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Taildraggers vs cowboy boots
- Thread starter sansoneservices
- Start date
"Real" cowboy boots (ropers, specifically) are the pointy kind. None of that box-toed fancy stuff! While there is not an over-abundance of room, there is plenty of room. The original J-3 seat is a bit narrower. I have a Super Cub front seat and there is still a good amount of room there.
Fun Fact: you will notice the back portion of the original front seat of a J-3 is round (rather than square, like subsequent models). Why, might you ask? WELL: the heater is in the front seat. After takeoff and in cruise, since the J-3 is "front seat solo", the pilot could more easily crawl from the back seat to the front seat.....where it was warmer! Then crawl back to land. I have never done that.............
The long legged here know the problem is the additional length of heels. The feet meet the pedals at a worse angle, and the knees are further up in the air. It can make pedaling real awkward.
Some airplanes don't have enough vertical clearance for toes with size 14's. I imagine pointy boots would make that worse for sure. I only have about an inch to spare under the front baggage floor on the -8.
Some airplanes don't have enough vertical clearance for toes with size 14's. I imagine pointy boots would make that worse for sure. I only have about an inch to spare under the front baggage floor on the -8.
I had one incident in my RV3 where my tennis (running) shoe got hung up on the bolt holding the clevis pin for the rudder cable to the rudder pedal. Caused an embarrassing landing that could’ve been expensive. Since then, I hardly ever wear anything other than my Simpson car driving shoes. My feet are somewhat large and maybe I’m just not a great pilot, but I’ll take all the help I can get. Some planes are certainly more roomy than others. I had a GCAA Citabria that I could fly in almost anything. On the other end of the spectrum, my Midget Mustang barely had room for even the Simpson driving shoes. As for winter cold, I have some Gerbing heated insoles.
Now I won't say she was large but getting her in my truck was like cowboy boots in a Cub J-3 Edited to have "J-3" rhyme with "boogie."
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This includes me eight or nine months of the year. Any type shoe I'm wearing go behind the seats.
Boots in the colder months. Even when flying a Cub variant.
100% of my tailwheel time is in a Cub Crafters Sport Cub S2 of which I have never been in the backseat so I can't comment on boots in the back.
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Wrestling or racing shoes are best, not good walking shoes.
Even sneaker, want thinner/worn soles.
Unless you are this guy...
[ed. Have always loved this clip. v/r,dr]
Even sneaker, want thinner/worn soles.
Unless you are this guy...
[ed. Have always loved this clip. v/r,dr]
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From early spring until late fall... https://www.vibram.com/ca/shop/fivefingers
I only stop wearing them outdoors when it gets too cold for them.
I only stop wearing them outdoors when it gets too cold for them.
Sorry, couldn’t help myself. Those couldn’t be farther from cowboy boots than, well, pretty much anything
I got a lot of guff for them but they don’t know what they are missing. Size 14EE
EE
As you should!
Remember, the Nerds were the heroes and got the girls.
I tried these but they just weren’t comfortable on me. I had an employee wearing them to the office and had to explain they were not appropriate office attire. He loved them so much…..
Don't need skis with those!!!
I have a pair of those; never worn them flying. Maybe I'll try them.
My Simpson racing shoes/boots are a bit thicker than the LIFT shoes and keep my toes pretty toasty as the temperature drops. They are also flame-resistant.
I've had more than one tailwheel student get into trouble with the wrong kind of footwear on. Sometimes the shoe is too wide for the pedal. Other times the shoe is long enough that they end up applying the brake(s) inadvertently. I've seen that with cowboy boots, basketball shoes, and many other types. I had one guy who could not stay off the brakes in his SR22 and we traced it to his shoes. Once he changed those, everything else fell into place.
When I check out pilots in a high-performance tailwheel like the Pitts or Extra, I encourage them to wear the thinnest sole shoes they have available. I use racing shoes like Sparco or Puma in those airplanes myself. I like the way it allows me to feel the nuances of the rudder pedals. Of course, that's for acro as much as takeoff and landing. But they have the benefit of being comfortable as well.
I'm sure there are plenty of higher time pilots who fly around in cowboy boots all the time and have no issues, but all else being equal, I'd recommend something smaller with a thin sole. Topsiders, Vans, that sort of thing.
