28 Mar 2024, 21:58 [ UTC - 5; DST ]
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 17:28 |
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Joined: 10/14/14 Posts: 1732 Post Likes: +1896 Company: Corporate Air Technology
Aircraft: Pa28-235
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Have had several XXL customers, large comes in varied dimensions. Some having more above the belt some with more below. We have needed to modify some aircraft to get a better fit. The 400 series Cessna's are wide enough but seat has limited aft travel, removing the bulkhead and allowing seat to recline further helps. King Air's as well have limited travel on the seat and some can be modified to extend seat rail for more travel. One of the best is 500-600 commanders the seat rail goes to the rear door so leg room is not an issue. Aero Star the same but much narrower. Again it will come down to where they are big, long big legs often limit control movement if seat can not move far enough aft, tall above the belt and headroom is the issue.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 17:29 |
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Joined: 10/14/14 Posts: 1732 Post Likes: +1896 Company: Corporate Air Technology
Aircraft: Pa28-235
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Have had several XXL customers, large comes in varied dimensions. Some having more above the belt some with more below. We have needed to modify some aircraft to get a better fit. The 400 series Cessna's are wide enough but seat has limited aft travel, removing the bulkhead and allowing seat to recline further helps. King Air's as well have limited travel on the seat and some can be modified to extend seat rail for more travel. One of the best is 500-600 commanders the seat rail goes to the rear door so leg room is not an issue. Aero Star the same but much narrower. Again it will come down to where they are big, long big legs often limit control movement if seat can not move far enough aft, tall above the belt and headroom is the issue.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 17:43 |
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Joined: 11/06/13 Posts: 403 Post Likes: +246 Location: KFTW-Fort Worth Meacham
Aircraft: C208B, AL18-115
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The roomiest cockpit of all is the Caravan. About a foot wider than a King Air and each pilot has a door. No stooping through the cabin.
Insurance for a new PPL is another story altogether.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 18:08 |
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Joined: 04/06/11 Posts: 59 Post Likes: +68
Aircraft: M600
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SF50 with the sliding pilot seat and side stick is untouchable when it comes to cockpit comfort.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 22:00 |
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Joined: 07/29/16 Posts: 1617 Post Likes: +883 Location: KMKE, WI, USA
Aircraft: Columbia 350
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Username Protected wrote: P210? Or T210 unless he likes spending insurance money That will be awfully tight. Legacy Cessna's (except for the Cardinal) are really narrow. Having sat in both on the same day on several occasions (C2O clinics), I can tell you that the Cardinal is NOT more roomy than a 210. Front seats are close to the same for roominess except for head room where the 210 wins hands down.
I did find this chart after a Google search, but I don't think these are shoulder widths, I think they are exterior widths. There is no way my Columbia has 5 inches more shoulder room than my 210 had. It's more comfortable and definitely roomy (except for head room again), but not significantly more roomy than the 210. https://www.euroga.org/forums/aircraft/ ... e-aircraft
One cockpit that is surprisingly snug is the Beech 18. Big guys struggle to squeeze into that cockpit.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 22:08 |
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Joined: 03/17/08 Posts: 6052 Post Likes: +12358 Location: KMCW
Aircraft: B55 PII,F-1,L-2,OTW,
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A Cessna 182 should be the first step. Easy to fly good performance, no insurance problems for a newby, and hauls a load. While he is building time in that he can explore the next step.
_________________ Tailwinds, Doug Rozendaal MCW Be Nice, Kind, I don't care, be something, just don't be a jerk ;-)
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 22:49 |
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Joined: 01/23/13 Posts: 8012 Post Likes: +5717 Company: Kokotele Guitar Works Location: Albany, NY
Aircraft: C-182RG, C-172, PA28
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Numbers on cabin dimensions are often misleading, and sometimes bear no actual relationship to how the vehicle feels when you try it on.
For instance, SWMBO and I are hip to hip and shoulder to shoulder in a 172. We are crammed on top of each other in a PA-28. A 182 fits us quite nicely.
Same for cars. I tried on a Hyundai Santa Fe, which is supposed to have an inch more shoulder room than the Outback. Santa Fe feels like a much smaller car. Smaller seats and my shoulder is crammed against the door pillar. The Outback feels much roomier and my shoulder doesn't touch the pillar.
So, for the OP's friend, I think a 182, 206, or PA-32 series is a good bet to start. He may not be insurable at all in a 210.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 23:35 |
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Joined: 01/18/13 Posts: 616 Post Likes: +477 Location: Tampa, FL
Aircraft: 2020 Gamebird GB1
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Username Protected wrote: SF50 with the sliding pilot seat and side stick is untouchable when it comes to cockpit comfort. This^! Butch
_________________ The only way to make more time is to go faster. 2020 Gamebird GB1 2015 Lockwood AirCam KTPF/KVDF
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 24 Mar 2022, 23:06 |
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Joined: 04/29/13 Posts: 705 Post Likes: +476
Aircraft: C177RG, ATOS-VR
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Cessna Cardinal. 48" wide at the shoulders. As far as I know wider than any Beech or Cessna single (except for maybe the C195). The fixed gear are cheap to operate. Great for a first plane. At that weight, with an instructor it would be a 2 person plane.
Vince
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 25 Mar 2022, 00:14 |
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Joined: 10/05/09 Posts: 286 Post Likes: +130 Location: Portland, Oregon
Aircraft: MU-2F
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The Cessna Skymaster cockpit is quite roomy if you want or need a twin, plus since you sit in front of the wing it is really easy to see out of. The 210 isn't bad either size wise. I liked flying both.....
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 25 Mar 2022, 01:12 |
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Joined: 05/11/13 Posts: 1737 Post Likes: +2047 Company: Benjamin E. Thurston, PE Location: KMYF San Diego
Aircraft: Baron B55
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I'm 6'5" and was about 340 prior to gastric bypass surgery. Barons and Bonanzas were a very tight fit for me, but more in headroom than width. If your friend is fit, a Piper might work; but I struggled with entry and exit from Pipers, although for some reason Cirri were better. But I was most comfortable, in all dimensions, in a 182 or 210.
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