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 Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 13:42 
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Joined: 06/28/09
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Location: Walnut Creek, CA (KCCR)
Aircraft: 1962 Twin Bonanza
I'm 6'4" 220. I fit in most any plane ok, but my TwinBonanza is downright luxurious. Not pressurized, but a cupcake of a twin.

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 Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 17:28 
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Joined: 10/14/14
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Company: Corporate Air Technology
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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
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 17:29 
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Joined: 10/14/14
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Company: Corporate Air Technology
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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
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 17:43 
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Joined: 11/06/13
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Location: KFTW-Fort Worth Meacham
Aircraft: C208B, AL18-115
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
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 18:08 
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Joined: 04/06/11
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Aircraft: M600
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
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 22:00 
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Joined: 07/29/16
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Location: KMKE, WI, USA
Aircraft: Columbia 350
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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
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 22:08 
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Location: KMCW
Aircraft: B55 PII,F-1,L-2,OTW,
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.

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 Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 22:21 
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Joined: 03/28/09
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Location: Carson City, NV
Aircraft: 1981 P210N
The 182 has nearly the same cockpit width at the shoulders as the 210's. I agree that he will need to build time before diving into a pressurized plane, let alone a twin. A P210 (I'm biased) will fit him fine, after he gains a couple or three hundred hours and his IFR ticket.

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Last edited on 24 Mar 2022, 12:11, edited 1 time in total.

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 Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 22:49 
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Joined: 01/23/13
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Company: Kokotele Guitar Works
Location: Albany, NY
Aircraft: C-182RG, C-172, PA28
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
PostPosted: 23 Mar 2022, 23:35 
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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

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 Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans
PostPosted: 24 Mar 2022, 23:06 
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Joined: 04/29/13
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Aircraft: C177RG, ATOS-VR
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.

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 Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans
PostPosted: 25 Mar 2022, 00:14 
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Joined: 10/05/09
Posts: 286
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Location: Portland, Oregon
Aircraft: MU-2F
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
PostPosted: 25 Mar 2022, 01:12 
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Joined: 05/11/13
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Company: Benjamin E. Thurston, PE
Location: KMYF San Diego
Aircraft: Baron B55
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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 Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans
PostPosted: 25 Mar 2022, 01:25 
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Joined: 04/20/15
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Location: KFAT
If he eventually makes it to the land of pressurized planes, I think a King Air is less than ideal with the center pedestal and lack of seat recline (the seats will tip you forward really well, though)


MU2 is a great example of how nice a plane is to jump in without a pedestal. Extended seat rails would be a must and same issue with no seat recline


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 Post subject: Re: Best cockpits for big humans
PostPosted: 25 Mar 2022, 05:53 
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Joined: 01/28/13
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Location: Indiana
Aircraft: C195, D17S, M20TN
The C210 spar is right behind your head. Limits what can be done with seat. My son is 6’4” and 200 lean pounds. 210 was always out. Our 182 was fine in both front seats from a height perspective. The pilot side much better in ours because of the adjustable seat. PA 32 I have no experience.

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