an acquaintance who pilots an MD 500 helicopter while barefoot says her bare feet on the pedals makes her one with the machine like no pair of shoes can. I get the need for feel, but to protect her toes, I suggested compromising with barefoot running shoes. I even stopped flying in shorts because I’m paranoid of a cabin fire.
Increased dexterity is partly the idea behind LIFT Aviation’s line of aviator shoes, but safety and comfort are the primary goals. The company attracted attention at AirVenture this past summer, selling aviator shoes to pilots who didn’t seem to bat an eye at the $119 starting price. To see if these shoes are for real, I ordered a pair and have been wearing them in and out of the cockpit for a couple of months. Here’s a field report.