Tall student question
don
I'm 6'5" and am on my 5th lesson (about 6 hours). I've been flying 172's so
far and I'm really getting frustrated at trying to get comfortable in the
cockpit. I've tried adjusting the seat front/rear, up/down to no avail.
I'm finding it almost impossible to use the rudder pedals since whenever I
try to push on them, I end up applying brake. If I move the seat close
enough for me to reach the controls on the panel, the control yoke hits my
knees!
I was told that the 172 would give me the most room of the aircraft that are
typically used in flight training. The choices I have are Cessna 172, Cessna
152, Piper Warrior, and Piper Archer II. I sat in a Warrior and I seemed
about the same if not more room than a 172. Then again, I though the 172 had
enough room in it when I was sitting in one on the ramp.
My question is...
1. Are there any folks out there who are my height and are flying light
planes?
2. If so, can you offer any insights as to what I can do to make this
flying/learning experience a little more enjoyable?
3. Which aircraft is the most hospitable to people over 6'4"?
Thanks in advance.
Mark Green
Hello Don
My instructor and I are both 6' 5" and I'm learning on a Warrior. I have found
that I have had no problems so far with space. Although my first lesson was on a
cherokee and that seemed to be a lot tighter for space which is what made me go
for the Warrior. Whilst I have not flown a C172 I have been up in one and I
would say that there is definitely more room in the Warrior.
Mark
Bernard T. Donovan
don (xxx...@mindspring.com) wrote:
: I'm 6'5" and am on my 5th lesson (about 6 hours). I've been flying 172's so
: far and I'm really getting frustrated at trying to get comfortable in the
: cockpit. I've tried adjusting the seat front/rear, up/down to no avail.
Hi- I'm 6'3" and am interested in your comments. I also find the C172
a little cramped, but my hint is to RAISE the seat so that it sits higher.
This works for me b/c I think my height is due mainly to longer-than-average
legs. It's funny- in a former life I was an organist and always walked
around with a couple of 2x4's to raise notoriously low organ benches for
the same reason.
Usually, raising the seat doesn't seem like a good idea- in most sub compact
cars, such as my Saturn, I'll be touching the ceiling. In the airplane, I
seem to get away with it. It depends- again, I plame being 6'3" on my legs...
Also annoying about rental planes is the fact that the seat is never left
at the same height twice, one always has to fix it to meet his particular
needs. Hint: raise the seat BEFORE getting into the plane.
best wishes, btd
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Brad Benson
"don" <xxx...@mindspring.com> wrote:
]
] My question is...
]
] 1. Are there any folks out there who are my height and are flying light
] planes?
] 2. If so, can you offer any insights as to what I can do to make this
] flying/learning experience a little more enjoyable?
] 3. Which aircraft is the most hospitable to people over 6'4"?
I'm 6'5" also, and did my primary training in a C-152. I didn't find
it to be too bad. The 172's I've flown (172F, 1965 model) have seats
that go so far back I can't touch the pedals with the seat at its
rearmost position. I've been flying Warriors more lately, and I find
them to be about equal to the 172.
Once I lower the back of the seat a notch, I can sit in either for
hours on end without any discomfort. You might try that and see how
it works out for you.
Cheers,
Brad
replace "spamtrap" with "benson" in my reply address
James & Timika Sutton
Yes I have the same prob. I am 6' 8" and have had my private for two
years.
I find if I lower the seat all the way and shove it as far back as it
will go I can manage. prepairing for landing I slam my heals on the
floor so I won't hit the brakes by accident
I find the Archers have a bit more room
Good Luck
Stop by http://204.176.47.38/effsol/aviation/
On Wed, 25 Mar 1998 17:19:08 -0500, "don" <xxx...@mindspring.com>
wrote:
>I'm 6'5" and am on my 5th lesson (about 6 hours). I've been flying 172's so
>far and I'm really getting frustrated at trying to get comfortable in the
>cockpit. I've tried adjusting the seat front/rear, up/down to no avail.
>
>I'm finding it almost impossible to use the rudder pedals since whenever I
>try to push on them, I end up applying brake. If I move the seat close
>enough for me to reach the controls on the panel, the control yoke hits my
>knees!
>
>I was told that the 172 would give me the most room of the aircraft that are
>typically used in flight training. The choices I have are Cessna 172, Cessna
>152, Piper Warrior, and Piper Archer II. I sat in a Warrior and I seemed
>about the same if not more room than a 172. Then again, I though the 172 had
>enough room in it when I was sitting in one on the ramp.
>
>My question is...
>
>1. Are there any folks out there who are my height and are flying light
>planes?
>2. If so, can you offer any insights as to what I can do to make this
>flying/learning experience a little more enjoyable?
>3. Which aircraft is the most hospitable to people over 6'4"?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>
James & Timika Sutton
Dennis Collin
>1. Are there any folks out there who are my height and are flying light
>planes?
Yep, all of 2 hours! g! I'm 6'4" and 260 lbs.
>2. If so, can you offer any insights as to what I can do to make this
>flying/learning experience a little more enjoyable?
Well, my plan is to get my ticket and unload my CFI ... g! I know
what you mean about the rudder pedals and the toe brakes ... I have a
hell of time on the ground. Next time I'll try to plant my heels more
on the floor using only my toes to press the rudder pedals ... in the
C-172 I find the right pedal the most difficult to actuate ...
