Beech Baron question

[shannon]

So I was in a Baron B55 yesterday and I commented within earshot of an engineer that the power levers were placed differently in relation to the prop and mixture, than I had seen in other aircraft. From left prop/power/mixture. He replied with great disdain that most airplanes had this configuration. Can anyone tell me which those might be. Thanks

[ILSfan07]

Every aircraft/sim I've flown has has power/prop/mixture.

[fougapilot]

Disregard, not quite awake yet...

[Sulako]

First of all, the engineer guy sounds like an arrogant assclown. And he's wrong.

Back in the day, power/prop/mixture levers weren't standardized between different types of aircraft, and each manufacturer pretty much did their own thing. When Beech decided to make 55 Barons they set up their power quadrant this way, but it sure wasn't the industry standard as there wasn't an industry standard.

On the old Barons the gear / flap switches were also usually in a non-standard position - the 55's I flew had the flaps on the left side of the power quadrant and the gear was on the right side. This made it particularly exciting when hopping out of the Baron and going for a flight in a Navajo right afterwards, as you'd have to consciously train your hands not to retract the gear instead of the flaps, and not to push the manifold pressure up to 42 inches before you put the props to full fine.

Nowdays, most modern piston aircraft have adopted the standardized format for power controls, which is (from left to right) Power / Props / Mixture, with the gear handle on the left side of the power quadrant and the flaps on the right side. There are some exceptions of course, but this layout is the 'norm' now.

[iflyforpie]

The newer Barons have the levers in the standard positions.



In addition to older Barons, some Beavers have the throttle in the middle as well.



Beech 18s





As for gear and flaps, I use an open hand for flap retraction and a grip for gear retraction. Works for most modern aircraft to prevent inadvertent gear retraction.

[sissyphus]

The story I heard is that beech was in the business of making military trainers, which are two crew. In said trainers, the power levers were to be in the middle so that either crew member could have equal access. The U.S military was also a very large customer of the early Beavers, this could explain them both.

Historians have at er!

[HS-748 2A]

The U.S military was also a very large customer of the early Beavers, this could explain them both.

Historians have at er!

Actually, early serial number Beavers had the throttle in the middle. Later in production, they switched the configuration to power-prop-mixture. As I understand, that was a USAF spec and DeHavilland made that the standard from then on.

48

[xsbank]

Usually the leetle tiny tire is a clue when retracting the gear, likewise the leetle wing-thing that kinda looks like a flap is usually a clue to its function too.

You don't look at the levers, you 'feel' them. (Remember the old pilot song, 50 Ways To Love Your Lever?).

[AuxBatOn]

Usually the leetle tiny tire is a clue when retracting the gear, likewise the leetle wing-thing that kinda looks like a flap is usually a clue to its function too.

You don't look at the levers, you 'feel' them. (Remember the old pilot song, 50 Ways To Love Your Lever?).

Granted, it's a Flight Sim Image, but that's actually like that in the real aircraft. What do you do in that case? No leetle tiny tire for the gear (and actually, the tiny tire is on the flaps lever)

I think the bottom line is know your aircraft.

[Doc]

The DC3 is as it should be. Prop, power, mixture. It's funny in some movies, when you see them advance the prop lever for take off, rather than the throttle....

And....the third wheel is behind you....where it should be...right Cat?

[iflyforpie]

Usually the leetle tiny tire is a clue when retracting the gear, likewise the leetle wing-thing that kinda looks like a flap is usually a clue to its function too.

You don't look at the levers, you 'feel' them. (Remember the old pilot song, 50 Ways To Love Your Lever?).

The flap is the guarded switch to the left of the rudder trim at the bottom of the picture. The gear handle is the red Johnson bar on the right of the pedestal. Nary a wheel or flap shape to be felt; but the open hand for flaps, closed for gear still works in this case (but I am sure not all).

PS: Good luck finding the prop or condition levers in this pic!

[Cat Driver]

And....the third wheel is behind you....where it should be...right Cat?

Only if you are an old coot that has not been properly trained in real airplanes with nose gears.

The airplane I like has the throttles on the left and the props on the right and they hang down from the top of the cockpit...and the mixtures are behind you on the bulkhead that separates the cockpit from the passenger compartments.

[Rowdy]

Power levers on the roof.. where they should be

[angry inch]

Are you operating them with your right hand yet???

[Cat Driver]

Are you operating them with your right hand yet???

Yes, but he finds it a bit awkward and his arm cuts off his forward vision.

[. ._]

That was a good one, Cat.

nyuk, nyuk, nyuk

[beaverbob]

The Beaver had prop - throttle - mixture for the military, recognizable, also by the air intake on top right of the cowling.
Correct me if I am wrong
Bob

[hew44]

Power levers on the roof.. where they should be

EXACTLY how it should be hahaha, twotters rock.