The Cardinal is a fantastic first airplane, with easy entry. It's a little snug, side to side.

I only owned a Cardinal for 9 years, and put about 1000 hours on it also (1991-2001)

Game Composites Gamebird GB1.

Big guys 6’4” can fit in either seat.

+200KTAS cruise, +/-10Gs, fuel capacity to go a long way.

AEIO580, GARMIN G3X. Taxi camera and autopilot are upgrades coming on line shortly.

Small baggage compartment, flies like a scalded dog.

You don’t fly it, you wear it.

Butch

This crew is pretty focused on Part 23 certified airplanes and that's OK but it's very limiting. I extol the virtues of the Glasair Sportsman because I expect I'm one of only a small handful of Sportsman owners on here. BUT I've spent a lifetime in aviation in everything from fast attack (fixed and rotary wing) to the heavies (my last certification work was on the B777). When I evaluate an aircraft it's not being evaluated in isolation.

With the above in mind, the Glasair Sportsman stands out as one of the more comfortable "big people" airplanes. My personal aircraft has accommodated me (5'9, 195lbs, short legs, long torso) and at the same time also accommodated my Swedish friend who is 6'9 and about 290lbs (long torso, broad shoulders) and, by contrast, another good friend who is 6'4 and at one time weighed an undisclosed figure above 300'lbs. The cockpit ergonomics are very effective at accommodating these larger guys. It also does well accommodating smaller pilots, with one self-described "elfish" owner and his both being shorter than 5'4".

In the "ease of access" category nothing (affordable) beats a Cardinal but the Sportsman isn't far behind it.

Just sayin' that it's not necessarily beneficial to restrict oneself to certified airplanes.

Piper Dakota (and family, Cherokee six, etc.) or Commander will be the most comfortable options, Cessna and Beech stuff is too narrow.

Dakota would be a safe and comfortable time builder.

The Dakota is the same width as the other PA-28s, which ain't that wide. On paper it's 2" wider than a 172, but the arm rests are right at the hip and effectively make it smaller. My fat butt can't quite get all the way into the seat.