Retractable collective pitch stick

Claim 1

A collective pitch stick for a helicopter including: a first tube having a first end connected for rotational movement of the tube in one plane about said connection and a second end remote from said first end; a second tube having an internal diameter slightly larger than the external diameter of said first tube so as to be axially slideable thereon; said second tube having a first end normally surrounding the second end of said first tube; locking cam means attached to said first end of said second tube; and index pin means connected at one end to said first end of said first tube; said index pin means having means adjacent its other end engaging with said locking cam means to maintain said tubes in a maximum length relationship; said index pin means having a necked-down portion engaging said locking cam means; said locking cam means having a slot through which said index pin extends; said slot having three interconnected areas including; a first area having a width slightly larger than the diameter of said index pin; a second area having a width slightly larger than the diameter of the necked-down portion of said index pin; and a third area being a detent having a width larger than the diameter of the necked-down portion but smaller than the diameter of said index pin; said index pin being preloaded so as to urge it into the detent of said slot third area.