So i was looking into this plane and it is truely a beauty.

Ive never seen anything so sleak looking.

I know its fast and can maintain high altitudes.


What i dont understand is the joystick. Its off to the left. How COMFORTABLE would that thing be to fly with one hand way over to the left and your other in no mands land.

Talk about uncomfortable unless you want to fill me in

Don't knock it until you've tried it. I've never flown one, but I've talked to owners who love the overall layout. Good plane from all I've heard and read.

um.... i know its a good plane im talking about the joystick bud

Terrible layout!

So am I BUD!



THIS includes the JOYSTICK bud.

Look, the owners of the Columbia 400 I've spoken with would disagree with the "terrible layout" characterization of yours. They find the joystick (which I specifically asked about) to be a nice feature which offers a better view of the panel and easier access.



That's all I'm trying to do...

nah bud i see the layout useful only if u wanted a free hand to be doing something lol

Alright, so im a bit confused about what you mean by free hand? I know that while flying with a regular yoke you only have as far as i was taught one hand on the yoke. The other hand is used for the throttle which is located on the other side thus makeing you have to use two hand still even with the joystick on the left side. Just as you would in a regular yoke aircraft. So as far as a free hand goes I don't think so.

Most Lancair pilots LOVE the Joystick, BUD. And some even like it more than the yoke. Bud.

Cya Bud.

lol.

The first time I say the layout including the side-stick, I began thinking and tried to do it with a flight simulator joystick but just use my left hand, I hate this system. I don't understand if most people are right-handed why they would put a stick on the left. Sure it does allow more view of the panel but still, it does you no good if you can't fly it properly.

The stick on the left side I can't see being that much of a change considering when flying most regular yokes u only have on hand on the yoke which is the LEFT hand if you are sitting on the left side. The right hand is doing other things, mostly, controlling the throttle. I use one hand on the yoke for ALL my flying from take off to landing and taxi it was the way i have been taught and is a great thing incase you need to have full power all of a sudden, by the time you get your hand off the yoke and to the throttle that split second may have made the difference in the situation. The joystick i think for this reason is a great layout which allows you to hav one hand free all the time especially for the throttle.

Here is the scoop on the side stick! I don't have any time in the Columbia 400 but I do have a ton of time in the Cirrus which is layed out just about the same way. When I first saw it I thought it would be wierd too me being right handed! But as soon as I took off it became very natural! I actually prefer it that way now. Much more comfy and roomy having the side stick. If you want a real wierd looking yoke come aboard my Embraer! The rams horn yoke looks very uncomforable till you actally get to fly with it!

I love the side stick. Period. I am a Cirrus pilot, and I doubted it from the second I sat in the plane, until the second I took off, a total of roughly 20 minutes. Then I absolutely fell in love with it, youre only flying with your left hand anyway, and having a side stick frees up your lap for charts, knee boards, more space, easier view of the instruments, and ive never done it, but im sure it would make eating much easier too. Yeah, I like the side stick.