Lefty at The yoke

[pilot716]

My plane partner is a Lefty and is in the middle of his IFR training. We have an 83 J model & he is finding it difficult to have a kneeboard to write on while attached to his left thigh. We have the IPAD on a yoke mount which we both use, but the lack of space on the left side is making it tough. If anyone out there who is a lefty can share what they use please advise. Thanks

[jetdriven]

I am a lefty.  Going to the CFi side of the cockpit made it easier to write but my crutch is this.  When on the ground to copy a clearance, stop, and write with left hand on a notepad.  In the air, frequencies, altitudes, and headings are done with the right hand.  I am not a fan of devices mounted to the yoke.  Think of what will happen in a 20 G runway excursion with that device and yoke mount right in front of your noggin. 

[74657]

Im a lefty and am preparing for my IR check ride.  I never flew with a knee board until I started working on my instrument.

I started with a sporty's tri fold knee board but switched to a knee strap for my IPAD which sits on my right leg.  I keep a small pad of paper (5"X8" legal pad) that I lay on my left leg for copying clearances and instructions.  It works out perfectly.

I have a 496 on my yoke.  I couldn't imagine flying with an Ipad on the yoke!!  My advice would be to look at the leg strap that FLYDAVE recommended to me which I love using.

http://sportys.com/PilotShop/product/16151

Brandon

[M20F]

Left handed and use one of these which works great in the lap

http://sportys.com/pilotshop/product/9218

[laytonl]

Another lefty.  I just use a plain old clip board turned sideways (clip to the right.)  I print out my flight plan and clip on the clip board and write clearances and frequencies on the printout.  I hold the yoke with my right hand when I need to write.

Lee

[231Pilot]

Quote: M20F

Left handed and use one of these which works great in the lap

http://sportys.com/pilotshop/product/9218

[M016576]

I'm a lefty, too... I always attributed my "left handedness" as being the secret to my success in flight school as I could fly the aircraft and write down information at the same time (you use your right hand for the stick in tactical aircraft, left hand for the throttle).

In GA, this is opposite if you're in the left seat.  I just switch flying hands (if I'm hand flying at the time) and keep my knee board on my left knee, as I'm used to.  I use my right hand for all the knob turning...  wouldn't feel natural to reach with my left hand (surprisingly).  Perhaps that's a result of flying a single seat aircraft, though... you learn to be proficient with either hand in time... (no pun intended... I think!).

[Hank]

No, I'm not left-handed. BUT I switched my kneeboard to 'the other knee' when flying the Mooney. In the Slowhawk trainer, right leg/right hand; in my Ranger, left leg/right hand.

Try it before spending maintenance/fuel money on a fancy kneeboard. Also, there's no way I would put an iPad on the yoke--the Pad it too big, the yoke is too close.

[KSMooniac]

Wow, a lot of us lefties in Mooneys!  I use a "folding lap desk" from Sporty's circa 1995 that I don't believe is sold any more.  It is an aluminum "desk" with the hinge in the middle and it unfolds to put a half on each knee (with foam backing).  it is very low profile, so it doesn't interfere with the Mooney yoke.  The left side has a clip running vertically on the left edge, and one on the right side at the top for holding a note pad.  The surfaces of the desk have useful info on big stickers too.  It is the perfect solution IMO for use in a Mooney, lefty or not.

[bcconsult21]

I'm a lefty too.  FYI - had to add myself to this long distinguished list of Southpaws.

L knee c sporty's knee board.  No problems.  Full yoke movement still doesn't tap kneeboard.  [it did in the Cherokee]

[1964-M20E]

It is proven scientific fact left handed people are the only people in their right mind.  Of course when I went to buy the Mooney my wife thought otherwise but she is coming around.  That aside I just use a clip board on my lap it has worked so far.

[WardHolbrook]

I'm a lefty and I've never used a kneeboard. In 15000 hours I've only flown with one guy who did. Personally, I don't see the point. There are many "work arounds" for them. They are so rare in professionally flown cockpits that I'm pretty safe to say that no one uses them. They seem to be just a fighter and private pilot thing. 

