# Centre stick

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A **centre stick** (spelled **center stick** in American English), or simply **control stick**, is an aircraft [cockpit](/source/Cockpit) arrangement where the control column (or [joystick](/source/Joystick)) is located in the center of the cockpit either between the [pilot's](/source/Aviator) legs or between the pilots' positions. Since the throttle controls are typically located to the left of the pilot, the right hand is used for the stick, although left-hand or both-hands operation is possible if required.[1]

The centre stick is a part of an aircraft's [flight control system](/source/Aircraft_flight_control_system) and is typically linked to its [ailerons](/source/Aileron) and [elevators](/source/Elevator_(aircraft)), or alternatively to its [elevons](/source/Elevon), by control rods or control cables on basic aircraft. On heavier, faster, more advanced aircraft the centre stick may also control power-assist modules. Modern aircraft centre sticks are also usually equipped with a number of electrical control switches within easy finger reach, in order to reduce the pilot's workload.

## History

The centre stick originated at the turn of the twentieth century. In 1900, [Wilhelm Kress](/source/Wilhelm_Kress) of [Austria](/source/Austria) developed a control stick for aircraft, but did not apply for a patent. Instead, a patent was awarded to the [French](/source/France) aviator, [Robert Esnault-Pelterie](/source/Robert_Esnault-Pelterie) who applied for it in 1907.[2]

## Split stick

A two-handed variation of the centre stick has existed as a split stick, with a similar arrangement to a yoke as it is bifurcated for the pilot to operate with both hands. This is not only used to operate the aircraft but for the pilot to also use radar controls. The [F-8 Crusader](/source/F-8_Crusader) is an example of an aircraft that used a split stick.[citation needed]

## Popularity

The centre stick is used in many military fighter jets such as the [Eurofighter Typhoon](/source/Eurofighter_Typhoon) and the [Mirage III](/source/Mirage_III), but also in [light aircraft](/source/Light_aircraft) such as [Piper Cubs](/source/Piper_Cub) and the [Diamond Aircraft](/source/Diamond_Aircraft) line of products such as the [DA20](/source/DA20), [DA40](/source/DA40) and [DA42](/source/DA42).

This arrangement contrasts with the more recently developed "[side-stick](/source/Side-stick)", which is used in such military fighter jets as the [F-16](/source/F-16), the [F-35 Lightning II](/source/F-35_Lightning_II) and [Rafale](/source/Dassault_Rafale) and also on civil aircraft such as the [Airbus A320](/source/Airbus_A320).

## See also

- [Index of aviation articles](/source/Index_of_aviation_articles)
- [Aircraft flight control system](/source/Aircraft_flight_control_system)
- [Dual control (aviation)](/source/Dual_control_(aviation))
- [HOTAS](/source/HOTAS)
- [Rudder pedals](/source/Rudder_pedals)
- [Side-stick](/source/Side-stick)
- [Yoke (aeronautics)](/source/Yoke_(aeronautics))

## References

1. Crane, Dale: *Dictionary of Aeronautical Terms, third edition*, page 132. Aviation Supplies & Academics, 1997. ISBN 1-56027-287-2.

1. *[Connections](/source/Connections_(British_documentary))*, episode 6 part 5 of 5 (1976). Also: Burke, James (1978). [*Connections*](https://archive.org/details/connections00burk). Boston: Little, Brown. p. [183](https://archive.org/details/connections00burk/page/183). ISBN 0-316-11681-5.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Centre stick](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_stick) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Centre_stick?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.