flying bare foot

[N74DV]

am I nuts or are there others (with large feet) that find the only way to comfortably fly is bare foot???

I have a size 13 foot and am 6'4" and I've tried flying with running shoes, boots, flip flops and the like but my feet get all caught up if I do that. When flying bare foot I have excellent control of the brakes and pedals.... I think alot of it has to do with the closeness of the heel brakes to each other.

of course I know many of you are in cold country this time of year and bare feet isn't possible.... I dunno... I guess I'm just rambling. It's midnight here and I'm tired and can't sleep.

[wlas]

Re: flying bare foot

If I flew barefoot I would have a bad case of frostbite. I fly with bunnyboots in the winter. Sometimes after 4 or so hours I land and get out and start moving around get to get warm.

[N95179]

Re: flying bare foot

I have size 12 feet and used to fly in socks in the 170 (great cabin heater). Then somebody mentioned the possibility of something going wrong...do you want to walk away from a wreck barefoot? I think your feet are worth protecting. I never go in just socks any more.

I've found the Taylorcraft with heel brakes is a lot better than the Cessnas with toe brakes for people with big feet. I can wear my huge winter Sorrels and still feel the rudders and brakes just fine. The little tabs on the pedals just happen to fit my boots perfectly.

[flylo]

Re: flying bare foot

I'm 6'4" & wear size 14s. I don't have any problems in a Tcraft. I do like heel brakes better than toe brakes. Today would not be the day to fly barefoot in Michigan!

[jgerard]

Re: flying bare foot

My buddy Andrew from NZ spent a summer working with us on a Helio Courier and Pilatus Porter. The only time he wore shoes was in restaurants. Walking, riding his bike, working at the hangar, and while flying the guy was barefoot 90% of the time.

[crispy critter]

Re: flying bare foot

I'm 6'4" with a size 12 and I can fly with boots,shoe.or barefoot. In the summer time I almost always wear sandels or flip-flops and those cna sometimes be a little tricky using the brakes so if I don't have on shoes or boots then I normally fly bare foot...regardless of what I'm flying. I like flying bare foot but it is a little hard to do in east ky during the winter,but when the weather is warm I am almost always barefootin.....I do carry a pair of shoes or boots in both my airplanes I fly on a regualer basis on long cross-countries just in case I have a problem or need to have them for some other reason.

[mhorowit]

Re: flying bare foot

I'm 6'4" .

What did you do in order to fit inside the Tcraft? I have difficulty with my legs at 6'1". Your knees must be around your chin! - Mike

[fearofpavement]

Re: flying bare foot

I have size 12 feet and because we have the Cessna rudder and brake pedals in the BC-12D I wear a pair of topsiders (boat shoes, moccasin type shoes) Any larger type of shoes does not allow enough room. In this installation there really isn't adequate space for all the additional mechanism and if you put in full rudder the other foot will be pinched between the pedal and airframe structure which tends to apply the brake opposite to what you want. It is manageable and I wouldn't want to go back to the heel brakes after having the hydraulic discs but the bigger the feet the more of a problem it is. So regarding the thread, I never fly barefoot but wear small lightweight shoes. bunny boots of any size would not work because of the thickness. They sure keep your tootsies warm though!

Regarding flip flops, jap slaps or whatever they go by these days I think they are not too good for planes as it is easy to get them tangled up in stuff.

[wlas]

Re: flying bare foot

I installed cleveland wheels and brakes, I mounted hyd. master cylinders under the floor and build new brake pedels that look like cub type. Now I only have to push lightly on the pedels, instead of standing on brakes and almost putting the pedals through the floor and barely getting it stopped before hitting the trees or bushes at the end of the strip. I do like the heel brakes after almost thrity years Iam kinda use to them.

[crispy critter]

Re: flying bare foot

What did you do in order to fit inside the Tcraft? I have difficulty with my legs at 6'1". Your knees must be around your chin! - Mike

Mike,
I take a roll or two out of the seat sling and I have plenty of room.

[Dan Voth]

Re: flying bare foot

Hi DJ, Im big also with size 14 shoes. I also have a time, but have never flown bare foot. I fly with SAS shoes. They are very comfortable and seem to be smaller in external size than the other shoes that I have. Try them, you might like them. Dan

[Chet Peek]

Re: flying bare foot

A note from the other side.
I'm, 5'5" size 6 1/2 shoes, (when I can find them), and fit the T-craft just fine. Like C. G. Taylor, I have trouble reaching toe brakes.
And while I'm on the Net, I want to wish you all a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a wonderful New Year. WE are looking forward to it!
Chet and Marian Peek

[Forrest Barber]

Re: flying bare foot

I usually wear moccasins like my ancestors when flying. I carry my hiking out boots too! I have four pair of mocs , the two button are my favorite, warm too!!

[Vasey fan]

Re: flying bare foot

Hi DJ, Im big also with size 14 shoes. I also have a time, but have never flown bare foot. I fly with SAS shoes. They are very comfortable and seem to be smaller in external size than the other shoes that I have. Try them, you might like them. Dan

What are SAS shoes? I'm 6'4" myself & court shoes work for me, but less might be more.

[dedrekon]

Re: flying bare foot

SAS are from the comfy but ugly school of shoes (Ecco, Clarks, Mephisto). They're the Volvo of footwear. You can find them on Ebay. I think they're made in Texas.

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