>3. Which aircraft is the most hospitable to people over 6'4"?
I'd be interested too, but I only have the 172 and 152 (fagedaboudit!)
to choose from ...
Jay Jones
Yep, I'm 6-5 and 260# myself. You're right, 152's are out of the question!
I fly 172's and usually have to tinker with the seat height, etc a bit but
get situated pretty well. The biggest problem for me seems to be once I'm
comfortable with the yoke/pedals, it is a hell of a stretch to get to the
fuel selector! I usually have to lean forward a bit in the seat to get to
the throttle/etc.....
Jay Jones
7.7 hrs
Dennis Collin wrote in message <6fg77d$b...@beast.connix.com>...
Dennis Collin
"Jay Jones" <jayj...@geocities.com> wrote:
>Yep, I'm 6-5 and 260# myself. You're right, 152's are out of the question!
>I fly 172's and usually have to tinker with the seat height, etc a bit but
>get situated pretty well. The biggest problem for me seems to be once I'm
>comfortable with the yoke/pedals, it is a hell of a stretch to get to the
>fuel selector! I usually have to lean forward a bit in the seat to get to
>the throttle/etc.....
uh-huh ... and when I lean forward to keep my hand on the throttle, my
"picture" changes, which I'll have to get used to. Maybe I'll bring a
marker and put this on the windshield:
--------------- Horizon goes here -----------------
Grin!
don
Went up yesterday in a Warrior II. MUCH BETTER! To bad it costs more per
hour. But I guess it's a small price to pay to keep flying.
Thanks all for your input.
don wrote in message <6fbvtd$9q$1...@camel29.mindspring.com>...
>I'm 6'5" and am on my 5th lesson (about 6 hours). I've been flying 172's so
>far and I'm really getting frustrated at trying to get comfortable in the
>cockpit. I've tried adjusting the seat front/rear, up/down to no avail.
>
>I'm finding it almost impossible to use the rudder pedals since whenever I
>try to push on them, I end up applying brake. If I move the seat close
>enough for me to reach the controls on the panel, the control yoke hits my
>knees!
>
>I was told that the 172 would give me the most room of the aircraft that
are
>typically used in flight training. The choices I have are Cessna 172,
Cessna
>152, Piper Warrior, and Piper Archer II. I sat in a Warrior and I seemed
>about the same if not more room than a 172. Then again, I though the 172
had
>enough room in it when I was sitting in one on the ramp.
>
>My question is...
>
>1. Are there any folks out there who are my height and are flying light
>planes?
>2. If so, can you offer any insights as to what I can do to make this
>flying/learning experience a little more enjoyable?
>3. Which aircraft is the most hospitable to people over 6'4"?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>
Rod Machado
Greetings Don:
Several years ago I had a student similar to you. He was 6'5+" and never
needed a step ladder to check the fuel in the tanks of the 172. He too
was uncomfortable in the airplane. I don't recall the specific year and
model of Cessna 172 we flew, but I do recall how we solved the problem.
This model had seat-rail restrictions that limited rearward movement of
the seat (as do many airplanes). These are simple pieces of metal that
screw into the seat rail thus preventing the seat from sliding all the
way back, possibly off its tracks. As I recall, we had the mechanic move
these screws farther aft on the rail. This gave him more a few more
inches of leg room. Check with the FBO and see if they'll accommodate
this request (assuming you can do this to the particular model airplane
you're flying).
In your case, tilting the seat-back forward will move your upper body
closer to the flight controls while not changing the position of your
lower body. Perhaps you might need to use a cushion behind your back to
move your upper body a tad closer. The most important issue for a tall
person is ensuring proper placement of the seat belt and shoulder
harness. Take a look at my AOPA web page which has information on seat
belt and shoulder harness placement (you don't need to be a member to
view this section). It's located at:
http://www.aopa.org/special/machado/1998/0304.html
Make sure your solution includes the proper placement of seat belt and
shoulder harness.
Best,
Rod
Greg Bullough
In article <352100...@rodmachado.com> r...@rodmachado.com writes:
>Greetings Don:
>
>Several years ago I had a student similar to you. He was 6'5+" and never
>needed a step ladder to check the fuel in the tanks of the 172. He too
>was uncomfortable in the airplane. I don't recall the specific year and
>model of Cessna 172 we flew, but I do recall how we solved the problem.
>This model had seat-rail restrictions that limited rearward movement of
>the seat (as do many airplanes). These are simple pieces of metal that
>screw into the seat rail thus preventing the seat from sliding all the
>way back, possibly off its tracks. As I recall, we had the mechanic move
>these screws farther aft on the rail.
This *might* no longer be possible. There was, I believe, an AD issued
against some 172s. You see apparently that little stop unscrewed itself
from time to time. Somebody adjusting the seat while doing something
else important, like braking (not a good idea, but there you have it)
could wind up all the way aft, not be able to get forward, and lose
control.
As a result, there is a spring-loaded device bolted to the floor which
blocks the seat from going all the way back against the real stop until
you reach down and release it.
I guess you could release it and run the seat back past it, but
you'd want to take some care to see to it that you did so at a time
when a doubtful or loose stop wouldn't put you in the back seat!
Greg
--
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