[carusoam]

Ward,

 

How do you do it?

 

I use a simple clip board, turned sideways.

 

One sheet of paper marked with columns.

Approach/Center, Freq.,altimeter, altitude, heading, other

 

When ATC gives me data, if I don't write it down, I can't get it right.

 

Maybe it's cause I am right handed...

 

Best regards,

 

-a-

[tbrickey]

I too am a lefty.  I use a knee board on the right leg.  I tried the kneeboard on the left leg but it was too crowded to write.  I also tried the wrist roll of paper from Sporty's but with no luck.

[WardHolbrook]

Quote: carusoam

 

Ward,

 

How do you do it?

 

I use a simple clip board, turned sideways.

 

One sheet of paper marked with columns.

Approach/Center, Freq.,altimeter, altitude, heading, other

 

When ATC gives me data, if I don't write it down, I can't get it right.

 

Maybe it's cause I am right handed...

 

Best regards,

 

-a-

 

[Shadrach]

Lefty here. I've never even thought of this as problem. I just write on the board while it's on my right knee or I palm a small notepad with my right hand. 

Ward, try hitting the back button on your browser and your text will reappear, then resubmit.

[WardHolbrook]

Ross, I tried that but no joy. Oh well, the point I'm trying to make is that, in professionally flown cockpits - in aircraft of all sizes and types - they are seldom if ever seen being used. That's not to say that using one is some way a negative, but among the group of pilots who fly IFR as a matter of course, on a daily basis they're not frequently encountered. 

What you'll find in these cockpits are pilots who have eliminated most, if not all, of the unnecessary "fluff" associated with IFR flight. Organization is critical when you're flying IFR and even more so in a high performance airplane. Simplesity is also important. Carusoam asked how I do it. I do it the same way every one else I know does it.

We keep normally jot ATIS and our clearance on our navigation log printout. This is typically done up to 30 minutes prior to engine start. You are able to receive your ATC clearance routing via text or e-mail 2 hours prior to your filed departure time, so there are seldom any surprises here. Many of you guys carry handheld tranceiver in your flight bag. They're a great idea and can be used as more than a back up in case of electrical failure. They are great when it comes to picking up ATIS and getting your clearance prior to engine start. Your clearance is good for 2 hours after you've received it from ATC and with a little coordination with them it can be extended almost indefinatily. But once our engines are started and we've accomplished our pre-taxi checks we're moving. Sitting around with the engine running while copying stuff like clearances costs money.

As far as frequencies go, many of us are flying around with "flip flop" tuning heads on our NAV/COM radios. That's the same way we do it in the jets. That way, your last frequency is always available should it be needed. Even without flip/flop tuning capability, all of us have dual nav/coms that allow of the same technique.

Altitude clearances are handled via the altitude preselector. Not all aircraft have preselectors, but most of them have an ADF and the ADF frequency selector makes a handy altitude reminder. Short of that Sportys sells a couple of inexpensive ones that I've used that work quite well.

That just leaves the occassional rerouting and they can be written next to the departure ATIS and your original clearance. In other words, it's simply not a big deal. It's not that there's something wrong with you if you use a kneeboard, but like I said, I simply don't see the need - it's just fluff that can be easily eliminated. Oh well, that's just my style of flying. There's nothing wrong if your style includes its use. 

 

 

[Hank]

Three things live on my kneeboard:

1. Nav log

2. Destination diagram

3. Checklists

I make notes all over the nav log--ATIS, clearance, reroutes, frequency, WHO the freq is, etc. Everything stacked in this order. There's no room to keep a notebook full of checklists, I wrote my own in landscape format, laminated and folded to fit perfectly on Sporty's little VFR kneeboard. That stuff needs to be somewhere accessible and visible. Ward, where does your navlog, clearance, ATIS, etc., stay during flight if not on your knee?