pot stirrers (in a good way).

 

I thought the same thing about the pot stirring. There was one student I saw that had a "bean bag" type of thing he would rest on his right leg. This offered a "platform" for him to be able to rest his arm on where he wouldn't have been able to before. Maybe that would work for you?

 

You could also try adjusting the pedals so your legs are not so streched out. If the pedals are already as close you can get them and want to move closer, there is a seat back "booster" that is made you can use.

[PhotoFlyer]

I thought the same thing about the pot stirring. There was one student I saw that had a "bean bag" type of thing he would rest on his right leg. This offered a "platform" for him to be able to rest his arm on where he wouldn't have been able to before. Maybe that would work for you?

 

You could also try adjusting the pedals so your legs are not so streched out. If the pedals are already as close you can get them and want to move closer, there is a seat back "booster" that is made you can use.

 

I made something similar out of foam and a cheapo kneeboard for one of my smaller statured students. Basically just some high density foam from an upholstery shop glued to a cheapo kneeboard and then trimmed down with an electric carving knife. Next time I see her I will take a photo.

[slick1537]

Well I am 5'10" about average height I think everything is pretty comfortable. I don't really know how I developed the habit, but people say its because you like to feel a response through the cyclic. I will give it a little more attention next time I am in the helicopter to see if maybe I have short arms or something .

[rodrop]

All good comments...thanks for the insight..

I by no means think I am short, 5'7" (tall for a girl) pedals all the way but I can not touch my elbow to rest on my thigh. I might try the foam board thing and see if that works.

 

Also...note...nobody is stirring the pot...what...no trouble makers in the group?

[Chopperjess]

I have problems being able to rest it on my leg.. And I have to be pretty concious about how I'm holding and controling the cyclic. I'm 4 foot 11, and the height thing is really annoying in the helicopter. I bought myself a back cushion, and I can reach the pedals fully, and everything else.. Just can't rest the cyclic on my leg still ><

[BOATFIXERGUY]

And I here I thought you meant replying to posts in a manner which stirs responses...of which I am guilty of many times over !!

 

But since I am here, I always fly with both hands rested on something...right hand on thigh, left thumb on the seat cushion with the left hand on collective...small leverage allows for small movements !

 

Goldy

 

I was thinking the same thing...

 

I do the same as you. Resting your arms on your legs really helps to stabilize your movements.

[mrjibbs]

take a broom stick (sans broom head) and stick out your index finger and try to balance the broom stick on you index finger. Try doing this for about 10 minutes a couple times a day until you reach the point that any movements you make to keep the balance is incredibly small and precise. Then to add difficulty, put the broom head back on and perfect it again. Surprisingly it works pretty good to help stop "stirring the pot" and minimize inputs.

[Goldy]

Also...note...nobody is stirring the pot...what...no trouble makers in the group?

 

Oh, you have no idea how much trouble I cause !!

[Gomer Pylot]

You don't want your elbow on your thigh, your wrist should be there. I generally fly with my wrist on my thigh, but often just hold the cyciic, depending on my mood at the time. Admittedly, I've had a lot of practice and don't really think about it any more, I just fly. In a Robinson, I'm not sure how to do it, with the weirdo cyclic. With a normal cyclic, you can hold it anywhere along it and it works.

[rodrop]

Oh, you have no idea how much trouble I cause !!

I can only guess...how many people have their avatar upside down...or is that your normal way of flying????

[Goldy]

I can only guess...how many people have their avatar upside down...or is that your normal way of flying????

 

 

You can loop a 22, but only for a second....and only one time !

[aviatr]

I made something similar out of foam and a cheapo kneeboard for one of my smaller statured students. Basically just some high density foam from an upholstery shop glued to a cheapo kneeboard and then trimmed down with an electric carving knife. Next time I see her I will take a photo.

 

I adjust the pedals and rest my arm on my kneeboard. I keep my kneeboard pretty full with charts and an information at the bottom of the pile. Similar concept to this post. Hope this helps.

[romanweel]

To keep the right hand anchored, like Gomer says, you only want your wrist on your thigh. If I find I'm really fighting, I'll hold the cyc with index finger and thumb and spread my other fingers to "rest" on my leg; I dunno, I think it helps (works in the 22 also, for me at least).

 

But what about the collective in the 300? My left thumb doesn't reach the seat or my leg, so that hand is hanging out in midair, and the collective seems to want to climb. Without the physical reference, it's hard to monitor unless I watch my power like a hawk. I've ended up just putting some friction on it, but is there a better way to deal with it?