Pilot comfort
Posted by YU_AKI@reddit | aviation | View on Reddit | 14 comments
Pilot comfort in general - how much of an issue is it for you flyers out there?
I've done a few hundred hours of gliding and single engine flying - twenty years ago or more ago. I remember it being generally fine, but your arse goes numb from time to time.
What do you do when stuck in a light single and ferrying across the sea, or even in a jetliner for cruise?
Can you get cushions or something?
I've been flying a lot of FS2024 recently with a very limited setup, which piques the curiosity in funny ways
Zathral@reddit
If/when I buy a glider I'm going to be taking comfort into account. There are some I don't fit into well with fairly broad shoulders.
YU_AKI@reddit (OP)
I'm 6'5" so they all have downsides. The K-13 made my shins bleed
Zathral@reddit
I'm fortunate to be 5'9" so bang on average for a male in the UK. Height-wise they're all perfect, just i don't like narrow cockpits
YU_AKI@reddit (OP)
It's a blessing to be within ergonomic means.
I don't mind a lack of space if it's possible to get comfy. Can be tricky with controls by arms and elbows but you adapt to this.
It's worse when the plywood instrument panel literally eats your shins if you try, heaven forbid, steering behind a tug in an ASK-13
_Yellow_13@reddit
Look at the seat on something like or 777 or even the 73.
They are so much better than anything in sep or gliding where I’m pretty sure I was just sat on my parachute. You’ve gotta remember we do get up to stretch our legs and even into the galley to have a chat.
YU_AKI@reddit (OP)
The seats in gliders are really comfortable - the ones I remember particularly fondly are the Duo Discus and SZD Junior, which were like moulded eggshells you sat well deep within.
ASK-13 and Grob Astirs gave me a sore arse... The K-13 is like sitting in a plywood box and the Astir just felt too small.
Taking a slash in any of them was a nightmare
Zathral@reddit
Astir CS77 I don't like the seat in. Astir CS is much more comfortable, with a good chute.
BagOfMoneyNoChange@reddit
Every airplane is different.
YU_AKI@reddit (OP)
Any stand outs?
BagOfMoneyNoChange@reddit
Sure. There are plenty of standouts in both directions.
Ficsit-Incorporated@reddit
Would you care to share which airframes stood out on their merits and which stood out on their demerits?
BagOfMoneyNoChange@reddit
737 - 2 hour airplane with a 5 hour gas tank
Learjet - neck cramps because my head is tilted sideways from the tiny cockpit
DC-9 - my ass hurts after about 4 hours
A320 - quite comfortable and nothing between my legs. Room to stand up and move around. Not bad sitting for 4+ hours.
A350 the most comfortable. Not usually sitting for more than 4 hours at a time, but really roomy and comfortable seats. Again nothing in between my legs.
T33-L@reddit
Well that was blood from a stone, wasn’t it?!
SAMEO416@reddit
In fighters doing long duration ops it’s a piddle pack. Plastic bag with an absorbent in the bottom but a bit of work to get unstrapped and use it.
Even on a routine CAP sort of mission 6-8 hrs is normal.
No idea what is being done for lady drivers, guessing something like the device sold in camping stores.