Formation Flying Venier Throttle

[Boilermonkey]

For those of you who have a veneer throttle and fly formation, holding down the knob can be quite tiring. I've created a 3D printed cover that can easily slide on or off to hold in the knob, so you can make throttle adjustments easier and not tire out your hand. This one is modeled for the stock throttle on an M20M, not sure how many models have the same knob.

I can bring some to Oshkosh if anybody wants one. Unfortunately, I will not be in the caravan though so you'll have to get it from me after this year's flight. 

[Greg Ellis]

That is pretty cool.  You'll put the rubber band companies out of business. 

[Fly Boomer]

31 minutes ago, Boilermonkey said:

For those of you who have a veneer throttle and fly formation

Neat little device but, having never flown formation, I would have assumed the adjustments to stay in your slot would be pretty small.  Are the throttle adjustments so large that twisting the vernier is not enough?

[Boilermonkey]

5 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

Neat little device but, having never flown formation, I would have assumed the adjustments to stay in your slot would be pretty small.  Are the throttle adjustments so large that twisting the vernier is not enough?

Yeah, the throttle adjustments needed are larger than a few twists and frequent.  Here's a HP plot from my JPI on a recent formation flight in the wing position where you've got to stay in just the right spot.  Of course turns require significant adjustments.

[201er]

46 minutes ago, Boilermonkey said:

For those of you who have a veneer throttle and fly formation, holding down the knob can be quite tiring.

Does it require a 337?

[Paul Thomas]

5 minutes ago, Fly Boomer said:

Neat little device but, having never flown formation, I would have assumed the adjustments to stay in your slot would be pretty small.  Are the throttle adjustments so large that twisting the vernier is not enough?

Some formation groups will not allow vernier throttle equipped airplane; I don't know of any FFI approved group that does. The issue is being able to make quick power changes; pushing down on the vernier is viewed as hindering smooth operation, increase pilot workload, and makes the throttle hand more tense when it should be relaxed. I've never viewed it as an issue because it's so easy to push the button but those are the rules that some groups have.

[Boilermonkey]

2 hours ago, Paul Thomas said:

Some formation groups will not allow vernier throttle equipped airplane; I don't know of any FFI approved group that does. The issue is being able to make quick power changes; pushing down on the vernier is viewed as hindering smooth operation, increase pilot workload, and makes the throttle hand more tense when it should be relaxed. I've never viewed it as an issue because it's so easy to push the button but those are the rules that some groups have.

The Mooney Caravan doesn't have a rule against them, hence making this adaptor.  I could certainly see if you fly formation often, you'd get a different throttle.  Whereas if you fly a lot of cross country a venier throttle is nice to have.

 

No 337.  It's not an aircraft modification.  I've built it so that you hold it on and without your hand on it, it will fall off.    It is more of a "grip" for your hand to relieve fatigue.   Whereas some people use rubber band or tape to hold the button on the throttle in.  I see that as more problematic and semi permanent.  

[Ned Gravel]

11 hours ago, Boilermonkey said:

For those of you who have a veneer throttle and fly formation, holding down the knob can be quite tiring. I've created a 3D printed cover that can easily slide on or off to hold in the knob, so you can make throttle adjustments easier and not tire out your hand. This one is modeled for the stock throttle on an M20M, not sure how many models have the same knob.

I can bring some to Oshkosh if anybody wants one. Unfortunately, I will not be in the caravan though so you'll have to get it from me after this year's flight. 

I used to wear sailing gloves so that vibration of the throttle wore less on my palm.  Mine did not have the vernier anyway.  Caravan procedures require next to zero manipulation of mixture and prop while in formation.  My recommendation would be to not block your hand with one of these.  It might get in the way when something quick has to happen.

But that is just me.

 

[PeteMc]

I did a fair amount of formation flying years ago when a friend was working on an article.  Never had a problem with my veneer throttle in my K and I think the J also had one.

