23 Apr 2024, 17:19 [ UTC - 5; DST ]
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 25 Mar 2022, 12:46 |
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Joined: 12/29/12 Posts: 656 Post Likes: +256
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Cessna 182 or Cessna 206.
Rgs,
Patrick.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 25 Mar 2022, 14:10 |
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Joined: 08/13/14 Posts: 539 Post Likes: +258
Aircraft: Cessna T206H
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Username Protected wrote: Cessna 182 or Cessna 206.
Rgs,
Patrick. Agree completely. I’m 6’4” 220 and my 206 is very roomy! I found the cockpit surprisingly tight in a KA200. That pedestal is really awkward to get around.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 03 Jul 2022, 10:10 |
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Joined: 12/17/18 Posts: 35 Post Likes: +12 Location: Chicago Area
Aircraft: Baron 58
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Before my Baron, I had an RV10. I'm 6'5 230. Before that, I had a 182.
Both of those aircraft were way more roomy for tall guys than the Baron. I fly my Baron with the seat tilted back, otherwise headroom is a problem.
RV10 has incredible views and tons of room for big people, 160-170 kts, easy to land, takes off short, a lot to like.
Russ
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 03 Jul 2022, 10:28 |
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Joined: 12/17/12 Posts: 170 Post Likes: +117 Location: Des Moines, IA
Aircraft: CE-525
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Completely different planes and missions but the top 3 for me as someone who’s still 6’4” and no longer 260#: Caravan, TTx, SF50. Honestly the SF50 might have the comfiest cockpit of any plane I’ve flown. Lots of drawbacks to that plane but cockpit sure isn’t one!
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 03 Jul 2022, 13:53 |
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Joined: 04/30/09 Posts: 1517 Post Likes: +859
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Username Protected wrote: 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. Yes, the 400 series Cessna has a large cabin and room for a big guy. I’m 6’2”, and with the behind seat bulkheads removed, I fit great. Very comfy. Pressurization works well. Air conditioning blows great. Fantastic traveling machine, even with a potty. But, these are definitely not an airplane for inexperienced (or not current) pilots. They aren’t hard to fly, but lots of things can be happening that might be difficult for a newbie.
_________________ Former Taco Chef Now - Battery Salesman No Engineering Skills I don’t know what I don’t know
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 03 Jul 2022, 14:14 |
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Joined: 04/15/19 Posts: 93 Post Likes: +47 Location: KJAQ
Aircraft: Cessna 182J
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I’ll add my experience for future reference, I’m 6’9”, 230 lbs, aka tall and skinny. I fly a 182 and fit decently. I’ve sat in a 206 and fit, and I e sat in a rans s21 and fit nicely. I have sat in the following planes and not fit: Cessna 210 - carry through spar really limits headroom Cessna 310 - poor headroom and my knees were wedged under the control yoke Bonanza - headroom issue Cirrus - headroom issue
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 03 Jul 2022, 15:22 |
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Joined: 07/29/16 Posts: 1619 Post Likes: +888 Location: KMKE, WI, USA
Aircraft: Columbia 350
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Username Protected wrote: Completely different planes and missions but the top 3 for me as someone who’s still 6’4” and no longer 260#: Caravan, TTx, SF50. Honestly the SF50 might have the comfiest cockpit of any plane I’ve flown. Lots of drawbacks to that plane but cockpit sure isn’t one! This comment surprised me. I'm 5'9" and have headroom issues in my Columbia 350. I have shorter legs and a longer torso. I put my seat all the way forward. If I lean forward much at all, my headset hits the trim around the door window (basically the ceiling). I'm guessing if you have longer legs the seat track slopes down a little and your more centered in the window opening above your head. Or maybe Lancair or Cessna made changes during production or in the 400/TTX airframe to provide more headroom.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 06 Jul 2022, 14:08 |
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Joined: 01/08/17 Posts: 359 Post Likes: +257
Aircraft: Aerostars, F33A
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At 6-5+ and 220 lb I have found the Cessna is the best fit generally. Narrow cabin planes will not fit a guy that size well (180, 172, early 182 (to 1961) , early 210 (to 1961) although they are OK for tall. The 300 series yoke sits low in the lap and does not work well for many, although the width and head-room is fantastic.
