midlifeflyer Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 For those who have flown a Johnson Bar Mooney from the right seat, what is your technique for retracting the gear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesm Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 It has been awhile since I have flown a Mooney with Johnson bar from the right seat, people that I have flown with lately aren't current or are non pilots. There really isn't much difference, it is pretty much natural, might a little different if you are a lefty but I can't imagine too much trouble. I liken it to when I was learning to fly a Champ left hand throttle a right hand on the stick. You really don't think about it or if you do you are probably over thinking it. Pretty much all subconscious in thought and movements. If still concerned do it with no wind or light wind and long and wide runway mitigate your risk. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midlifeflyer Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Thanks. I'm not that concerned about coordination from the right seat. I'm only curious about the unlocking to release the bar. Doing it with from the left seat with my right thumb while doing the small twist-n-push with my hand is pretty straight forward. I'm just imagining (overthinking :D) how it will work trying to use my left hand index finger and hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLCarter Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 1 hour ago, midlifeflyer said: I'm just imagining (overthinking :D) how it will work trying to use my left hand index finger and hand. I haven't flown right seat in a few years, I use to fly a buddies J-Bar "C" from the right all the time. Pushing the release was the hardest part only because it just was set up that way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steingar Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 My pal has operated the bar from the right seat. Little crazy reaching around for the button, but it really wasn't that big a deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
N201MKTurbo Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 It has been a while, but I seem to remember that I could put all four fingers behind the bar and get your thumb on the button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ExpressJetter Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 3 hours ago, midlifeflyer said: For those who have flown a Johnson Bar Mooney from the right seat, what is your technique for retracting the gear? I wish I could help, but all I can think of , if it's going to be your first time, and the person that is going to be in the left seat might not be capable, Is take off solo in the left seat. Switch to right seat mid flight and try it a few times to get your feel for it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midlifeflyer Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 38 minutes ago, steingar said: My pal has operated the bar from the right seat. Little crazy reaching around for the button, but it really wasn't that big a deal. Did he do it with his right hand using his thumb for the button? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLCarter Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 29 minutes ago, ExpressJetter said: Is take off solo in the left seat. Switch to right seat mid flight and try it a few times to get your feel for it. Putting a J-Bar pilot in the left seat is a safer bet or put it up on jacks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steingar Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 3 hours ago, midlifeflyer said: Did he do it with his right hand using his thumb for the button? I think he did twitch his left, but I could be mistaken. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orionflt Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 6 hours ago, midlifeflyer said: For those who have flown a Johnson Bar Mooney from the right seat, what is your technique for retracting the gear? not hard to do, but you are using your finger to depress the button and the motion initially is unfamiliar. after a few times it becomes easy. I must admit i do get the Mooney dip from the right where I no longer have it from the left. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShuRugal Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 First time I ever ran my jbar was from the right seat on prebuy. Index and middle fingers on the button, heel of palm to slide the handle down, then grip it proper and swing it.Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midlifeflyer Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 Thanks for the suggestions. I'll be trying some of them (but not the switch seats while solo one ) soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangogawd Posted August 28, 2019 Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 This is clearly a right handed person problem us left handed folk are used to adapting to a right-handed world! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midlifeflyer Posted August 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 28, 2019 23 minutes ago, tangogawd said: This is clearly a right handed person problem us left handed folk are used to adapting to a right-handed world! True. But in this case I'm more concerned with (or imagining) the strength differential between my thumb and my forefinger to push the release button than anything having to do with which side I'm on. If the release button moved to the right side, I'd have no problem retracting with my left hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shadrach Posted August 29, 2019 Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 5 hours ago, tangogawd said: This is clearly a right handed person problem us left handed folk are used to adapting to a right-handed world! Amen to that... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carusoam Posted August 29, 2019 Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 Expect that there is another thread around here describing different methods... Strong fingers, inverted hand, two step procedure... Strength of left arm... Knowing the slow air speed for putting gear away is probably the best piece of information... The biggest challenge seemed to be pushing the button... followed by reorganizing to push the bar... PP thoughts only.... I didn’t review any further... Best regards, -a- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLCarter Posted August 29, 2019 Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 7 minutes ago, carusoam said: Expect that there is another thread around here describing different methods... There's one here about someone doing their CFI checkride, if memory serves a think it was a female with double jointed finger or thumb that would go over center so to speak when pressure was applied 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midlifeflyer Posted August 29, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 5 hours ago, carusoam said: Expect that there is another thread around here describing different methods... Strong fingers, inverted hand, two step procedure... Strength of left arm... Knowing the slow air speed for putting gear away is probably the best piece of information... The biggest challenge seemed to be pushing the button... followed by reorganizing to push the bar... PP thoughts only.... I didn’t review any further... Best regards, -a- For me, it's really all about pushing the button and getting it released. After that, there really isn't that much of a problem. Handle goes down pretty easily at the proper airspeed. I never quite understood the posts about having enough strength to put the bar on the floor and latch it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raptor05121 Posted August 29, 2019 Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 I'm left handed so it's not an issue for me. Actually quite natural. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MBDiagMan Posted August 29, 2019 Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 If you have access to jacks, it would seem worthwhile to do it on the ground first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midlifeflyer Posted August 29, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 2 hours ago, Raptor05121 said: I'm left handed so it's not an issue for me. Actually quite natural. So I'll ask - which fingers do you use to press the button from the right seat? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midlifeflyer Posted August 29, 2019 Author Report Share Posted August 29, 2019 1 hour ago, MBDiagMan said: If you have access to jacks, it would seem worthwhile to do it on the ground first. Agree but I don't. I'll report back on my attempt. It will likely come within the next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tangogawd Posted September 1, 2019 Report Share Posted September 1, 2019 I push forward on the gear handle to unload any tension on the system, use the side meaty section of my index second joint, or the proximal interphalangeal joint, to push the button the slide the handle down. hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midlifeflyer Posted September 2, 2019 Author Report Share Posted September 2, 2019 12 hours ago, tangogawd said: I push forward on the gear handle to unload any tension on the system, use the side meaty section of my index second joint, or the proximal interphalangeal joint, to push the button the slide the handle down. hope this helps Definitely sounds like it will help! I will report back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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