If you join correctly you should be in that range of minor tweaks.  Now if you join rapidly, like a military jet....  Well all bets are off and I won't be doing any formation flying with you in my non military plane and non military training. 

[ArtVandelay]

My venier throttle doesn’t have a button, it’s just a normal knob that you can twist if you need to make fine adjustments.

[Shadrach]

My Vernier has no button either. It has a friction lock that makes resistance infinitely adjustable. When landing at short fields I loosen it for rapid movement in case I need a quick and precise shot of energy to complete the approach. I cannot imagine it would present much of a problem in formation flight. I've never had problems holding position on other aircraft. 

[M20F]

You all have girly hands. 

[Marc_B]

You can take a key ring that is just smaller than the knob and use a piece of one wrap in a “W” through the key ring and back over the button. Leave the “tails” just long enough to overlap each other. Then I usually wrap a smaller length around the knob circumferentially to keep the W from slipping off. 

[narval314]

Hey Boilermonkey, can you share the file for this?

[Boilermonkey]

19 hours ago, narval314 said:

Hey Boilermonkey, can you share the file for this?

Here's the STL and a link to an editable design:   https://www.tinkercad.com/things/2sJHLUmCIfP-throttle-holder?sharecode=bRcs7A8hxOAjw5jtoJehNmyFFhU0GFPYGOQ07UTFrDg

Throttle Holder.stl

[ArtVandelay]

For those of you who have a veneer throttle and fly formation, holding down the knob can be quite tiring. I've created a 3D printed cover that can easily slide on or off to hold in the knob, so you can make throttle adjustments easier and not tire out your hand. This one is modeled for the stock throttle on an M20M, not sure how many models have the same knob.

I have veneer throttle without any button to hold down, an option if you need to replace your throttle cable.

[dkkim73]

5 hours ago, Boilermonkey said:

Here's the STL and a link to an editable design:   https://www.tinkercad.com/things/2sJHLUmCIfP-throttle-holder?sharecode=bRcs7A8hxOAjw5jtoJehNmyFFhU0GFPYGOQ07UTFrDg

Throttle Holder.stl 209.16 kB · 1 download

Thanks! Any recs for a "print on demand" web vendor, and materials recommendation for the fab? 

[Pinecone]

On 7/10/2024 at 10:09 PM, PeteMc said:

If you join correctly you should be in that range of minor tweaks.  Now if you join rapidly, like a military jet....  Well all bets are off and I won't be doing any formation flying with you in my non military plane and non military training. 

A quicker rejoin does not come from increased throttle, it comes from more aggressive use of cutoff angles and using the vertical for speed changes. .

In the USAF rejoins were done without any changes in speed due to throttle use.

[Pinecone]

On 5/17/2025 at 11:39 AM, ArtVandelay said:

 

I have veneer throttle without any button to hold down, an option if you need to replace your throttle cable.

 

Who makes that?  Best of both worlds.

[Andy95W]

2 hours ago, Pinecone said:

Who makes that?  Best of both worlds.

McFarlane.  Not FAA/PMA, so you’ll have to work with your IA to install it.

https://media.mcfarlaneaviation.com/documents/VERNIER-ASSIST_THROTTLE_SINGLE_FORM_Rev_F.pdf

[PeteMc]

7 hours ago, Pinecone said:

rejoins were done without any changes in speed due to throttle use.

I guess I shouldn't have said "rejoin" just joining.  Speed and making sure you were slowing before you actually got to the other plane was something the guy teaching me drilled in.   I remember in the early training watching people try to join with way too much speed and just blowing by. 

When I did it, we were doing basic stuff and the angles were pretty tame.  But I get how picking the wrong angle can really mess you up.

[N201MKTurbo]

My fighter pilot cousin and I had some long talks about joining up. I have tried what he said and it works well. 
 

He said to pick a line extending from two easy fiducials, like the nose and wingtip. If you are too slow, you will be sliding out on that line and if you are too fast you will be sliding in on that line. It works much better than zooming past or falling back. Plus you never loose sight of the lead.

Just my 2 cents.