The Pipers (PA28 and PA32) don't do well for tall, as the Johnson bar will pin your knee and conflict with full aileron deflection.
The Cheyenne I/II is not great either.
Beech Baron/Bonanza/Duke is tough on long legged 6-2+ or average length leg on 6-4 and 6-5+.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 06 Jul 2022, 14:11 |
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Joined: 01/08/17 Posts: 359 Post Likes: +257
Aircraft: Aerostars, F33A
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Username Protected wrote: I’ll add my experience for future reference, I’m 6’9”, 230 lbs, aka tall and skinny. I fly a 182 and fit decently. I’ve sat in a 206 and fit, and I e sat in a rans s21 and fit nicely. I have sat in the following planes and not fit: Cessna 210 - carry through spar really limits headroom Cessna 310 - poor headroom and my knees were wedged under the control yoke Bonanza - headroom issue Cirrus - headroom issue 1966 Cessna 210F and previous have no spar carry through issue. Essentially same as 206 for those years.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 06 Jul 2022, 15:54 |
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Joined: 11/30/18 Posts: 2232 Post Likes: +1721 Location: NH
Aircraft: F33A, A320
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Airbus A320. Might be hard to find a t hangar for it though.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 07 Jul 2022, 19:52 |
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Joined: 10/27/09 Posts: 35 Post Likes: +23
Aircraft: Varies
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Might keep in mind that Duane Wallace, the guy who brought Cessna out of bankruptcy in the early 1930s and ran the company until the late 1970s was 6'4" tall and did the test flying for the Airmaster series and the Bobcat, plus he owned and flew a 195 for years. He made sure that he fit in everything Cessna built, although some were roomier than others. He was also quite slender. When I was working there and spent time with him, I'd guess he weighed about 170.
I'm 6'4" as well and have instructed in 150/152 for nearly 50 years. Owned a Cardinal and put 1000 hours on it - it has the largest cabin of any Cessna four-place - which is sadly one reason why it's so easy to overload. It also has the longest c.g. range of any four-place single - it's almost impossible to load out of c.g. Made some five-hour flights in the Cardinal, incredibly comfortable seating position (slightly reclined) for a tall person.
Was in a partnership in a T210 for five years. Loved it, and fit into the airplane easily. Now own a 182 (the 182 was widened four inches in the early '60s, prior to that it was the same width as the 180 and 172, which isn't great for larger folks. The wider 182 cabin is nice and plenty roomy for me, although I weigh 2/3 of the subject at the beginning of the thread.
Have flown a lot of 206s - very comfortable, plus the ability to carry a big load would be attractive for a 300-pounder - same with the 205 or 207, if you can find one.
My brother is 6'5" and he has owned a Diamond DA-40 and a Husky. He was pretty much at the limits for both of those airplanes and I think the weight of the subject would rule out the DA-40. Same for the Husky, getting in and out would be ugly.
For a low time pilot insurance is probably going to limit him to a fixed-gear single. Cherokees are uncomfortable but doable for me - I don't like the single door and a 300-pounder may have difficulty getting in and out. Tripacer would be way too tight although I fly them from time to time. Maules...maybe. Piper Super Cruiser would probably be ok. Beech Musketeer line? Possibly the ones that have a left-hand cabin door. Mooneys, possibly, as the pilot seat slides back quite a ways, but entry and exit will be uncomfortable.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 07 Jul 2022, 22:17 |
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Joined: 03/24/08 Posts: 2721 Post Likes: +1014
Aircraft: Cessna 182M
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Beech Skipper? Hard to find a good one.
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