Barely reach rudder pedals

Vaughn Simon wrote:

"no thank" wrote in message
...
I've tried putting less "common mode" pressure
on it, but I don't feel as much in control when I do that. I was thinking
of installing a wood block to better distribute the force, but I'm
concerned about the safety of that.

Let me guess...you are strictly a glider pilot? That "common mode"
pressure habit I somehow aquired while exclusively flying gliders had to be lost
quickly when I started flying airplanes. Have you ever made a locked brake
landing in a Cessna? I did...once.

I am exclusively a glider pilot.

Seriously, your legs are strong and you can apply hundreds of pounds of
pressure that way without even thinking about it. Have you ever taken a good
look at how light some of that rudder control rigging is?

I doubt I'm applying more than 50 pounds from each foot, but spread over
an area that is perhaps 2 square inches thats a lot of pressure to be
constantly applying to your foot. I haven't looked carefully at the
assembly, but I doubt I'm stressing it more than its stressing me. Its
not a problem for 45 minutes, but on a multihour flight it gets tiring.

I think part of the issue is seating position. When I'm driving a car, I
don't brace my left foot on the "dead" pedal when not using the clutch. I
assume most planes have more upright seating than the Libelle so I may not
tend to do that as much in a powered aircraft

dan

I apply common pressure when I'm under stress, and one good way to actively
relax in such a situation is to relax the common pressure.
I'd propose that you work on your attitude, rather on changing the rudder
pedals.

"no thanks" wrote in message
...
Vaughn Simon wrote:

"no thank" wrote in message
...
I've tried putting less "common mode" pressure
on it, but I don't feel as much in control when I do that. I was
thinking
of installing a wood block to better distribute the force, but I'm
concerned about the safety of that.

Let me guess...you are strictly a glider pilot? That "common mode"
pressure habit I somehow aquired while exclusively flying gliders had to
be lost
quickly when I started flying airplanes. Have you ever made a locked
brake
landing in a Cessna? I did...once.

I am exclusively a glider pilot.

Seriously, your legs are strong and you can apply hundreds of pounds
of
pressure that way without even thinking about it. Have you ever taken a
good
look at how light some of that rudder control rigging is?

I doubt I'm applying more than 50 pounds from each foot, but spread over
an area that is perhaps 2 square inches thats a lot of pressure to be
constantly applying to your foot. I haven't looked carefully at the
assembly, but I doubt I'm stressing it more than its stressing me. Its
not a problem for 45 minutes, but on a multihour flight it gets tiring.

I think part of the issue is seating position. When I'm driving a car, I
don't brace my left foot on the "dead" pedal when not using the clutch. I
assume most planes have more upright seating than the Libelle so I may not
tend to do that as much in a powered aircraft

dan

I'm guessing you are tensed up while flying. a couple
of ppounds pressure on the rudder is about all you
need, and you don't need any at all except on one foot
while straightening up the yaw string.
Try just caressing the pedal with your toes and not
moving your ankles.

Are you gripping the stick also? Try holding it with
thumb and two fingers and experiment with how lightly
you can touch it and still maintain coordinated flight.
I'll bet you will become more sensitive to the glider
and to the air you are in.

Best,

NZW

At 15:24 24 May 2006, No Thanks wrote:

I am exclusively a glider pilot.

snip

I doubt I'm applying more than 50 pounds from each
foot, but spread over
an area that is perhaps 2 square inches thats a lot
of pressure to be
constantly applying to your foot. I haven't looked
carefully at the
assembly, but I doubt I'm stressing it more than its
stressing me. Its
not a problem for 45 minutes, but on a multihour flight
it gets tiring.

I think part of the issue is seating position. When
I'm driving a car, I
don't brace my left foot on the 'dead' pedal when not
using the clutch. I
assume most planes have more upright seating than the
Libelle so I may not
tend to do that as much in a powered aircraft

dan