B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Fri Mar 25, 2022 5:53 pm
by sjakulski
Well, I ordered the optional Y yoke for my B model, but in sitting and pretending and testing the ergonomics I’m not sure I like it. Awkward it seems to me. What have others found with the Y? Or how content with the straight stick are others and what length did you cut the straight pipe to?
Steve
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 10:52 am
by pappas
I had both options for my Waiex. The “Y” option took up too much lateral room in an already tight cockpit and cost twice as much to put in 2 high-quality grips with internal switches as well as tice the time to install and wire them.
Do yourself a favor, use a single stick. If your pax/co-pilot can’t reach the single, center stick, they are too tiny to be flying with you!
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 11:53 am
by sjakulski
pappas wrote:I had both options for my Waiex. The “Y” option took up too much lateral room in an already tight cockpit and cost twice as much to put in 2 high-quality grips with internal switches as well as tice the time to install and wire them.
Do yourself a favor, use a single stick. If your pax/co-pilot can’t reach the single, center stick, they are too tiny to be flying with you!
Roger that! Did you cut to a specific height…if you recall?
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 11:59 am
by pfhoeycfi
You’ll need to get your head down near the rudder pedals at some point and the y stick might be in the way. I cut my stick so that the grip clears the instrument panel by about 1 inch. Be sure you leave room to clear the push pull rod for the fuel tank valve if you plan on having it come up thru the panel.
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 12:28 pm
by DuncanK
I liked the idea of the Y stick but as supplied by Sonex the fore/aft angle of the Y is completely wrong. Hence I installed the straight stick, which is comfortable. However, I like to write stuff down when I’m flying (especially during the first few hours) and I like to hold the stick while writing (the bumps in AZ always upset whatever trim is set!). With the center stick I find that my left arm is stretching across where I want to write (or at least making writing difficult,) and, I suspect, also making it more likely to put in an unwanted stick input. Hence I am considering changing to the Y stick, but the Sonex Y stick will have to be re-welded.
In terms of how much to cut down the stick? I think the real decision is how close to the bottom of the panel do you want the top of the stick? I left nearly an inch of gap, with hindsight I think 1/2 inch is plenty.
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 3:11 pm
by Sonerai13
I am a fan of the straight stick. The “Y” never did anything for me. When I fly the airplane, I find that, for just general cruising I just lay my arm down at my side and grip the stick wherever my hand comfortably falls. This would be below the “Y”, so w “Y” carry the extra weight. (See what I did there??? LOL) And as others have mentioned, the “Y” gets in the way when working on the airplane. Stick with the straight stick! (Oops, did it again!)
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sat Mar 26, 2022 8:51 pm
by pappas
I fabricated a non-standard panel that was 1/2 inch lower than the stock panel. Therefore, I cut the stick to allow about a 1-inch clearance between the top of the Tosten military grip and the bottom of the panel.
I am also in Arizona, so, as far as the bumps upsetting the trim goes…Autopilot Baby!! 
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 9:30 am
by John Monnett
Oh…Joe.
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 10:18 am
by Scott Todd
DunkanK recently flew his new Sonex for the first time. We need a flight report and a photo or two in the appropriate forum. Dunkan?
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 11:18 am
by sjakulski
DuncanK wrote:I liked the idea of the Y stick but as supplied by Sonex the fore/aft angle of the Y is completely wrong. Hence I installed the straight stick, which is comfortable. However, I like to write stuff down when I’m flying (especially during the first few hours) and I like to hold the stick while writing (the bumps in AZ always upset whatever trim is set!). With the center stick I find that my left arm is stretching across where I want to write (or at least making writing difficult,) and, I suspect, also making it more likely to put in an unwanted stick input. Hence I am considering changing to the Y stick, but the Sonex Y stick will have to be re-welded.
In terms of how much to cut down the stick? I think the real decision is how close to the bottom of the panel do you want the top of the stick? I left nearly an inch of gap, with hindsight I think 1/2 inch is plenty.
Tend to agree. Had the Y been designed straight up and not angled it might have been ergonomically doable with the hand/wrist. But, not as designed. And, I agree it is too big.
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 2:59 pm
by BRS
DuncanK wrote:… However, I like to write stuff down when I’m flying (especially during the first few hours) and I like to hold the stick while writing (the bumps in AZ always upset whatever trim is set!).
Fly from the right seat 
Years ago I wanted a Y stick on my gyroplane. The addition of a few mountain bike “bull horns” did the trick. Might not work though in a Sonex. I eventually drilled them for a PPT and wrapped them with handle bar tape.
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Sun Mar 27, 2022 3:24 pm
by daleandee
pappas wrote:I am also in Arizona, so, as far as the bumps upsetting the trim goes…Autopilot Baby!!
I have installed the Trio EZ auto-pilot unit. It’s a single axis (wing leveler) but it will track a GPS course, do intercepts, and has a function to do a 180º turn back (actually it turns back 175º) if you should get stupid and fly into something you can’t see through. Without the GPS feed it does basic wing leveling duties which can make it much easier to write stuff down as you approach a field. I’ve also done a bit of practice of learning to write with my left hand … it’s quite readable but don’t know how it would look in turbulence.
I have the straight center stick. Sometimes it’s easier to just sit in the center and use the outside pedals. 8~)
FWIW,
Dale
N319WF
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Mon Mar 28, 2022 9:51 am
by builderflyer
DuncanK wrote:however, I like to write stuff down when I’m flying (especially during the first few hours) and I like to hold the stick while writing (the bumps in AZ always upset whatever trim is set!). With the center stick I find that my left arm is stretching across where I want to write (or at least making writing difficult,)
Better yet, get yourself an inexpensive digital micro recorder and patch it into the intercom system. Then you can be as wordy as you like while flying and transcribe the important stuff when you’re safely back on the ground. I did all of my test flying in this manner and wouldn’t have it any other way. Who wants to be distracted with pencil and paper while flying a plane with neutral stability anyway.
Art,Sonex taildragger #95,Jabiru 3300 #261
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2022 4:17 pm
by DuncanK
I flew today with my (new) Y stick, which is basically the straight stick with a Y at the top, not like the Sonex Y which has a large fore (or aft) angle at the Y. I liked it.
It was certainly easier to fly with the left hand (while writing etc. with the right). The bottom of the Y felt comfortable to rest a couple of fingers in cruise rather than having to hold the stick, but I didn’t fly for long. For general flying, including take-off/landing, I didn’t notice a difference from the center stick. Or to put it another way, I didn’t even think about it being a Y or straight, it just felt fine.
Its been stated that you will at some time have to get under the panel and the Y will get in the way. While I think this is a valid consideration, during build I installed access panels on both the left and the right side of the fuselage around the area of the rudder pedals, so I am able to access under the fuel tank from the side. Also, I made the glare-shield behind the tank removable so I can access the back of my panel from above (really useful).
Re: B model center yoke - Y or straight pipe?
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2022 10:10 am
by DuncanK
I had a welder create a Y stick for me, (the V part is a little less than +/- 30 degrees from the vertical, similar to the Sonex stick, but the fore and aft angle is zero, ie like the straight stick).
I’ve flown it once, and in general flying I did not notice any different from the center stick, in fact I forgot about it being a Y. It was easier to fly with the left hand, having to reach a couple of inches less was notably easier. Also, although early days, it seemed to me that I could cruise with just a just a finger or two resting comfortably at the bottom of the V part of the Y. I notice no difference in terms of getting in and out of the cockpit. Overall (so far) I think it is an improvement. Duncan