Sources for Parts (ie ATR 72/42 Wheels)

[NeoMorph]

In my search for parts for my sim I am coming up short on one major item... the yoke wheels for an ATR 72/42 (they are the same I think).

Anyone got any suggestions?

[Efe]

I know this is going to be a repeat but have you tried e-mailing Nick at APHS to see if he might have one that has not been listed on the site? He might also be able to tell you the probability of finding one on the market.

[NeoMorph]

I spend a while looking though their site and I don't even think I saw one in their "not for sale" bunch of historical wheel yokes. Some of those they have are amazing to see.

I'm going to pop off an email anyway just in case and to see if they have any ideas. Thanks again Efe. This stuff I'm doing is pretty much like "Treasure Hunt" heh.

Oh and while I was looking I found a wrecked ATR 72-500.. I never knew they came with a sunroof.

http://www.airsalvage.co.uk/portfolioview.asp?id=136

[NeoMorph]

Well I got a reply from APHS...

hello john,
wish i had better news for you.  not many ATR's being torn down, none that i know of, so that makes it really tough. however, find me a part number and i'll see if i can find a wheel for you.  figure at least 350 maybe more for one.  no junk out there, only airworthy stuff from inventory.
good to hear from you, gotta get back to my cell before they notice i'm gone.
nick

Looks like "make your own" time...

[Garys]

Not so fast....  http://www.routech.ro/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=55&Itemid=63

[Emesis]

John,

Check your PM, I sell that style of chart holder plus I have a yoke that might work for you.

Cheers,
Rand

[NeoMorph]

One thing I have noted is that the control wheels are mirrored on the Cpt/FO sides. The pitch trim is on the left for the Captain and on the right for the Flight Officer. Is it just me or do you think they did that to make the Control Wheel's unique, ie to make them more blummin expensive heh. If they used the same wheel for the Cpt and FO it would save money in that you would only have to stock one type of replacement. If you break 3 Cpt side and have 4 (2 of Cpt and 2 of FO) in stores then you are stuffed. If they were identical though you would bee fine.

No wonder plane parts are so darned expensive.

[Efe]

Then the push-to-talk button on the 737 yoke would be on the left hand side for both yokes and the copilot would have difficulty transmitting messages to the ATC or trimming while manipulating radios, the MCP, throttles, etc. (or on the right hand and the captain would be hindered).  The idea is to keep the inside hand of the pilot free to control the various modules.

[NeoMorph]

Ahh... now I get it... Just goes to show how often I fly a real plane heh.

I wouldn't be able to fly an Airbus as a Captain... but would be able to fly it as First Officer... mainly due to the fact that my left hand had the tendons torn when I was a teenager and then again when I was in the army... which makes accurate movements difficult to do. Good thing is that using a wheel is actually easier. One thing that confused me is why Airbus didn't mount them centrally but after your reply it makes sense now. I still think it would make flying the Airbus harder as a Captain (unless you are either left handed or ambidextrous).

@Garys and Emsis

What is the method of connecting the wheel to the yoke... can you buy special gearing for the dual control column setups or is it a matter of making your own?

[Garys]

You can build your own, but you can also now buy parts to make the projecr much easier. Gwyn from Aerosim solutions has made a few pieces to help with building a yoke and column setup.

[dharrison]

Neomorph,

It is not as hard as you think to fly with your opposite hand. I will say when I first started my CFI training that it was a bit strange. After about an hour or so it became no different.

Don

[NeoMorph]

@Don
My life is a bit of a joke due to the torn ligaments and tendons in my left wrist... "I used to be ambidextrous but I'm all right (handed) now!" (and yes, I really used to be ambidextrous).

I find that anything done left handed now feels... disconnected? It's like there is no feedback. Ever sleep on your arm and when you wake up it feels like it's not part of you until the blood starts flowing again? That sort of thing. That's what I thought normal right handers felt when flying in the Airbus Captain's chair but I guess I'm wrong. 

@Garys
I've seen those Yoke bases with the gearing and the pot. Looks the business and I'll probably get some later this year. The upper part of the column could probably be made out of a repurposed bike wheel... I'm all for recycling heh.

[NeoMorph]

This is a picture of the control wheel I'm looking for... Pictures courtesy of Ruscool (those guys kick ass).

[Garys]

Did you look at the link I posted? Its exactly the same.

[NeoMorph]

It's close but not exactly the same...

Edit: Had to remove the picture as not given permission.

[Emesis]

John,

That picture is not the link Garys was referring to.

Cheers

[Garys]

Thanks Emesis.

Unless something screwy happened to the link, thats not what it should take you to.

Try http://www.routech.ro   >yoke>ATR42/72  should be exactly what your looking for with a blue background

[NeoMorph]

Don't mind me... I'm just getting confused as to what I was looking at... I blame the morphine lol..