I am looking to buy my first aircraft and the Taylorcrafts BC-12D seems to tick all the boxes for me. It looks great, cheap to operate, decent STOL, tailwheel and really good value for money.
The problem is that I am 6'2" and I have read that some tall pilots are very uncomfortable in the Taylorcraft. I have also been told that I should be ok with the skylight and lower seats. I simply need to sit in one and see what it is like.
I live in Sweden and there are hardly andy BC-12Ds around here (everyone seems to have a J-3) so I am struggling to find one to sit in.

I would love to hear what you think?

You're really going to have to actually sit in one to see what you think. And, for more than a minute or two.

I had a BC-12D on Edo floats with the canvas sling seat, and I did not fit.

I'm 6-0 and 215 lbs, and I found that the seat offered no lower back support. I tried different seat cushions, all to no avail, and found the only thing that made long flights tolerable was if flying by myself, I would sit kind of sideways and use my right foot on the co-pilot side right rudder pedal, left foot on pilot's side left rudder pedal.

Gump

That doesn't sound good. I have no interest in flying like that!

Are here any Taylorcraft owners from the Providence region? I will be there at the beginning of next week and it would be awesome if there was one that I could sit in?

Cheers

I've only flown a T-craft once, back in 1979, a brand spanking new F-19. I'm only a skosh over 5'10", but somewhat long torsoed, so I sit a little taller than others of the same height. What I remember was that although I had enough headroom, my view to the side was blocked by the wing root. I also had enough legroom, but no excess. So I would say that I just barely fit. In contrast, the young woman CFI who was tutoring me in it was about 5'6" and seemed to fit perfectly. So my guess is that you're not going to fit all that well, but the only way to know would be to try it out.

Cary

There's a few of us here that cruise around together in various T-Crafts. My buddy Jake has a BC12D with skylight, lowered seat and seaplane/patroller doors. He's 6-2 or 6-3 and albeit snug, fits alright. Probably not the best plane for a big guy, but is far more comfortable than a standard BC12D with regular doors, headliner and big seat cushions.

I'd look into a Citabria. They are about the roomiest small taildragger I've flown. Hard to beat a nice light Taylorcraft though!

What I remember was that although I had enough headroom, my view to the side was blocked by the wing root.

That is the second most common criticism of the Taylorcraft I hear (right behind "anyone over 5'7" won't fit").

I challenge anyone to get in a Cessna 172 and adjust the seat properly so you can see over the panel. Now look sideways. You'll be looking right into the wing root.

So if you have ever flown a C172 and not declared it a potential disaster you should be able to see out of a Taylorcraft.

I own a Citabria and while it's roomy enough when seated (I'm 6'2" and 210-ish) it is quite a jungle gym getting in and out of, so if you've got back issues you should try and sit in one of those before committing also.

I've been flying a postwar BC-12 for a few years now. I'm 6-2" and pretty broad shouldered and I fit fine. Yes, you have to duck your head a little to see out the side, but it's really not as big of a issue as people make it out to be. Getting in when you have a passenger can be a little challenging and it can be a little cozy with that passenger in flight. I've got a A-65/75 and I can say that for the horsepower, the Tcraft is an amazing machine. I'd really love to fly one once that had a c-85 or better yet, a 0-200. The best advice has been posted, go sit in one for a little while.