Newby post here. Been lurking awhile. Recently purchased a Husky A-1. I searched the forums and uncovered a couple of references to heel pans, but not much detailed information.

I am 6'4", size 12 shoe, fit the airplane (barely), but looking for ways to fit more comfortably. I found a company in Germany that sells heel pans, and I have also had some correspondence with Aviat in Afton about their heel pans. Big $ difference between these two options.

Anybody here with direct experience installing and/or using heel pans on a Husky?
How deep are they? Do they make much of a difference improving the foot/rudder/braking ergonomics? Is the length of the pan sufficient not to interfere with full rudder deflection (back of the rearward moving shoe hanging up at the back rise of the pan)?

I am looking for any first hand knowledge, information, experience or advice regarding these.

Any other suggestions/experience improving the fit of a Husky for taller pilots also appreciated.
Thanks!

Go to the Fly Husky web site (https://flyhusky.com/forum/index.php) and search for heel pans and you will get dozens of hits. Most people that I am aware of purchase their heal pans from Thomas Dietrich in Germany.

Wow. That link was like hitting the motherlode. Many thanks!!

As to finding some more leg room, thinner seat cushions might be in order. Aviat offers a thin, normal, and thick cushion. If that is a little more than you want to spend, maybe someone locally can rework your existing cushions with thinner memory foam.

Joe

Thank you for the reply Joe.
I did remove the seat back cushion completely as an experiment, and it helped a bit.
I've been reading that some owners raise the back of the seat bottom cushion (wedge inserts, etc) and will try that next.

Nizina: Heel pans have been ordered from Thomas Dietrich. Many thanks for the flyhusky site link!

The combination of all of these will probably do the trick.

Heel pans work great for taller people, they dont work so great for average or shorter people. Mine came with them when I bought it and I removed them, Im 5'9". Congrats on the Husky purchase, just DON'T put VG's on it!

Kurt

G44 wrote:Heel pans work great for taller people, they dont work so great for average or shorter people. Mine came with them when I bought it and I removed them, Im 5'9". Congrats on the Husky purchase, just DON'T put VG's on it!

Kurt

Hey Kurt, why no VGs? I just put them on a A-1B and the customer loves them. Another customer with a A-1 is also very happy...

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A1Skinner wrote:

G44 wrote: Congrats on the Husky purchase, just DON'T put VG's on it!

Kurt

Hey Kurt, why no VGs? I just put them on a A-1B and the customer loves them. Another customer with a A-1 is also very happy...

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I and many of my friends have VGs on our Huskys and love them. Some, however, have experienced sharp break in power-on stalls.

Nizina wrote:

A1Skinner wrote:

G44 wrote: Congrats on the Husky purchase, just DON'T put VG's on it!

Kurt

Hey Kurt, why no VGs? I just put them on a A-1B and the customer loves them. Another customer with a A-1 is also very happy...

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

I and many of my friends have VGs on our Huskys and love them. Some, however, have experienced sharp break in power-on stalls.

Ok. Good to know. Wonder if that's from a rigging issue? Weird that some would experience that and some don't...
One mod I highly recommend is powerflow exhaust, especially if flying in colder temps. The heat output from stock doesn't even come close to the output of the PF exhaust.

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G44 wrote:Heel pans work great for taller people, they dont work so great for average or shorter people. Mine came with them when I bought it and I removed them, Im 5'9". Congrats on the Husky purchase, just DON'T put VG's on it!

Kurt

Turns partial power stalls into abrupt from docile. Have your customer go to altitude and try stalls at various power settings. Also PIA with wing covers.

VG's are great on some airplanes and not so great on others.

Kurt

G44 wrote:

G44 wrote:Heel pans work great for taller people, they dont work so great for average or shorter people. Mine came with them when I bought it and I removed them, Im 5'9". Congrats on the Husky purchase, just DON'T put VG's on it!

Kurt

Turns partial power stalls into abrupt from docile. Have your customer go to altitude and try stalls at various power settings. Also PIA with wing covers.

VG's are great on some airplanes and not so great on others.

Kurt

Ya we had him go up and do that and he is very happy. He did say it breaks a bit harder now, but he can still feel it coming. And he can slow it up with better control then he could before. He is a very honest guy and would say if he didnt like a mod. He is very timid when it come to nodding a stock plane. He absolutely loves the powerflow exhaust!

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A1Skinner wrote:

G44 wrote:

G44 wrote:Heel pans work great for taller people, they dont work so great for average or shorter people. Mine came with them when I bought it and I removed them, Im 5'9". Congrats on the Husky purchase, just DON'T put VG's on it!

Kurt

Turns partial power stalls into abrupt from docile. Have your customer go to altitude and try stalls at various power settings. Also PIA with wing covers.

VG's are great on some airplanes and not so great on others.

Kurt

Ya we had him go up and do that and he is very happy. He did say it breaks a bit harder now, but he can still feel it coming. And he can slow it up with better control then he could before. He is a very honest guy and would say if he didnt like a mod. He is very timid when it come to nodding a stock plane. He absolutely loves the powerflow exhaust!

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk

Fantastic! Im glad his Husky is "behaving" with his VG's. I like the heat of my Powerflow also!

Kurt