What types of wood are used for you grips?
We've decided to use Walnut as our standard. It's durable, beautiful and works well with our machinery. We are glad to try out a wood of your choice. However, we cannot guarantee that it will work as expected. If you're willing to experiment with us then why not give it a try? In the past, we've had success with poplar, maple and cherry.
Can I choose my own switches?
Our grips have depth limitations that will need to be addressed before we can agree to use your choice of switches. If they fit, then sure! Why not?
What kind of finishes are possible?
We've experimented with various types of stains, dyes, paints and hydro-dips before with excellent results. If you have an idea that's not shown in our list of options, let's talk and see if we can make it happen!
Why are your grips so expensive?
While we do use some pretty impressive machinery to achieve the general shape, the majority of the process of making our grips is done the old fashioned way; by hand. Our skilled craftsmen (and women) work to ensure that every grip that we deliver is as close to perfect as possible. The reality is that it takes time and attention to detail to create something as great as a Pioneer grip. This reality paired with our choice of high quality switches and material contribute to our higher than average pricing. We guarantee that when you feel a Pioneer grip in your hand, the price tag will be the last thing on your mind!
What are the grip dimensions?
The last photo of each grip listing will show inside and outside critical dimensions for each model. View current models here.
How are the grips secured to the control stick?
The grip is secured using a pre-installed set screw at the back of the grip. See the drawing below for reference.
Do I need to use a trim relay with your grips?
Yes, our grips will require the use of a trim relay for each axis. This allows us to simplify wiring inside of our grips and also reduces the risk of running both power and ground wires inside the grip. Each switch shares a common ground. See the typical interconnects in the link below. Custom wiring is available upon request.
What size grip should I order?
Our grips maintain the same outer shape, no matter which "size" you order. The stick diameter is determined by measuring the outside diameter of your control stick. You can reference our cheat sheet below for common aircraft but we ask that you confirm these measurements before we ship the grips. Note: Some aircraft like the Vans RV6-9 use two different size control sticks for the pilot and copilot seats.
Do you offer a display for our showroom?
Yes, we do! A hands-on display allows builders and owners to feel the grips, see switch configurations and better understand how they integrate into a finished aircraft. The display is lightweight and takes up minimal space. It features non airworthy but realistic examples of each grip model. This is an opportunity to add value to those visiting your showroom. For non dealers who wish to add this value to their customer showroom, we can provide a display for $599. This display is complimentary for our dealers who have met their minimum ordering requirement.
It measures just 4.5" x 12" x 14"
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