cstorey wrote:Peter - I only flew a Chippie a few times,now well over 30 years ago, but I was interested in your remarks about the brakes, because IIRC there was a rather odd differential braking system where you had to set the handbrake half on which then coupled the wheel brakes to the rudder pedals. Is this a figment of my imagination or was this how it worked?
Chris,
That is how they worked...You pulled the handbrake to a halfway position and then I seem to remember you latched it there by pressing down a ring on the lever. I seem to remember that at that stage no brakes were applied if you had the rudder central. Then when you pushed left rudder then left wheel would brake progressively as you applied more rudder and the same for right rudder. If you kept the rudder bar central and pulled the brake lever further back then pressure was applied progressively to both wheels. To latch the handbrake, I think you pulled the lever all the way back and pressed down on the locking ring again.
That is how I remember it but like you it was over 30 years ago in 1970 the last time I flew Sierra Bravo.
One thing you might be able to help with Chris (I just can't remember, and Rick wants to know), the rudder pedals...Did the foot tread portion swivel to remain parallel to the mainspar as the pedals were pushed or did they remain fixed to the rudder bar. Also, as the aircraft was aerobatic, did the rudder pedals have those foot retaining loops that stopped your feet falling off them during negative G?
