Hello all,
I am a new member looking to purchase my first tailwheel airplane. I am also a fairly new RAF member and that has opened my eyes up to the many back country airfields in my area (NW Arkansas). The new RAF Trigger Gap Airfield is just down the road.
My situation is somewhat unique in that I am 6'5" tall with long legs. Not a big guy otherwise, but the legs are a bit of a problem since I have decided to keep them. I am also keeping my T210 so I don't need a 185 or the like. I want an airplane that my wife and I can load some basic camping gear in and fly, usually no more than an hour or two max. Of course extra fuel is always nice as there will be a long trip out west once or twice a year. I would like a minimum hp of 150, preferably more.

My search for cars or airplanes always start with "what can I get into and be comfortable" so here we go:

Tried on a couple of Huskys. Tight. By the time I got settled most of the switches that were OFF were now ON due to my knees. Seat doesn't adjust. The late models have a higher instrument panel or at least bottom of it, but they are really pricey. Heel pans are an option, but I am not crazy about catching my heels on those.

Sat in a couple of Super Cubs. Seats adjust but still tight, however there does seem to be some different configurations and mods that might make it workable.

A C170 works but everyone says "you want a B with a 180hp". Not a whole lot of those so far.

Carbon Cubs work due to the panel but again pricey.

Not interested in a building or restoration project as I have plenty of those already. The Bearhawk looks pretty neat though.

Sat in a Maule the other day and that is definitely a possibility. I also plan on looking at a Scout next week. I have heard they may have a little more room. So right now I am kind of focused on those two airplanes. Any advice? Am I missing something? I would be happy to hear opinions. Sound of hands wringing, what to do, what to do. Sure is fun looking though.

Thanks in advance.

Don't have any specific advice, but I'm in a similar situation at 6'4" and deciding on planes so I would appreciate hearing your findings as you go along on what fits and what doesn't.

-Asa

A Husky with the heel pan modification (simple mod if it doesn't have it already) would work. The heel pans are a cut out of the floor by your heels and a pan is installed, this lowers your knees away from the bottom of the panel. Check one out if you can. do some internet searching and you will find pictures and info. The Husky is a fantastic back country and traveling airplane!

I fly an ACA Scout. I am 6'2" and there is plenty of room. My brother flies a Husky. He is 6'4". The Scout is wider and I think easier to get in and out. Especially the rear seat. That being said, the Husky is a great airplane and I can't say enough good things about it. Both airplanes have their advantages.

Are you dead set only on certified aircraft?

Timberwolf wrote:Are you dead set only on certified aircraft?

Probably at this point. However, if anyone had a good suggestion or two I would consider it. I suppose if I found an airplane that really fit and met my needs I would make it work, certified or not, but right now I am focused on certified.
Thanks

I will keep you posted.

I will keep you posted.

champflyer wrote:I fly an ACA Scout. I am 6'2" and there is plenty of room. My brother flies a Husky. He is 6'4". The Scout is wider and I think easier to get in and out. Especially the rear seat. That being said, the Husky is a great airplane and I can't say enough good things about it. Both airplanes have their advantages.

Thanks,
If you have time I would be interested in your comparisons of the two. The Husky was really my first thought in all of this but my long legs just get in the way. On the other hand my first 200 hrs. were mostly in a C150 but I was a lot more flexible back then.

A Husky with the heel pan modification (simple mod if it doesn't have it already) would work. The heel pans are a cut out of the floor by your heels and a pan is installed, this lowers your knees away from the bottom of the panel. Check one out if you can. do some internet searching and you will find pictures and info. The Husky is a fantastic back country and traveling airplane!



Thanks, as I said in my original post....been there, done that.

Wheels beat sticks for tall people IMHO. The Scout and the Pawnee are really the only planes with a stick I've ever flown in which I could get full aileron movement without lifting a leg to get the stick all the way over under my knees. Cubs (and all their friends that I've tried), Huskies, the Airknocker Clan, etc. Wheels make it all pretty much a non-issue.

I'm a bit taller. Most people don't expect me to fit at all into these planes. I do, without much difficulty, but just do not have full control authority because my knees are up so high the stick runs into them way before they hit the stop.

I'm a Scout snob and I would not switch to another tandem for anything as of yet!

Lesuther, I too am 6ft 4 plus and was in your situation. Huskies, Supercubs, etc were just too small for me. I recently (this summer) bought a pa12 Super Cruiser, with numerous stc's on it like 180hp, flaps, pa18 gear and tailfeathers, and best of all, a pa18 adjustable front seat. Problem solved! Very comfortable, big back seat and cargo area. Great STOL performance, tough, and crowbar simple.
My 2 cents! Good luck.

I am 6 ft 4 in. I have not flown a husky. PA 18 and CC 18 both are okay, though the seats are uncomfortable if it has the steel plate seat over the battery...the spring seat in one PA 18 was much better but not approved if the battery is under the seat apparently.

I have a bunch of time in a 7GCBC, I would say overall it is much more comfortable. Whether you can find a GCBC product with the useful load you want might be a bit of a question though? Seems as a big guy you run out of weight quick in most tandems though...that is why we are flying th CC 18 now at work.

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I'm 6'5" with a 37" inseam and size 15 feet...I get the not fitting aspect of airplanes. That said, I've got over 600 hours in a Cessna 140, including eight hours with a 270 pound instructor.

I find I can fly just about any airplane if I take my shoes off, and no airplane if I don't. I eventually got a pair of boar-skin moccasins made so I'm not barefoot over the Sierra's, but that's all the shoe I'll fly with. If it's really cold I wear down booties or waterproof overshoe and heavy socks.

Think real hard about a tandem airplane...they're not really that much fun for the rear passenger. I used to think I wanted one, but having flown them a bit I'm very glad I went with side-by-side seating.

Fun as fun a Husky or similar airplane might be, I don't find them very practical, as they have very little cargo space. For the same money you could get a nice 180hp Cessna 170 or even a Cessna 180. MUCH more practical platform for two people and camping gear, in my opinion.

Not sure what the passenger opinion on a tandem is, but I have a PA 22 for the same reasons Hammer gives for having a 4 place airplane...cargo space and useful load...but I wear shoes or even boots to fly...

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8GCBC wrote:I'm a Scout snob and I would not switch to another tandem for anything as of yet!

You're also not tall.

Zzz wrote:

8GCBC wrote:I'm a Scout snob and I would not switch to another tandem for anything as of yet!

You're also not tall.

But, my aircraft is!

I'm all legs..six one with 36" inseam. Bought a PA20....decent leg room..2 people up front......tight shoulder room with the bench seat. PA22/20 conversion with individual front seats... The back rest can be modified to move it back 1-1/2". One seat forward, one back good shoulder space. Modifying mine now for the bush....bench seat gone....fuselage done, wings remain.


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I'm 6'5". Older Husky is very tight. Newer Husky is only slightly less so. I know you said a 185 is out, but I'm supremely comfortable in our '54 180. Seat goes back much further than I could possibly ever need.

Mine is a freak that runs fine lean of peak (~10.2 GPH at 145 mph) and after a 3 hour leg I only burn 2-3 gallons more than my buddy's Husky.

Not to terrible in the backcountry, either.

Im 6'3" and very comfortable in my 170. I do wish I had later seats with height adjustment though, or at least LHS.