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Old May 25th 06, 02:38 AM posted to rec.aviation.soaring
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Default Barely reach rudder pedals

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