Forum: aviation.stackexchange.com
Tags: <flight-controls><cessna-172>
Title: How much physical strength is required to control a Cessna 172?
Question: I have heard a number of folks tell me that one needs a certain amount of physical strength to be able to control the Cessna 172. Is that true? I'm flying sims now, just wanted to know.

Answers:
sents: text: I will take this from a more general perspective.
text: A Cessna 172 is part of the CS-23 category (in EASA land, see the equivalent Part 23 for FAA land).
text: In the relevant document , point CS 23.143, we find the maximum forces a pilot might be required to exert on the control columns so that the aircraft can be certified.
text: As the Cessna 172 is certified, we then know that it respects these requirements, so the maximum forces required to pilot a Cessna 172 (and any other CS-23 aircraft) are: \begin{array}{l|c|c|c|}\textrm{Values in Newton applied} & & & \\\textrm{to the relevant control} & \textrm{Pitch} & \textrm{Roll} & \textrm{Yaw}\\\hline\
text: \
text: \
text: \ \textrm{For
text: temporary application –} & & & \\\textrm{Stick} & 267 \textrm{ N} & 133 \textrm{ N} & \\\textrm{Wheel (two hands on rim)} & 334 \textrm{ N} & 222 \textrm{ N} & \\\textrm{Wheel (one hand on rim)} & 222 \textrm{ N} & 111 \textrm{ N} & \\\textrm{Rudder pedal} & & & 667 \textrm{ N}
text: \\\hline\
text: \
text: \ \ \textrm{For
text: prolonged application –} & 44.5\textrm{ N} & 22\textrm{ N} & 89\textrm
text: { N} \\\end{array}
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/1467/Federico
score: 33
sents: text: It depends on what you mean by "strength".
text: In general, it is "not much".
text: I've flown a lot of sims and also flown a real Cessna 172.
text: It is true that most sim controllers (especially joysticks) require almost no effort to move at all.
text: In that perspective, then yes, flying a real airplane takes some strength, especially if you compare the force required to achieve max deflection (not recommend in flight!!!).
text: The flight controls of a light aircraft are still light enough that a healthy adult can manipulate them very easily.
text: In fact, the correct technique is to use two or three fingers on the yoke.
text: Most first-time students grab the yoke firmly in their hands, this is wrong because you cannot feel the airplane.
text: If one has the strength to drive a modern-day road car, one can certainly fly a light airplane.
text: I have also spent some time in a B737 training simulator (not PC simulators -
text: I mean the real sims used for training).
text: I was surprised to find the controls much heavier.
text: I would describe the feeling as solid and fluid.
text: They are still easy enough to manipulate such that my mind can focus on elsewhere instead of the physical movements of the control.
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/3386/kevin
score: 22
sents: text: I've never flown a 172, but I fly a Piper Warrior which is in the same ballpark.
text: You definitely need to apply a lot more force than with a flight sim yoke and provide positive pressure (Remember, you're fighting the airflow ultimately), but you don't need to be "strong".
text: I'd imagine anyone who can drive a car would have the strength to fly a plane.
text: Remember, most flying is one handed and most pilots will use their less-dominant hand (Left hand)
text: so it can't be that bad!
text: I do find the Warrior needs a lot of backpressure to rotate and flare.
text: I've struggled to find any mathematics to add to this, but I've found a few quotes which imply you need approximately 1lb of backpressure to hold the plane level for every 6kts without trim
text: (The whole point of trim is to avoid this and make life easier)
text: So, at 100kts that's 16lbs / 7kgs.
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/2160/Dan
score: 13
sents: text: I taught people of all sizes to fly for about 30 years.
text: I taught my commercial students how to take off and land without even touching the yoke.
text: So it is possible to control a c- 172 with no yoke force whatsoever.
text: Just rudder, throttle and trim.
text: So by the use of proper trim use, one can control the aircraft using the yoke with only ounces of force.
text: Don't let people discourage you.
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/33703/Anthony
score: 7
sents: text: I have several hundred hours in a 172, while it's a bit heavier on the controls than a 152 it isn't much.
text: If you have normal movement then you can likely fly a 172.
text: A benefit to control force in real aircraft vs Sims is the feedback you get through the controls with renders Sims largely ineffective in many cases.
text: OK for some stuff mostly instrument related but it will never replace actual flying.
text: The 172 was a lot easier to fly than the turbine modified Grumman Goose I flew, that thing was like trying to fly a dump truck with manual steering.
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/33702/Dick foster
score: 3
sents: text: The amount of physical exertion required while flying a 172 depends largely on what you're trying to accomplish; for example, cruising in a trimmed attitude requires almost no effort whatsoever.
text: However, purposely inducing an aggravated stall/spin action then recovering requires considerably more effort.
text: Since recovering from all situations is important while flying as a PIC, one should give it a try before pursuing training in earnest.
text: Personally, the most exertion required is climbing up to manually check the fuel levels in the wing tanks.
text: But once I got the hang of it, it became quite easy.
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/33708/Steve Woods
score: 3
sents: text: I fly both Cessna and piper aircraft.
text: The flight controls on a 172 require a lot less force.
text: The flight controls on a piper feel much heaver..
text: you feel like your flying a much bigger airplane.
text: So to answer your question it does not take a lot of strength to fly one.
answer_details: author: aviation.stackexchange.com/users/33706/Robert costa
score: 1

Summary of the answers:
Flying a 172 requires only the same amount of physical strength as driving a car. Any able-bodied adult should be able to do it. 
For some people, it does not take a lot of stength to fly a Cessna 172, but only a normal amount is needed. More specifically, it needs as much stength as to drive a modern car. According to an answer, the calculated result of the strength is 16lbs / 7kgs. While more force than when using a flight simulation yoke is required, it is still not a difficult task. Finally, for some people the strength needed depends on what the pilot tries to accomplish during the flight.