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.

I'm 6'4" 240 and I fly without shoes as well. Better finess, and makes us shorter! Something to keep in mind OP, could help!

Also moved my seat back some from what it was originally designed to do.. but that is getting off topic and a whole other discussion.

Scout....period.

6'4' - 240 lb - size 14
C-170B-180hp is the only plane you should be looking for. Don't listen to all the other yahoos on here.

I might be slightly biased.

Im similar size and have no problem in my 01 Husky A1B

You can also put in heel pans into husky that drops your knees a few inches.

Lots of tall guys in the backcountry, you are in good company. Tall family's too....my wife has a 36" inseam and my kid is going to be large too.

I've flown cubs, 7/8gcbc's, maules, pacers, and the Cessna. They all can work, just depends how long. Personally, I'd look for a Scout if you are a tandem guy or consider an early 180 (like previously mentioned) if you have 2+ ambitions or have other "talls" around. I know you have a 210, but an early 180 with 29's would be a great combo.

Bill

Hammer wrote: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.

Thanks for the info and yes I have an issue with the feet as well, altho mine are just 13's but I have to pay attention to which shoes I wear when I fly.

triggergapflyer wrote: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.

Ooops, sorry, did not see that in your original post.

You say you have a T210, so a 185 is too much of a repeat? I disagree. I enjoyed a T210 for 9 years and 800 hours. Then I bought a 185. Sold the T210 less than a year later.

If you like your 210, you'll love the 185. All the power, less weight, nearly as comfortable, and fun to learn new skills. If you haven't flown a 180 or 185, I highly recommend that you find someone that owns one and make friends. Addictive.

I get that you'd like your second airplane to be more affordable, but if it doesn't perform better than your 210 in some way, it's not going to get flown.

BTW, my 210 was RSTOL. With the turbo, it will outperform my 185 at a 7000' DA.

Is the Scout front seat adjustable fore and aft? What is the mechanism like? Flown them a few times but I can't recall that detail. Definitely one of the most comfortable ass-chairs I've flown in.

Not exactly what you want to hear, but the ideal airplane for your mission may well be the Zenair 750. I sat in one with a 6 foot 4 guy and he had plenty of room, height, width, knee room, leg room, etc. The center stick eliminates the stick banging your knees issue. The side by side seating will make your wife happier to fly with you, guaranteed. Plenty of room for baggage.

It is a tricycle gear design but several of the earlier 701 models have been built or converted to tailwheel. The 750 actually has a decent design for landing gear toughness on tri-gear, and it uses an 8.00 x 6 for the NOSE-wheel as well as the mains. Not many places that this airplane cannot go. Anything even resembling a strip or a dirt trail will be usable.

You can buy a flying CH-750 that you do not have to build, turn the key and go, for equal or less than a Scout, Husky, etc.

Besides, it's absolutely beautiful, as long as you see form following function. It's every bit as pretty as an off-road Jeep is pretty. It flies a little different than a lot of other airplanes. But the Jeep drives a little different than a BMW too.

Zzz wrote:Is the Scout front seat adjustable fore and aft? What is the mechanism like? Flown them a few times but I can't recall that detail. Definitely one of the most comfortable ass-chairs I've flown in.

Some are and some aren't. Same as the 7GCBC. Mine was 2 stage adjustable. Basically the whole lower frame just pivoted back and slightly down. On longer trips I would slide it back and relax them slide it ahead again on landing. Worked well.
Scout would be my recommendation.

The Maule does not have a stick to get in the way.
The seat cushioning density and thickness, base and backrest, makes a big difference.
A number of tall pilots I know are happy in their Maules, one is 6'7"
Side by side is 42" at the elbow.

6' 3", 250 lbs, size 14 feet.

Had a Champ because I couldn't fit in a cub and was quite satisfied with the room. A Scout would be a great choice IMO.

C-170s are great airplanes with room for us big dudes. There's a lot of guys flying them with stock motors, a 80" prop and Sportsman STOL and they are certainly capable when respecting their limitations (as with all planes). Look at it is a spacious two seater and it's really attractive.

I can't get anywhere near comfortable in a PA20/22. Way too tight for me. Dang near bought a Maule a while back and didn't feel like I had the room in it either, but I've heard different seats make a big difference as Mr. Maules.com suggested.

FWIW, you'd be surprised how many folks don't have a problem running a 210 into backcountry areas. Unless you're wanting to become a die-hard, rough and very short airstrip guy, you might just want to use the 210. Its flaps leave a lot to be desired compared to other SE Cessnas, but keep it within its capabilities, and it might do the job for you--and you are already familiar with it.

Cary

Just to touch on what EZflap mentioned, the Zenith 750 STOL has 50 inches of interior room, and plenty of head room for a person 6-4+. Not for everyone, but with the interior room, side by side seating, the center stick, and the visibility, it's appealing for a lot of the bigger folk. The 100 ft departures don't hurt either.

My buddy's at OSH with 21 in tires, you can get an idea of the cabin room and visibility. If you go out of the box.

I have similarly long legs and find the Maule M5 too tight. With the push/pull controls out and the flaps full-down, I run out of room to move the yoke because it hits my knee. This prevents me getting full aileron, which you often need when you have the power out and full flap! My brother is your size or larger, I can imagine how bad that issue would become with him in the plane.

I actually find the Cub good once you're in, but getting inside is a different story.

My Bearhawk is still tight for a person of your size, but as long as you're the pilot (so your feet are right forward on the pedals), then you will have enough room. Getting inside isn't hard once you have done it a few times. Of course you would need to buy a finished one, but they do pop up for sale (finished aircraft) a few times each year. More and more are coming online every few months.

It's also nice to have a plane you can walk under and climb into without stooping too much. I was around a little LSA Jabiru in the weekend, and I had to literally bend double to get under the wing. I could not own that aircraft without employing a chiropractor!

Pinecone wrote:You say you have a T210, so a 185 is too much of a repeat? I disagree. I enjoyed a T210 for 9 years and 800 hours. Then I bought a 185. Sold the T210 less than a year later.

Wife and I have talked about that very possibility. A one airplane family would sure be simpler and a good bit cheaper.
Thanks

akgreg wrote:6'4' - 240 lb - size 14
C-170B-180hp is the only plane you should be looking for. Don't listen to all the other yahoos on here.

Right. Lots of great recommendations for the 170B. They are a pretty airplane too.

Zzz wrote:Is the Scout front seat adjustable fore and aft? What is the mechanism like? Flown them a few times but I can't recall that detail. Definitely one of the most comfortable ass-chairs I've flown in.

Checking a Scout out tomorrow. Will let everyone know how it works out.
Thanks