--Ron
When I check out pilots in a high-performance tailwheel like the Pitts or Extra, I encourage them to wear the thinnest sole shoes they have available. I use racing shoes like Sparco or Puma in those airplanes myself. I like the way it allows me to feel the nuances of the rudder pedals. Of course, that's for acro as much as takeoff and landing. But they have the benefit of being comfortable as well.
I'm sure there are plenty of higher time pilots who fly around in cowboy boots all the time and have no issues, but all else being equal, I'd recommend something smaller with a thin sole. Topsiders, Vans, that sort of thing.
--Ron
I just sold my Cub Special, but flew it with every pair of shoes I had at one time or another. Tennis shoes to work/hunting boots and some in between. However, early on in my TD time I did prefer tennys, and I know some folks who leave a pair with their plane so they aren’t caught without. Not a bad plan.You ever fly a cub with boots? That I would have to see unless you have tiny feet!
This is purely a "size does matter" issue for me, and 12EE cowboy boots are not my choice to fly with...in fact I wouldn't even climb into my -4 with them on. Hey Dudes, Vans sneakers or even barefoot in emergency is my only choices. Tried the Crocks and Flip Flops but they get stuck in the pedals...just taxied and didn't fly during that test.
If you wanna try something that's really inexpensive, the Vans-style shoes that Target sells under their "Goodfellow" brand are like $20 a pair and they work well, too.
www.target.com
Men's Phillip Twin Gore Sneakers - Goodfellow & Co™ Charcoal 10: Slip-On, Padded Collar, Non-Marking Rubber Outsole
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In the RV8 if you have big feet you don't want to wear big clunky shoes or boots.. I had a citabria before it and was fine with any kind of footwear. When I started flying the RV8 my big size 13 shoes with the rudder pedals so close together were not a good match. Started removing my shoes and flying in only socks at first but then bought some rockport thin soled zero drop shoes and they work much better.
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Most of my 1000+ hours are in taildraggers, primarily Cubs and my C170. I have flown them in tennis shoes, hiking boots, and cowboy boots. The cowboy boot's higher heel and slippery soles were not ideal, but not an endangerment. But using the heel brakes on the Cub were tricky in them. The hiking boots were too wide for the Cub's pedals. Tennis shoes or light weight hiking boots are my preference, FWIW. I also co-owned a DR-107 acro plane with narrow pedals. I ended up buying narrow Puma running shoes for them as they fit best in the cramped cockpit.
I definitely do not wear shoes that can interfere with rudder/brake control in a taildragger.I'm under the impression the footwear probably DOES make a difference but as stated I'm affectionately called "tricycle boy" by my RV buddies.. I wear sneakers flying or riding the motorcycle
Equally important is proper motorcycle footwear. Over the ankle protection and contained laces that do not get hung up on shift or brake pedals when coming to a stop and putting your feet down. Rather embarrassing to fall over at a stop light because of hung up footwear! (Ask me how I know)
sansoneservices
Well Known Member
Years before flying I realized shifting my motorcycle through the gears was difficult with boots. Soft flat shoes (sneakers) we're more appropriate. When introduced to my CFI he recommended sneakers when he noticed my boots
Seriously though. I had primary students with rudder issues and had them remove their shoes and do a pattern in their socks.
Helps them feel the pedals and the birds reactions a lot better.
I flew an RV-9A across the US in socks or moccasins after my heel got stuck on a crosswind takeoff and my shoe came 1/2 off. Talk about a two-stepping boogie! Glad she’s not a straight 9.
Helps them feel the pedals and the birds reactions a lot better.
I flew an RV-9A across the US in socks or moccasins after my heel got stuck on a crosswind takeoff and my shoe came 1/2 off. Talk about a two-stepping boogie! Glad she’s not a straight 9.
Kinda off topic, but as an old roadracer I gotta say always wear something that protects your ankle bones. The knob on the outside of your ankle is called a lateral malleolus. Real ugly when you grind off some of it...
Budd Davisson, the well known aviation writer and Pitts Instructor, put about 8000 hrs on his Pitts doing primarily takeoffs and landings. His footwear of choice... Cowboy Boots.
I've flown in boots and do it on occasion, but prefer to feel the pedals, so I wear thin soled shoes, ie high top racing, wrestling etc.
I've flown in boots and do it on occasion, but prefer to feel the pedals, so I wear thin soled shoes, ie high top racing, wrestling etc.
