Shoes for flying? Comfort / Saftey? Racing Shoes?

Wally · July 31, 2006

"Delorean"- I beg to differ regarding control touch with boots- in my experience there's very little, if any, difference once the boots are broken in. That caveat also comes with many qualifications, most new boots are much more comfortable than a decade or so back. Something's changed in the manufacture of materials. I can't remember the last time I had to resort to elaborate break in techniques.

Grooved soles are an even bigger "no-no"- they'll catch at akward times, especially climbing around the bird for a preflight. You definitely do want something with grip that won't slide inadvertant.

On that line, "Gomer Pylot" mentions another hazard- traction, especially on slick decks (and floors, for those of us flying the "beach"). Spongy soles that absorb fluids to squeeze out and "hydroplane" when you're on a slick newly painted (sea gull contaminated) deck, or in off the flight line from the wet. Expanded metal decks eat'em like "Lays" and so do fuel and oil.

Boots! Unless you're flying "suits" and never land out of sight of the snack and coffee tray...

Vaqueroaero · July 31, 2006

I statred flying about a month ago and found that wearing boots (construction type) just really wore my feet out and probably didn't do my hover performance any good either. I started wearing tennis shoes, and made some improvements. It's hot as hell down here in Florida, so I started thinking about a more comfortable shoe for flying. I flew with a guy last week that had racing shoes and he loved them. Much cooler, much easier on the feet and eaiser to control the foot controls.

QUESTION: Anyone else buy specialized shoes for flying? (except tennis shoes?)

At the risk of violating the AUP here, I bought some racing shoes from Piloti, they are excellent.

I wear boots made by Ariat International. They apparently are 'endurance horse riding' boots, but I love them for flying in. Incredibly comfortable. The style is 34524. They're not particularly cheap, but I wear them all day, everyday.

Other than that just a pair of tennis shoes does the job for me.

Grant B · July 31, 2006

I fly barefoot all the time. I got blasted on here when I first mentioned it awhile back but I see nothing wrong with it. Obviously depending what terrain you will be flying over. Mine is mostly water.

If you are flying over water - maybe you could consider a decent pair of flippers.

DFWFlyer · July 31, 2006

Um, no it ain't illegal. One can drive barefoot and it IS legal. I went and looked in the Oregon law books one day-couldn't find one. Then looked in the U.S. Code on another day. Nope, not there. I also looked -online-for any law in other States prohibiting bare feet. Found not a one. I even had the chance to ask a lawyer, she told me she was unaware of any Federal or local statutes prohibiting driving barefoot.

Last, but not least, I went to a website, I forgot which one, and there it was found out the driving while barefoot being illegal was actually a myth. I think it was in Snopes.com.

I'll have to look into the FAR's about barefoot flying, but I suspect I won't find any.

Later.

To support Witch's statement, as an exercise during peace officers training, our instructor sent us home with a list of law enforcement "urban legends", including the driving barefoot law, and challenged us all to prove or disprove each one by finding the section that outlined it. The barefoot driving law is a myth, at least in the State Of Texas.

Gomer Pylot · July 31, 2006

Just remember, in the US, *everything* is legal, unless specifically prohibited by a law. If no law making something illegal has been passed, then that something is legal.