I usually fly a 1977 C172N model myself, and that’s pretty typical - there are a lot more planes from that vintage than any other out there. Cessna didn’t make any singles at all 1986-1992 or so, before a change in liability law, and the high cost of new planes is keeping older ones in the air.
On a C172N anyway, you should see 2 crank handles under the front edge of the seat. The left one adjusts the seat back angle, the right one adjusts the seat height. There’s a release bar, like on a car seat, that moves it forward and aft.
The pedals on a Skyhawk don’t move, and if your legs are really short, you might have trouble pulling the yoke all the way back with the seat that far forward. There are other aircraft that keep the seat and yoke or stick in one place, but let you move the pedal assembly.
The reason you are taught to look outside the plane, as you will learn if you do your commercial licence, is your instruments have a time lag. Your ASI, VSI and Altimeter work on pressure changes which can lag anywhere between 4 and 12 seconds, depending on altitude. You may often think your instructor knows what the plane is doing before the instruments, and we do, if you look outside!! The nose attitude changes long before the instruments, so you’ll do yourself a big favour if you look at the nose in relation to the horizon… Happy landings
As you go through the progression of training, you’ll find first that the horizon is your friend. You’ll spend little time looking at the gauges – and instructors will be reminding you to check your gauges frequently.
Then you’ll progress to a complex aircraft and/or instrument training. Now you’re on the gauges all of the time. (You’ll actually start to enjoy being right seat, where you can sightsee!)
Then you’ll go on to a commercial rating. Guess what? It’s all visual reference flying again. They kind of teach you to fly all over again, after the instrument discipline of flying IFR.
One other note: a good investment is an Oregon Aero Soft Seat. They are temperature and pressure sensitive, so adapt well to a body (especially one with a wallet in the rear pocket). I bought one for my daughter when she started to fly.
The airplane I’m currently in, neither the seat nor the pedals move. It’s a little annoying. Scratch that - it’s a lot annoying, but I think I’ve got my system worked out.
Abosolutely. And don’t be afraid to keep trying to perfect it.
Look, you HAVE TO be able to reach the pedals. This is NOT an option. EVER. And not just your tippy-toes. You need to able to get a full throw on those pedals from a normal, seated position. Whatever is required to enable you to do that is necessary. If you continue to have trouble with that bring it back here, we’ll help you figure out a solution.
If it works, it works. Just be sure you don’t have soles so thick they interfere with manipulating the pedals.
There are also rudder pedal extensions out there, though I haven’t used them (yet) in a Skyhawk. There might be issues with attaching them.
When I flew ultralights we just duct-taped wooden blocks to the pedals, but then, that’s ultralights and you can do things like that. GA frequently isn’t so open to jurry-rig solutions like that.
Also, I don’t like any Skyhawk built between 1978 and 1986 because they seem to have the pedals further away and the panels higher with each passing model year. The new version Skyhawks I can get comfortable in, and pre-1970, but through the early 70’s models I need more and more cushions.
Since you are my height, Seren, I’d recommend trying other airplanes if they’re available. You’d fit very nicely into a Cessna 150 or 152, for example. And I find the Piper Warriors a better fit in the cockpit as well.
I don’t fly, but I am seriously lacking in height and have to sit on a big 'ol pile of cushions to drive. And it’s getting to be time for me to look for a new one. Those cushions are expensive, but they look great.
Excuse me for butting in. I’d love to learn to fly someday if I have the time and the money, though I wonder if my height might be an issue, at least as far as reaching the pedals goes. Yeah, I’m THAT short.
I’ve got several pilot friends who are shorter than I am. There are guys flying 737’s who are no taller than I am (I know one personally). Evelyn Johnson, who has 57,000+ hours in her logbook and has beeing flying professionaly for 60 years (she’s in her 90’s now) in all sizes and types of airplanes is four inches shorter than me.
The issue isn’t height, it’s dealing with a cockpit built for someone bigger than you. Those seat cushions you use in your car can be used in an airplane. I got a friend who has six inch extensions on the rudder pedals in his Mooney.
Seren - time to step up and be pilot in command. Go out to the field when the airplane isn’t otherwise occupied with a selection of seat cushions. You’ll need 15-30 minutes. Experiment with the seating arrangements.
Once strapped in, you need to be able to:
Get a full throw on either rudder pedal without straining.
