UH-60T Jayhawk Cockpit

This cockpit is VERY different than the L and M models at Ft. Knox. These birds are full of electronics as you see in the first photo. Those five large MFDs must have an absolute ton options. You see the rows of buttons surrounding the edge of each display. I count 7 across the bottom/top and 9 on each side for a total of 32 buttons. When the unit is up, there are options beside each one of those buttons. The displays are independent so the number of screens and the amount/type of information displayed to the pilots is enormous. You think the screens on your car are hard to navigate sometimes, think about trying to fly a helicopter at the same time. The displays are controlled with buttons instead of touch screens since the pilots are wearing gloves most of the time when flying. Yes, you can get gloves that are touch sensitive but I'm betting the buttons provide a more secure method of selecting options on the screens. This same MFD interface is found in most every modern military aircraft today.

The second photo is a closeup of the cyclic control (the stick). This handle plus button configuration is virtually identical to what is in a fighter jet. There are 2-way switches, 9-way switches (think compass directions plus a push), cursor slew (like a mouse), and more - about 10 separate switches and some can have multiple functions depending on what screen you are interacting with on those MFDs.

One more quick note: a helicopter is MUCH MORE DIFFICULT to fly than any normal airplane. An airplane is always flying forward and the surfaces that provide lift are fixed other than small trim adjustments. Helicopter flight has been described as trying to balance on the head of a needle using your left hand to control power and pitch to the rotors (collective) to increase/decrease altitude, your right hand to control the tilt of the rotor (cyclic) to move left, right, forward, and back, and finally your anti-torque pedals to control the alignment of your tail. In an airplane, the pedals control your rudder for tail alignment but that is pretty simple. In a helicopter, as you increase torque (combination of power, pitch, and tilt of the rotor), you change the amount of torque you must overcome with the tail rotor. The pitch of that tail rotor using your pedals determines where your tail ends up when flying. The balance all three of these controls is just more complicated in a helicopter since each one impacts the other.

If you ever wanted to try your hand at understanding complex flight controls and combat functions in modern fighters and helicopters, there are programs out there that can do just that if you have the right computer components. It is amazing what is out there in public domain information. I have a decent setup but some of the people I fly with online have some very sophisticated setups mimicking a real cockpit in layout and controls. Being the geek I am, I have really enjoyed learning so much about these things. It certainly keeps the mind active!

Thanks,

Doug White

https://jdwarchive.blogspot.com/