Backcountry Pilot

[akhunter02 offline]

Im getting closer to finishing my PPL and considering buying a plane, my preferences are: High wing, Tail Dragger, Im 6-5" with broad shoulders, 230lbs, will I fit?, good for low time pilots to learn and sharpen skills, on the cheaper side to operate. Recommendations?

Thanks

[Taildown offline]

If you are at all interested in an experimental consider a RANS S7 Courier. This plane really fits taller and larger guys. A couple of guys 6'5"+ fit nicely.

If you check out www.landshorter.com you will see Joa Harrison (6'7" I think) and his 6'5" father-in-law flying into an Idaho backcountry strip in an older S7. I'm 6'2" and my older son is 6'4" and we have extra room.

The rotax 912 burns about 4 gpm of premium unleaded pump gas on average. It just does not get much more economical than that.

[hicountry offline]

I'm 6'-4" and 256lbs. The ACA series of planes are a comfortable ride for me. Cessna 170, 172 are all fine unless there is a person of equal size next to me...then it's a llittle uncomfortable. I even have no problem flying a J3 cub from the back seat. A Piper Super Cub is not bad either. Some of the experimentals (RV-4, Glasstar, Rans) are a little tight for me.
Check some of the planes you might be interested in for fit...remember you may sit in this position for long periods in rough air so you want to be somewhat comfotable ( head room, leg room, shoulders).

[patrol guy offline]

I'm 6'5", 220 and the scout is great. Make sure you get the adjustable seat. In an older scout I raised the front of the seat up an inch, which leaned the seat back enough for extra room.

[iceman offline]

Much as I love my Maule M4 I would love to have a couple more inches back slide on the seat. I'm a little cramped at 5'10"

[akhunter02 offline]

My legs are really long, even in the c 172 im training in I have to put the seat way back and all the way down so I have full range of motion with the yoke, if im up even a notch or two too much the yoke hits my thighs when I pull all the way back and rotate.

[Green Hornet offline]

If you can get to an airport with a few planes ask the owner if you can sit in the right seat. There has to be a lot of Taildraggers in AK. The fact that you are 6'5" means you may have to have the seat set up for you by adjusting the rails. My Maule M7 has a littlle more room then the Iceman's M-4 but the few guys Iv'e flown with 6'5" or there abouts were cramped.
If you are not hung up on a side by side seat the Scout does have some room. If you are looking for a beautiful aircraft with all the bells and whistles and loved, check out this Scout:
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[akhunter02 offline]

to anything that will work for me, price is an issue since I have not been able to find someone to partner up with (very picky) my budget is around 35K, the plane does not have to be pretty or have the cub type performance. Just something that will allow a young pilot to learn in without braking the bank, I can upgrade in a few years after i have a fair amount of hours logged

[mtv offline]

In that price range, your two best bets: Cessna 170 and Stinson 108.

MTV

[lancef53 offline]

I am your size, and I fit just fine in our old Champ, like some of the others mentioned. You can have the pick of the litter for 35K. The Cessnas are great for legroom, but our 180 is tight on the shoulders if you have another bubba with you who wants to sit as far forward as you.

[hotrod180 offline]

Check the BCP marketplace forum, there's a good 1948-model 170 listed there for $28K. (plug,plug )

Eric