Originally Posted by
Uplinker
Secondly, in the helicopter, experiment with your seating position. Try setting the seat higher, lower. Seat tilted more backward or forward. Try the seat moved forward, then backward. I don't know if pedals are adjustable, but if they are try different pedal positions. Try changing your feet position on the pedals.
Unfortunately not. The seats are not adjustable in Robinsons. Only the pedals can be adjusted - a bit.
You really shouldn't add cushioning either, because the seats are designed to collapse and crumple in a controlled way to absorb energy in a vertical impact. Or worse, the cushions could move and interfere with the controls.
Probably you are pressing far too hard on both pedals, yet only the lightest of pressures is actually required, and even then only on one pedal at a time. In the cruise, only one foot is required on a pedal, and the pressure back from the pedal is really minimal.
I agree, I always had back and leg (Sciatic type) pain almost every time I flew a R44, and to a lesser extent from flying R22s too. Only by consciously minimising pedal pressure did I manage to get the discomfort under control. They certainly weren't built with comfort in mind!
Good luck. Try lifting the unnecessary foot off the pedal to shock yourself with just how light the pedal pressure actually needs to be. It is WAY less than how most people fly Robbies!