I have flown in RanchPilot's PA-12 a couple of times (thanks dude!). My wife and I were able to squeeze in the back together. I wouldn't want to fly all day like that, but for my wife and kid it might have enough room. I have even seen pictures with his two kids in the back together. My question is how does the wide rear seat available on the 7GCBC or 8GCBC compare to the PA-12? Is that wife plus kid capable? I definitely need to go check it out in person, but if it clearly won't work then I won't bother looking to check one out.

GCBC is a one person rear seat. Not big enough for two and not legal for two.

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Okay, crosses that idea off the list!

Been done, without even the wide seat. Like riding a motorcycle without a helmet, or driving a toddler without a car seat, where on your life's transgressions scale does this one lie. Your question was whether the wide seat or fuselage gave enough room - not really, you have to both kinda scrunch sideways, easier if the rear stick is removed, but I'd say still about 4" too narrow.

How wide is the back seat of a PA-12?

The base of the back seat on my 12 is 32 inches wide. Actual seat width is slightly less due to interior panels.

Neb12 wrote:The base of the back seat on my 12 is 32 inches wide. Actual seat width is slightly less due to interior panels.

Thanks! I've been trying to decide if I should set up the 3rd row bench in my Bearhawk with one or two seat belts. It's 28" wide so it might for for a couple kids.

Interior width at back seat on a Citabria is about 26 inches. Your 2 inches more at 28 will make quite a difference, the 32" in a PA-12 is positively luxurious.

The Cessna 150 had optional kid seats in the back, and adults have been carried back there (usually facing backwards though, not using the kid seats). So at least one reputable manufacturer recognized the "little seats for little people" concept. You're not breaking new ground with your kid seat project.

whee wrote:

Neb12 wrote:The base of the back seat on my 12 is 32 inches wide. Actual seat width is slightly less due to interior panels.

Thanks! I've been trying to decide if I should set up the 3rd row bench in my Bearhawk with one or two seat belts. It's 28" wide so it might for for a couple kids.

You might want to talk to your insurance guy before installing a 5th or 6th seat. At one of the OSH forums on insuring EABs, it was mentioned that 2-seaters are (relatively) easy to insure, 4-seaters are do-able if it's a well-known design with good history, but that 6-seaters are very difficult (and expensive) to insure. I was thinking of putting dual seat belts in my Patrol's back seat, but decided not to go that route for several reasons, not least of which is that by the time I "get 'er done" my granddaughters probably won't both fit back there... LOL (But that insurance thought played into the decision as well...)

JP256 wrote:

whee wrote:

Neb12 wrote:The base of the back seat on my 12 is 32 inches wide. Actual seat width is slightly less due to interior panels.

Thanks! I've been trying to decide if I should set up the 3rd row bench in my Bearhawk with one or two seat belts. It's 28" wide so it might for for a couple kids.

You might want to talk to your insurance guy before installing a 5th or 6th seat. At one of the OSH forums on insuring EABs, it was mentioned that 2-seaters are (relatively) easy to insure, 4-seaters are do-able if it's a well-known design with good history, but that 6-seaters are very difficult (and expensive) to insure. I was thinking of putting dual seat belts in my Patrol's back seat, but decided not to go that route for several reasons, not least of which is that by the time I "get 'er done" my granddaughters probably won't both fit back there... LOL (But that insurance thought played into the decision as well...)

That's for the thought. I've already checked and was told no problem. Need a 5 place airplane so I checked before we even started building.