Passenger side (without brakes) rudder pedal extensions

[N9405V]

So I'm not reinventing the wheel, or pedal, what have people done to extend the rudder pedals on the passenger side that doesn't have brakes? I have a vertically challenged significant other that flies with me and she'd like to learn to land the plane, but right now she can't reach the rudder pedals and move the yoke at the same time.  

Thanks!

Wade

[kortopates]

Why not have her learn to land from the left seat like everyone else?

Perhaps you might be able to pull the existing right side pedals, make of chromoly tubing?,  and have a welder make you some extended pedals with the same size tubing.

Most likely though, to enable landing from the right side on a regular basis, you'll have to add proper pedals with the 3" extension. That will open the opportunity to add dual brakes too. All of these parts would be best sourced more affordably from a salvage yard.

[skydvrboy]

Platform shoes?

[PT20J]

I don’t think you can mount the pedals without the brakes — they will flop down since the brake linkage adjusts the pedal angle. I’d make some wood blocks and mount them temporarily for practice. Then you haven’t really permanently modified the airplane. 

[RLCarter]

like @PT20J said there isnt anything you can buy to extend them other than material to make your own...roughly how much would you want them extended?

[FlyChickie]

18 hours ago, kortopates said:

Why not have her learn to land from the left seat like everyone else?

Perhaps you might be able to pull the existing right side pedals, make of chromoly tubing?,  and have a welder make you some extended pedals with the same size tubing.

Most likely though, to enable landing from the right side on a regular basis, you'll have to add proper pedals with the 3" extension. That will open the opportunity to add dual brakes too. All of these parts would be best sourced more affordably from a salvage yard.

I'll be in the right seat far more than the left, and I'd like to be comfortable landing, from that seat, in an emergency. I think her wanting to learn from there is perfectly reasonable.

[kortopates]

12 hours ago, FlyChickie said:

I'll be in the right seat far more than the left, and I'd like to be comfortable landing, from that seat, in an emergency. I think her wanting to learn from there is perfectly reasonable.

Absolutely very reasonable expectation, just not very practical IMO. The vast majority of us didn't learn how to make our first landing in retractable gear airplane like a Mooney that is no near as forgiving or robust as the spring gear on a C172 or the pneumatic structs of a Piper PA28; nor require the same degree of speed control necessary to land a Mooney.  I have some actual experience having gone through this with a couple woman including my wife. In the case of my  wife, giving her the opportunity of really learning in a trainer got her inspired to get her private and go on to get her instrument. She owns the left seat now and I fly exclusively from the right. But I couldn't be any happier seeing her get licensed and want to be an active partner in sharing so many wonderful flying trips together as a pilot. I just think any spouse of SO that get's an interest in learning to land the plane should be afforded the very same opportunities any new pilot would get in an effort to make it as fun as possible and give them every chance of success we can.  

[N9405V]

like [mention=17346]PT20J[/mention] said there isnt anything you can buy to extend them other than material to make your own...roughly how much would you want them extended?

We are probably looking at needing 3-4 inches.

I'm going to look at it when I've got it torn apart for the annual and see what we can do.


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[RLCarter]

On 9/24/2019 at 9:38 AM, N9405V said:

We are probably looking at needing 3-4 inches.
I'm going to look at it when I've got it torn apart for the annual and see what we can do.

 

You need the seat in place to get a good measurement so get it before you remove them for annual, while the seats are out for annual you'll have room (maybe) to bolt extensions to the right side pedals. Might get with your A&P and ask him about doing something like this, using Aviation Adel Clamps and hardware