Mooney M20F narrow across the shoulders

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I'm 6'4" but 220lb. I usually fly my F model with my wife so I guess I
don't notice it as much. I do know that its the same size as an Arrow
(I measured them side by side after many rumors that the Arrow was
bigger).

I have flown a few hours in various Mooneys and hundreds in my Arrow IV
(including all seats). Measurements are objective, and a single
measurement can be deceiving. Comfort is subjective. By comparison to
a Mooney, to me the Arrow is like riding in a limousine. My primatry
discomfort in the Mooney is legroom -- not length but width and height.
Pilot and copilot legs have very little wiggle room up and down, side
to side. This becomes VERY noticable on a long flight.

-Elliott Drucker

Robert M. Gary wrote:
I'm 6'4" but 220lb. I usually fly my F model with my wife so I guess I
don't notice it as much. I do know that its the same size as an Arrow
(I measured them side by side after many rumors that the Arrow was
bigger).

I have flown a few hours in various Mooneys and hundreds in my Arrow IV
(including all seats). Measurements are objective, and a single
measurement can be deceiving. Comfort is subjective. By comparison to
a Mooney, to me the Arrow is like riding in a limousine. My primatry
discomfort in the Mooney is legroom -- not length but width and height.
Pilot and copilot legs have very little wiggle room up and down, side
to side. This becomes VERY noticable on a long flight.

-Elliott Drucker

wrote:



I have flown a few hours in various Mooneys and hundreds in my Arrow IV
(including all seats). Measurements are objective, and a single
measurement can be deceiving. Comfort is subjective. By comparison to
a Mooney, to me the Arrow is like riding in a limousine. My primatry
discomfort in the Mooney is legroom -- not length but width and height.
Pilot and copilot legs have very little wiggle room up and down, side
to side. This becomes VERY noticable on a long flight.

Plus the fact that your legs stick straight out like you are sitting on
the floor.

wrote)
[snip]
My primary discomfort in the Mooney is legroom -- not length but width and
height.
Pilot and copilot legs have very little wiggle room up and down, side to
side. This becomes VERY noticable on a long flight.


We passed on the 2000 Toyota Camry for that very reason - it was like
inserting yourself into the mouth of the cannon for 'The Human Cannonball'
act - no wiggle room, too narrow.

Honda Accord has much more wiggle room for legs and feet ...except the darn
steering wheel position is right on top of those legs, in your lap. Oh well.
Can't win 'em all.

Very, very happy with the Honda 60K miles later.

Back to planes - I thought the Navion had much room in it. 6-2 300#
.....(apple)

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Ron&MargyNatalie/Margy&Navion2.jpg
Navions are very cool ...and huge :-)


Montblack

Montblack wrote:
wrote)
[snip]

My primary discomfort in the Mooney is legroom -- not length but width
and height.
Pilot and copilot legs have very little wiggle room up and down, side
to side. This becomes VERY noticable on a long flight.



We passed on the 2000 Toyota Camry for that very reason - it was like
inserting yourself into the mouth of the cannon for 'The Human
Cannonball' act - no wiggle room, too narrow.

Honda Accord has much more wiggle room for legs and feet ...except the
darn steering wheel position is right on top of those legs, in your lap.
Oh well. Can't win 'em all.

Very, very happy with the Honda 60K miles later.

Back to planes - I thought the Navion had much room in it. 6-2 300#
....(apple)

http://www.alexisparkinn.com/photogallery/Ron&MargyNatalie/Margy&Navion2.jpg

Navions are very cool ...and huge :-)


Montblack
AND ... The Navion is one of the very few aircraft that can accommodate
both a 6'1" pilot and a 5'2" pilot with comfort. Now that we have new
seat cushions I don't even have to use my booster seat!!

Margy

On 9/6/2005 3:58 PM, Jon Kraus wrote:

Mark,

The longest I have flow our "J" is 2.5 hours. By then I was ready to
come down anyway.

Albert Mooney of the Mooney fame was 6'3 or 6'4 and he designed the
plane for the tall person to be comfortable. I have a friend that is
about 280# adn thought he might not fit... Are you verifying that? :-)

Well, don't put me on the stand... ;-)

Actually, before I drop the whole idea, I wanted to go sit in the
plane again. Adjust the seat and just go through the motions. I'll
let you know how that comes out.

My wife says I'm very broad across the shoulders - worse now that I've
gained weight. I do know the rudder pedals seemed pretty far away ;-)


Jon Kraus
'79 Mooney 201
443H @ TYQ

Mark Hansen wrote:

On 9/6/2005 14:39, Jon Kraus wrote:

Mark,

I thought when I first sat in our Mooney ('79 "J" model) that it
seemed tight also (compared to a 172 anyway). I have since grown used
to the sports-car like feel of it. I am 5'10 190# and I fit fine. My
wife is 5'11 145# and she fits fine too. I believe that if you
measured the width it would be about the same as comparable planes (4
seaters).


Well, I'm 5' 9" and 280lb, so I'm a little wider ;-)


I agree though, that you seem to wear the Mooney. But the 155 kts on
10 GPH sure is nice!! :-)


That's really what would hurt when moving to a larger plane (not to
mention the purchase price ;-) )

It was hard to get in and out of, but I could get used to that. It
was the having to lean to one side that really bothered me. I'm not
sure that would be all that comfortable for more than just a short
period of time.

Thanks Jon.


Jon Kraus
'79 Mooney 201
4443H @ TYQ



Mark Hansen wrote:

I looked at a 1969 Mooney M20F over the weekend, and was surprised
to see how narrow it is in the cockpit. While sitting in the pilot's
seat, I was pushed to the right by the left side of the cabin, and
was not able to sit directly behind the control yoke.

Perhaps I'm just too big for this airplane? I thought the C172 was
a little cramped, but whew, this was really tight.

Is there a make/model airplane that provides a little more room
across the cockpit area that might be more comfortable for me?

I guess that having more space in the cockpit will mean more weight
and slower airspeeds given the same HP engine (generally, anyway...)

Thanks,







--
Mark Hansen, PP-ASEL, Instrument Student
Sacramento, CA

In article ,
Newps wrote:



The prop clearance looks to be about 2" from a distance. However, an
actual measurement shows it to be something like 18".

It ain't 18", it's less than 12". The other factor is gear doors
hanging low.


But the truth is, pavement or dirt or packed sand, if it is very flat
and well groomed, ANYTHING can land there....

--
Chris Schmelzer, MD