Easily reach everything in the cockpit
See outside well enough to avoid hitting stuff
If you can’t get this worked out in 15-20 minutes on your own, or you have trouble adjusting the seat controls, ask for help. CFI’s over 5’8" frequently do not appreciate the problems posed by late 70’s/early 80’s Skyhawks to us shorties. So if that’s the case - tell him. If he’s a good CFI he’ll appreciate the importance of getting this worked out early.
Trust me - at this point I’ve flown 14 different types/models of airplane, and over 25 individual machines - a good fit in the cockpit will make everything MUCH easier as you go along.
Seren, thank you for starting this thread. I have always wanted to fly, ever since I was a small child. Just last night, my husband and I were standing on the roof of a very tall building downtown, and a small plane flew by. I told him, “I’m going to learn how to fly one of those.” And my husband says, “Yes, yes, you say that every time you see a plane!” This is true. :smack:
Your posts and everyone else’s help me feel better about it. It seems so overwhelming to me, but it makes sense - like anything else, it’s something you get used to.
My husband has a lot of money, but it’s something I want to do on my own. So when I start working, I’ll be looking into getting lessons. I used to want to when I had money back home, but airports were few and far between and a major hassle for me to get to. But hey, I live in Seattle now, you can’t turn around without bumping into an airplane, or helicopter, or occasional blimp (now that would be something else, wouldn’t it? )
So perhaps next year, I’ll be posting about my first flying lessons, and I’ll expect you, Seren, to be there, with your own sage advice and experiences!
I’m glad the lesson went well. It seems like it’d be such FUN. And I’m a somewhat nervous flyer, but if I was actually piloting I think I’d feel a lot better about being in the air. I once saw some documentary where people who had full blown flying phobias ended up becoming stunt pilots. I don’t think I’d want to go that far, but it’d be neat to fly, if I could.
I’m 6’4" and being a bit short is much better in most small airplanes…
In older stuff back when I was learning, Cessna 140’s, Luscombe’s, Taylor Crafts, Chiefs, Swifts, I had much more trouble than the small folks, they could bring added height in the form of pillows, I have no way to reduce leg or body length.
I have flown about 34 different types and probably 100 different aircraft and what Broomstick is saying about getting your position correct is very important. also, full stick or yoke movement at the same time. This is where small or chunky folks can have a problem. Once they are close enough to the rudder peddles, they can’t get full deflection of the other controls. Be sure you have that base well covered on each airplane as you move through your training…
You guys are great Thanks for all the suggestions and support.
nh076 – Looking outside makes a lot of sense now. I was wondering why I needed to look out if I was doing just fine looking at the instruments.
Mooney252 – Thanks for the seat cushion suggestion. That looks great! I’m gonna see if I can talk my parents into getting me one.
Broomstick – I’ll definitely take time before my next lesson to arrange the cockpit, to see how I need it. I’m gonna look into getting rudder extensions (or some not too outrageous platform shoes–I just need a couple more inches).
Anastasaeon – Aw, thanks. I’m glad this thread has helped you. I know I’ve only had one lesson, so I shouldn’t be able to say for sure, but flying is really fun and seems like a great, if expensive) hobby. So, definitely start up lessons We’ll all be here to support you.
GusNSpot – Yeah, being tall would present some tough challenges. There’s always the surgery option though…
whiterabbit – I’ve always been a little bit of a nervous flyer too, but I’ve also always known I wanted to fly. From what I saw yesterday, it does actually feel better being the pilot. I think it’s just that I know what’s happening, because I’m doing it. Taking off and landing are still nervous time, but for other reasons now.
For the past few months, I have been thinking how fun it would be to try aerobatics…
I think it’s much like driving a car in that respect. Plenty of people who are quite comfortable driving themselves, get nervous as a passanger. Being in control and knowing what the hecks going on goes a long way towards settling the nerves.
Aerobatics is not only a lot of fun but it also increases your skill levels and confidence. Someone with significant aerobatic experience will feel comfortable with any aircraft attitude even if it occurs unexpectedly. Also you will learn to have more complete control over the aircraft and a better feel for what is happening, particularly when operating close to aircraft limits such as the stall.
Of course, “slowly, slowly, catch a monkey” as they say. One step at a time. Learn to fly first, and maybe take an aerobatic flight some time soon to see if you like it, then try some aerobatic lessons later on when the basic flying has become familiar.
