Pilots With Disabilities

I am believing this thread could be in the Instrumentation section of CR4, views and comments would be the same. Not a lot going on at CR4 right now.

Your original thread has had 191 views since you posted it, only four threads have a higher view count (at this writing). Also tagged with 5 stars.

Modifying the controls of an airplane; would it be staggeringly more difficult than similarly modifying an automobile? I watched a small car (a VW Beetle, IIRC) get modified for an American basketball player, VERY tall guy… Shaq, or Kareem, or Jerry - Jerry - oh, what’s his name, you know who I mean. Drove it from the back seat, they relocated the headlight selector, radio, wiper control… that sort of stuff.

I am not trying to minimize the subject project, but machines, appliances, vehicles, living spaces… many things are custom modified all the time to accommodate individuals with all sorts of mobility issues.

I think you're right, Doorman, things seem rather quiet around here. It seems that most of the forums I participate in, not just on CR4, are quite slow. Don't know why, perhaps people are simply tired of the internet?

Anyway, thanks for your input, both here and on the original thread.

FYI I remember the first advertisement involving a Volkswagen and a famous basketball player. He wouldn't fit.

They didn't run this magazine advertisement many times, but other variations, including a modified Rabbit that Wilt did fit happened.

Oh, man! Look at the size of that guy!

My fuzzy recollection of the car mod was likely the Rabbit conversion for Wilt that you mention. It would have been a promotional thing for the car manufacturer.

Modifying the controls of an airplane; would it be staggeringly more difficult than similarly modifying an automobile?

Definitely, one obvious thing is weight and moment. You can make all kinds of mods to a VW and it stays balanced on its 4 wheels. An airplane is supported by a balance of weight and aerodynamic forces.

Nah, I don’t think it’s a big problem.

Center of pressure would remain unchanged, center of gravity is already subject to shifting around (cargo, passengers, luggage, fuel).

Non-issue, this is what trim tabs are all about.

I should qualify that comment a bit.

I would agree it could be trouble if new installed gear were a sum of, say, 500 pounds concentrated 6 foot or so behind the design CoG. This would likely cause a condition of static instability that would be outside of normal elevator trimming.

I agree. I can't see any components like servos, etc. being heavy enough to greatly alter the CG. Most existing autopilots for light aircraft are fairly light & compact.