I have lurked here and on other type specific forums for awhile. My wife and I own a Piper Warrior and were fortunate to have a demo flight in a SR22T last Wednesday. Our airport is hosting the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association Convention and there will be a SR22T on static display for the next 3 days. Although we were both impressed with the Cirrus (where do I start), the one part of the flight that I was not prepared for was the markedly heavier control forces. I have a mild case of Dupuytrens Contracture and found myself reaching for the (non-existent) control wheel to increase leverage. I was wondering if any of the forum posters have encountered a similar situation. Looking forward to any replies.
Jack: Are you sure you did not hit the trim button by accident to work against you? I find the control forces in the Cirrus when properly trimmed to be lighter than a Piper Warrior. But it is easy to hit the trim button on the top of the yoke if you are not used to that.
I agree with Brian. I have an Archer II and Cirrus SR22TN. The SR22 properly trimmed takes less pressure to control.
I concur with both. I would add that learning how to trim a 22 properly is more art than science. The trim is very sensitive and takes a while to get used to, particularly at cruise speed.
Concur! The trim is VERY sensitive and needs practice to fine tune it!
Must have been a trim issue. My Cirrus is much “lighter” on the controls than my Piper Arrow.
I guess its all relative.
I came to the Cirrus from a Grumman Tiger, and, yes, compared to that the Cirrus was a little heavier on the controls.
Then again, I just spent about 12 hours in a 1966 Mooney M20E with “Positive Control”, and that was MUCH heavier on the controls than anything we’ve been discussing here.
I’d place the Cirrus somewhere in the middle, but with a lot of time on Cherokees, in no way would I call the Cirrus “markedly heavier”.
But the perception is the reality, and if you feel the controls will aggravate your condition, be sure to check out other options.
I notice the controls lighten up considerably at slower speeds.
Jack, one thing to be aware of is that the stick forces in the Cirrus are mostly from the springs in the system rather than aerodynamic forces, so it will feel heavy on the ground compared to an aircraft that has no springs in the control circuits, but in the air I don’t think it’s much different - heavier than a Cessna 150, but lighter than a 182.
Maybe another flight would be a good idea before making any decision - as others have suggested learning to use the trim is important.
Clyde