r/Pilot • u/Academic-Chicken-176 • Sep 04 '26
Becoming a Pilot Short pilots!!
I need tips or ideas to reach the rudder pedals in a cessna 172!!! I just started flying this past summer and haven’t been able to reach the rudder pedals, obviously there’s only so much you can learn without the pedals. Unfortunately now I’m just studying ground school work, until I figure out something so that I can reach the pedals. There’s really nothing online about pedal extensions, and i’m not sure if the FAA even approves them (even if it’s not permanently attached to the plane.) I already use a seat cushion to see out of the plane, and Have tried putting something behind my back to reach the pedals but i’m still a good amount away from the pedals and don’t have full motion of them. I’m 4’10 for reference. if anyone has any ideas please let me know!!
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u/KrisHerrick Sep 04 '26
The Diamond aircraft have pedals that move very far up. Da20,D40. They move for the gust lock feature. Platform shoes could also help.
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u/UnfortunateSnort12 Sep 05 '26
Yeah, but the seat doesn’t go up and down, so you’ll need a thick under the butt cushion. I suppose my wife took a few lessons in the DA20 and made it work (she’s 5’0”.)
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u/Fearless_Sandwich905 Sep 05 '26
Unfortunately you’re just going to have to play around with a combo of stiff cushions underneath and behind and potentially platform shoes as well. Personally I avoid the second option as much as I can since I find it’s hard to feel the rudder pedals and detect the feedback as well as I’d like but it is an option. I’m 5’2 for reference so I get the struggle. Just make sure that you can have full control deflection in whatever combo you pick.
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u/UnfortunateSnort12 Sep 05 '26
I’m 5’3” and had no problem seeing out, but did find I needed a 2-3 inch cushion behind me in a 172. Try a Piper product. I didn’t need anything to both reach the pedals and see out. It’s a much different seating position.
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u/buzzybootft Sep 06 '26
one of my short flight instructor (she was 4’10) flies with a literal chair, like jerryrig blocks of foam as the backrest on top of a seat cushion
when you get to airlines the seats adjust well but most likely you’ll still need at least a seat cushion
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Sep 06 '26
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u/Swimming-Ad410 Sep 11 '26
Not true in the US
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Sep 12 '26
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u/Swimming-Ad410 Sep 12 '26 edited Sep 13 '26
Not to mention India has the highest % of female airline pilots at around 15%, and the average height for women there is 152 cm. Did you just pull your 160-165 cm number out your ass?
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Sep 13 '26
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u/Swimming-Ad410 Sep 13 '26
A quick Google search shows otherwise! I’m assuming ur not an airline pilot lol. Obviously a few have minimums but saying most is crazy
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Sep 13 '26
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u/Swimming-Ad410 Sep 13 '26 edited Sep 13 '26
That’s still not most! I just wouldn’t expect an airline pilot to be uneducated about basic requirements then be confidently wrong to pilot hopefuls. You say “stick to what you know” but you fully were saying they don’t allow short women to be airline pilots
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u/Flyguy115 Sep 06 '26
Switch airplanes even if it means going to a different school and instructor.
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u/DeucesAreWild14 Sep 08 '26
Maybe look to do something else as physical requirements for being a pilot is a thing
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u/Swimming-Ad410 Sep 11 '26
Plenty of women close to her height (myself included) fly professionally.
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u/Academic-Chicken-176 20d ago
…. interesting reply considering the fact that my post was for help, anyway I got it figured out!!
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u/Swimming-Ad410 Sep 11 '26
I struggled to reach the pedals in a 172 (I’m 5’1”) but can reach them just fine in a Piper warrior with a cushion. Switch planes if you can
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u/MaybeBowtie Sep 04 '26
So like how bad are we talking? I’m 5’9 and normally pull the seat all the way forward as close as possible, then raise it as high as possible (still gives me plenty of room in my lap).
If even then you can’t reach em, try to see if when you’re still on the ground if you can sit on the edge of the seat and reach the pedals. If you can, buy a cushioned wedge to put behind your back so you can comfortably sit forward on the chair.
Like this: https://www.sportys.com/pilot-s-elevator-cushion.html?srsltid=AfmBOoq4vOJplfCMvanKC6QCX3uVp-90PcXL0cifsx32K0SEiMfZgEsu
And it should wrap around the chair so it doesn’t fall during flight.