Difference between "Throttle" and "Thrust Lever"?

[gringo]

They both do the same thing, but I was taught that with a piston airplane, it's a "throttle", but with a turbine, specifically a jet, they're called "thrust levers".

Can anyone clarify with a refrence to a publication?

Tanks

 

[9GClub]

I call them the gas pedals.

 

[CUEBOAT]

well, since a jet doesnt have a throttle body in the engine this is why the "go" lever isnt called a throttle. The thrust lever adds thrust hence the name.

 

[Ollie]

I think it's more manufacturer's preference than anything. I've flown some turboprops and turbine helos that had "throttles." I've also flown some turbine aircraft that had PCL's and ECL's. It just depends.

 

[CUEBOAT]

sweet avatar ollie

 

[Rogue5]

When I flew the EMB-120 Brasilia they were called "Power Levers" since turboprops have propellers that move mass and thus do "work" in a technical physics-sense. Power was measured in torque and shaft-horsepower. The call on the takeoff roll was "Set Power."

Now in the RJ you have no propellers and an engine whose strength is measure in pounds of thrust. The two things sticking up out of the center pedestal are called "Thrust levers." The call is "Set Thrust."

Although both had a turbine core and an argument could be made that the low-pressure fan on a high-bypass turbofan is just a set of very small propellers, the distinction comes down to how that turbine transmits its energy to the environment: prop or jet.

You can always tell a guy who just came over from the weed-wacker because the calls are wrong for a month or so...

 

[User546]

Thrust Levers are Throttles, and Throttles are Thrust Levers. It's just whats up front that they're controlling that makes the difference (Piston vs. Turbine).

Another good way to look at it is if you don't have a mixture lever/control up front, you probably should call it a Thrust Lever!

Rogue gives the best explanation of it.

 

[GogglesPisano]

A throttle restricts airflow (like when old people say "I'll throttle that SOB!") This is what happens in a piston engine. Without a throttle to control airflow into the engine the engine would overspeed and eventually fail.


There is no throttle in a turbine engine. Instead, the way to control power output is through the metering of fuel -- hence a more simple name for the lever.

 

[English]

There is no throttle in a turbine engine.

Tell Cessna that.

 

[Ollie]

I don't think that the original poster was asking whether or not there is a traditional throttle body attached to a turbine engine. He's asking about the nomenclature of the control inside the cockpit that controls the engine output/condition. There are a number of turbine powered aircraft that feature a control called the "throttle," named such by the aicraft's manufacturer. Whether it's called a throttle, thrust control, thrust lever, power lever, engine condition lever, power condition lever, etc. depends on what the aircraft manufacturer decides to call it. It's just not a matter of whether or not the power is piston or turbine.

 

[TonyC]

Tell Cessna that.

That's exactly what i was thinking!

I doubt you had the T-37 in mind, but I was thinking of the Boldface that is forever ingrained in the core of my noggin'. Let's see if I can fathom re-learning those with "Thrust Lever(s)" instead of "Throttle(s)"


SINGLE SPIN RECOVERY

THRUST LEVERS - IDLE
RUDDER and AILERONS - NEUTRAL
....


No, no, no... that just doesn't have the correct rhythm! We'd never pull it off with the substitution. Besides, then it'd be 44 words instead of 43. No!! They definitely have to be THROTTLES. Definitely!


On a related note... I recall being slightly amused when I first noticed the decal placard on the Throttle quadrant (see there, another throttle) of the KC/EC/RC-135s. There alongside the other pertinent markings was an arrow pointing toward the nose of the airplane labeled "Increase Thrust." (In fact, there may have been two, one on each side.) I often wondered who could have become confused, and how they might have become confused about which way to push the levers, whatever they called 'em, to increase thrust.

Boeing calls 'em Throttles, at least they did when I was flying last night.

 

[FoxBravo]

I've always wondered if they are thrust levers......why do we have an auto throttle system? Can't Boeing make up their mind either?

 

[GogglesPisano]

I've always wondered if they are thrust levers......why do we have an auto throttle system? Can't Boeing make up their mind either?

Airbus labelled it an "autothrust" system.

 

[gringo]

Yeah, I was simply asking about proper nomenclature- on the RJ, we called them "thrust levers", but on the DC-10, we call them "throttles"- apparently Douglas did this with all of their airplanes.

Just curious- but I did like the history behind the "I'll throttle him" phrase...

 

[TonyC]

On a related note... I recall being slightly amused when I first noticed the decal placard on the Throttle quadrant (see there, another throttle) of the KC/EC/RC-135s. There alongside the other pertinent markings was an arrow pointing toward the nose of the airplane labeled "Increase Thrust." (In fact, there may have been two, one on each side.) I often wondered who could have become confused, and how they might have become confused about which way to push the levers, whatever they called 'em, to increase thrust.

Boeing calls 'em Throttles, at least they did when I was flying last night.

HA! I found the same "decal" placard on the 727 throttle quadrant today "<---- INCREASE THRUST". I hadn't noticed it before.

Makes ya wonder - - who woulda thunk ta move 'em the other direction to increase thrust?!?!









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