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Glite Dictionary
sidestick

sidestick

7.6
A control stick at the side of a pilot's seat used to move the plane
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : palanca lateral
  • The bomber used small sidestick controllers, like a fighter plane, with throttle quadrants to the left of each seat and the button-festooned control stick to the right.
  • the pilot moves his sidestick

Examples

  • The sidestick, being tested by Mercedes-Benz, is part of a fully computer-controlled car handling system of the possibly near future.

    Academic text (2005)

  • The pilot adjusted the aircraft's altitude by using the sidestick located next to his seat.

  • To navigate the fighter jet, each pilot confidently moved their sidestick during the flight.

  • The sidestick in the cockpit allowed the pilot to control the aircraft's movements with one hand.

Synonyms

joystick
vssidestick
  • Specialized
13 3.4

A stick you move by hand to control a machine like a computer or plane

is placed at the side of the seat for operating controls
control stick
vssidestick
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A lever a pilot uses to move a plane up, down, left, and right

is similar but positioned at the side rather than between seats

Surface Forms

sidestick singular
sidesticks plural

Morphology

sidestick = side + stick (transparent) = side + stick

Clear, direct compound of 'side' + 'stick' referring to a control stick positioned at the side.

Etymology

The word sidestick is made of side ('the left or right part') and stick ('a thin pole or handle'), so imagine a stick placed at the side of your seat. A sidestick is a control stick at the side of the seat, like a joystick at your side, and that is why pilots use it to steer an aircraft.