Reconfigurable aircraft stick control and method for connecting and removing stick control from aircraft simulator

An assembly having a generic base with a mounting means to provide for interchangeability of stick controls of an aircraft simulator each having a particular connecting member, said assembly comprising:

• a first member comprising an elongated, hollow generally cylindrical member and defining a first pitch axis;
• means for mounting said first member for rotation about said first pitch axis, said mounting means comprising said generic base;
• a second member defining a first roll axis, said second member being supported by said first member for movement with said first member about said pitch axis, said second member comprising means for converting rotary motion of said second member around said first roll axis to movement along said first pitch axis;
• means connected to said first and second members for generating electrical signals that reflect the movement of said first and second members about their respective axes to thereby simulate the pitching and rolling of an aircraft;
• and
• means for releasably supporting said particular connecting members of said stick controls, said releasable supporting means being mounted on said first member so that it can move said first member about said first pitch axis and so that it can move said second member about said first roll axis.

A method for connecting and removing a stick control from an aircraft simulator, wherein the simulator includes a first member that is rotatable about a first pitch axis and includes a second member that is connected to said first member for movement with the first member, and wherein said control stick includes a grip on a support thereof that is pivotally connected to one end of a first rod comprising a first pivot means and which support includes a second rod pivotally connected to said support at a location that is spaced apart from said first pivot means, comprising the steps of:

• providing a grip dimensioned to correspond to that on a particular aircraft;
• dimensioning said first and second connecting rods so that when they are connected to said first and second members, said grip is at a height that corresponds to that particular aircraft;
• connecting said first connecting rod to said first member by a releasable compression member;
• and
• pivotally connecting said second connecting rod to said second member by a pivot pin.