Loose control stick grips

In the past 6 months I've seen many loose control stick grips in gliders ☹

This is very dangerous and loose grips need to be repaired without delay (just in case theres is any confusion this means fix it before you next fly it)

A sure tell tale sign of trouble is if any control stick has wing tape ‘holding it on’ It will probably be loose and must be fixed. This one in the photo just fell off once I removed the blue tape!

Also with the increase of the LXNAV style of control grips I have seen a few of these loose as they are just held in place using 3 small threaded screws at the base tightened with a very small allen key. These screws come loose and it slips off easily. Imagine that when you’re just rounding out or soaring close to a rock face….

Most loose plastic grips (ski pole grips most are made from) need simply gluing on with a contact glue such as ADOS F2/F3 contact adhesive. Assemble it wet and leave it to set. Just be careful if the grip has the radio push to transmit (PTT) button at the top with wires inside the stick as care will be needed not to pull the wires out etc. The seat may also need removing to get some slack into the PTT wires. If in doubt ask an engineer.

The stick grip must be firmly bonded onto the control stick and not be loose, twist or come off.

Sadly all the gliders I’ve seen with loose grips have also been passing many Daily Inspections and have not been picked up during the DI. The DI’s are not doing their job properly as this is EXACTLY the sort of defect that should be picked up.

During the DI Just lightly try and move the stick grip (do NOT try and rip it off) and it’s loose, good find and fix it before the next flight. Tape doesn’t work!

Fitting of Phones and PDA's

With PDA’s and telephones becoming cheaper nowadays, most of us now have a small electronic device fitted into our gliders in some way. I have one in my old 1964 dart (some say that’s doubled the gliders value!) and there is no doubt having one makes navigation and airspace so much easier.

But… its also very easy to mount it in a way that they can foul the control stick and sadly I’ve seen many that do exactly that.

Some are stuck on the canopy which is also not a good idea with a replacement canopy being around $20,000 fitted! or mounted on a gooseneck fittings from the panel (as the one in the photo is)

This particular example below would jam the stick absolutely solid against the PTT switch making any forward movement of the stick totally impossible and would be lethal on a winch launch. It did not move and allow forward stick input at all, I tried!

Yes they bend up out of the way but they also easily move downwards on take off if it is bumpy, so they need to withstand a lot of G force/bumps and remain clear of the stick. Does yours?

From the editor

Mike, thank you for all you have done as the NAO over the last several years. You have shaken the tree, raised the standards and highlighted the rubbish that needs fixing. Even your Facebook posts make me smile.

Looking forward to watching you win at the Club Class World Championships in Narromine, Australia, if Aussie ever dries out enough for them to fly again!