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Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sat Apr 7 2018, 09:34
by 2Short
I'm a super short student pilot and am too short to to fly comfortably in the Bell 47 I'm currently learning in. I need something that will effectively move me forward in the seat without lifting me too high so I can reach the pedals and still rest my arm on my leg. I'm at a bit of a loss about what to do. What to young kids do when learning?

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sat Apr 7 2018, 12:05
by bladefapper
Have u tried a back support cushion?

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sat Apr 7 2018, 13:08
by Twistgrip
Have you tried the R22 with the adjustable pedal version plus the back support cushion mod?. Might give you a slight advantage. :wink:

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sat Apr 7 2018, 19:13
by Eric Hunt
I had a scale model Japanese student many years ago, who suffered from Duck's Disease* the same as you.

For the R22, he went to K-Mart and bought a child's rubber booster seat. CA$A would have a fit and declare it to be not airworthy, but it did the trick for him.






*Your @rse is too close to the ground

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sat Apr 7 2018, 20:55
by averagejoe
It sounds like a lot better problem to have than trying to put my 6foot8 in a 22.... Booster seat is slightly easier and more legal than taking to the roof with a grinder and cutting a head hole :P

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sat Apr 7 2018, 21:47
by 2Short
Twistgrip wrote:Have you tried the R22 with the adjustable pedal version plus the back support cushion mod?. Might give you a slight advantage. :wink:


No, but I may have to, they do seem a lot smaller (like me). I really wanted to learn in the Bell 47 with the manual throttle (plus it just looks super cool) but it might not be possible. I'll try a back support cusion (or three) and see how I go. thanks for your response. :)

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sat Apr 7 2018, 21:55
by 2Short
averagejoe wrote:It sounds like a lot better problem to have than trying to put my 6foot8 in a 22.... Booster seat is slightly easier and more legal than taking to the roof with a grinder and cutting a head hole :P
Eric Hunt wrote:I had a scale model Japanese student many years ago, who suffered from Duck's Disease* the same as you.
For the R22, he went to K-Mart and bought a child's rubber booster seat. CA$A would have a fit and declare it to be not airworthy, but it did the trick for him.
*Your @rse is too close to the ground
bladefapper wrote:Have u tried a back support cushion?


If the cushion/s mod doesn't work I'll get a kids booster. I never thought of that. Although I can hear the stick I'll cop for that already! :D

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sun Apr 8 2018, 00:55
by rotors99
Curry always seemed to give me a boost, especially with a double extra serving of red hot Chillies )c/

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sun Apr 8 2018, 05:33
by Evil Twin
2Short, the best thing I used to find with vertically challenged students was to get a cushion behind them to push them forward rather than up.

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sun Apr 8 2018, 05:45
by havick
Evil Twin wrote:2Short, the best thing I used to find with vertically challenged students was to get a cushion behind them to push them forward rather than up.


Just be careful with doors off operations that a back cushion is at least secured somehow inside the aircraft so it can’t disappear into the tail rotor.

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sun Apr 8 2018, 07:14
by Pitchpull
Evil Twin wrote:2Short, the best thing I used to find with vertically challenged students was to get a cushion behind them to push them forward rather than up.


ET is right, especially if you have T-Rex arms and you're Aft CG.

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sun Apr 8 2018, 08:36
by Evil Twin
havick wrote:
Evil Twin wrote:2Short, the best thing I used to find with vertically challenged students was to get a cushion behind them to push them forward rather than up.


Just be careful with doors off operations that a back cushion is at least secured somehow inside the aircraft so it can’t disappear into the tail rotor.


Agreed, we weren’t allowed to fly doors off on our contract so was never an issue for us.

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Sun Apr 8 2018, 10:43
by James Hall
Try Indiana Jones and temple of Doom... problem solved :D

But seriously a cushion behind you has fixed the problem with several students in the past, but as has been mentioned ensure doors on or strap the cushion to your back to prevent FOD

Re: Booster seat for pilot?

Posted: Tue Apr 10 2018, 09:40
by 2Short
havick wrote:
Evil Twin wrote:2Short, the best thing I used to find with vertically challenged students was to get a cushion behind them to push them forward rather than up.


Just be careful with doors off operations that a back cushion is at least secured somehow inside the aircraft so it can’t disappear into the tail rotor.


Yes, thank you! I never thought of that and the Bell 47 I'm using has both doors off, always.