the problem with a pitman arm after a 90 degree is that you have alot of moving parts and motion right below the drivers legs.

As far as most planes I was under the impression that many (back in the day with large distances between controls and controlled) used hydraulics, and currently i thought it was mostly control by wire... as in electronic.

It is my firm belief that if wires were the way to steer automobiles then at least one car company or race team would use it, thats not to say "no one is doing it" is a reason not to do something.

for delft it was pretty much a rack and pinion with cables as opposed to geared teeth

i designed a rack and pinion for my team and it had no way of lashing adjustment which did lead to some slop however it was under 4 degrees and with the next generation lashing adjustment will been in place and its not overly complicated at all and i was able to manufacture most everything myself and i am by no means the best guy in the machine shop