19 Apr 2024, 07:27 [ UTC - 5; DST ]
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 08:20 |
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Joined: 11/03/08 Posts: 14567 Post Likes: +22924 Location: Peachtree City GA / Stoke-On-Trent UK
Aircraft: A33
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A big guy with a new PPL has PA32 written all over it.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 08:24 |
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Joined: 03/13/18 Posts: 278 Post Likes: +255 Location: KPDK; KSGJ
Aircraft: Piper Mirage
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I can certainly advise him to strike the PA46 off the list.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 08:59 |
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Joined: 11/25/16 Posts: 1822 Post Likes: +1382 Location: 2IS
Aircraft: C501
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Username Protected wrote: I have a friend who is 6 4, 300+. Just a solid linebacker sized dude.
He is getting his PPL and wants to rapidly move into traveling airplanes (read: pressurized).
What cabins are the biggest? My thoughts are KA. - lots of height plus no yoke on a post. Don’t think KA is a reasonable first airplane last type plane though.
Any thoughts? C421 cockpit is very comfy but yeah...I agree with you that a cabin class twin or a turboprop isn't a first plane. I've always liked the shoulder room in a Cirrus. Would a turbo/Fiki SR22 be enough of a starter plane for him? I'll also add Cessna TTx for the same reasons. Given your KA comment I assume neither capex or opex are issues here so might as well have something nice and capable that will take him right through his instrument training. Also, in the current environment won't he need to build a lot of hours before getting insured on something big/twin/turbine?
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 09:24 |
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Joined: 03/23/08 Posts: 6945 Post Likes: +3602 Company: AssuredPartners Aerospace Phx. Location: KDVT, 46U
Aircraft: IAR823, LrJet, 240Z
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P210? Or T210 unless he likes spending insurance money That would get him down the road a bit while accumulating RG time and IFR.
_________________ Tom Johnson-Az/Wy AssuredPartners Aerospace Insurance Tj.Johnson@AssuredPartners.com C: 602-628-2701
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 09:29 |
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Joined: 07/01/19 Posts: 148 Post Likes: +129 Location: KHPN
Aircraft: C90
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Username Protected wrote: I've never sat in one, but would be reasonable to point him to something like a T-34 Mentor for training? So long as he's not wearing a helmet, and his sitting height isn't crazy it would be fine. The tough part would be finding a nice enough one to buy. I'm 2" and 70#'s off his size and the SR-22 (pilot side) was plenty big. Seat is not height adjustable, however so if his seated height is crazy, the band on his headset may touch the headliner. So far as trainers go, a 172 is going to be roomier than anything in the Diamond line with the added benny of not having to climb over seats.
_________________ I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things... -Antoine de St.-Exupery
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 09:42 |
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Joined: 03/01/14 Posts: 2152 Post Likes: +1641 Location: 0TX0 Granbury TX
Aircraft: T-210M Aeronca 7AC
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I’ve also heard rumors, you didn’t hear it from me, of a Cardinal seat in a 210.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 09:47 |
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Joined: 11/25/16 Posts: 1822 Post Likes: +1382 Location: 2IS
Aircraft: C501
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Username Protected wrote: P210? Or T210 unless he likes spending insurance money That would get him down the road a bit while accumulating RG time and IFR. That will be awfully tight. Legacy Cessna's (except for the Cardinal) are really narrow. Come to think of it the entire legacy GA fleet was designed for what...180lb men?
Last edited on 23 Mar 2022, 09:49, edited 1 time in total.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 12:14 |
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Joined: 10/06/16 Posts: 114 Post Likes: +183 Location: Tucson, AZ (winter) & Brunswick, ME (summer)
Aircraft: T210, Aerostar 702P
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I'll second the Cessna 210. The ingress and egress ergonomics are really great, just walk up to the pilot's door, sit down, close the door. No climbing up onto the wing, climbing down into a hole, sliding over to the left seat, and having to unwind all that to egress.
I really wanted to like the PA-46 but the ergonomics killed it for me, you enter behind the wing, and have to bend over to get to the flight deck, and have to step over the wing spar while hunched over. Sorry, not a good setup for big & tall people like myself.
The Aerostar is hardly a beginner airplane, but if he wants pressurized comfortable travel, it would make a great "step up" airplane once he has his instrument rating and wants to go faster than he can in a 210. The Aerostar pilot ergonomics are excellent: one step up into the seat, sit down, close the door. No maneuvering around the cabin while hunched over. The pilot seat slides fore & aft as much as you need for legroom.
I can vouch for this progression, because I did the same. 450 hrs cramped in a 172, then 750 hrs in a strutted Turbo 210, now I'm in clover in my A* 702P.
Hope that's helpful
Mark
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 12:27 |
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Joined: 02/21/17 Posts: 1579 Post Likes: +1831 Location: Arkansas
Aircraft: Piper Saratoga
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I second PA32. It fits the new ppl and big guy. Most others satisfy one or the other.
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Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans Posted: 23 Mar 2022, 13:35 |
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Joined: 05/13/15 Posts: 123 Post Likes: +34 Location: Fontana, California
Aircraft: Cessna 182R
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My buddy is 6'4" and 300ish pounds. Him and I co-own a 182R together, and it fits him rather nicely. Sadly after a few test flights, he figured out that the Bonanza and Baron don't fit him well. So we are basically going to be staying in the Cessna line of products with wider and taller cabins i.e. 182, 210, 310, 414a, etc. He has not tried a Saratoga or Seneca however, so that could be another option.
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