6'7" and looking for a glider

I've been reading tall pilot threads here from a few years back, and I wanted to start a new thread. I'm 6'7" 230 lbs with a bit of a taller torso and I'm on the lookout for a glider. I've noticed that legroom isn't usually an issue, but with many gliders, closing the canopy is a problem.

I've been doing my training in a Blanik L-23 and I can fit OK, not the best, but no issues with the training. I've tried to fit in the ASK-21, no way. I'm wondering if I can fit in the G103 so I can go to a commercial operation and finish my rating.

So far, I fit in the following:

L-33 Solo - very comfortably I might add. I've been doing my solo work in one.
PW-5 - very comfortable. Haven't flown one yet.

Ideally, I'd like to do cross country and earn badges. I was talked out of these two because they're not the best performers for cross country and I received what seems to be a solid advice to keep looking for something I'd be happier with longer term, so here we go.

Jantar Std 3 seems like a good fit. Can't find many for sale.
LS-3A is a good fit, but would likely need a very thin parachute. I would presume LS-4 is a good fit as well.
Mosquito was a little tight.
Standard Cirrus - could not close the canopy with all the cushions out too. That was a bummer.
DG-300 and 500 seemed like a good fit.
PIK-20 - could not close the canopy.
G102 - could not close the canopy.
Discus - could not close the canopy.

If I hit the lottery, I'd be all over an Arcus M - fantastic fit, beautiful ship and a decimal place out of my price range. Ideally, I'm looking for something in the 15-25k range. Anyone selling?

On Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 10:46:02 PM UTC-5, Rob wrote:
I've been reading tall pilot threads here from a few years back, and I wanted to start a new thread. I'm 6'7" 230 lbs with a bit of a taller torso and I'm on the lookout for a glider. I've noticed that legroom isn't usually an issue, but with many gliders, closing the canopy is a problem.

I've been doing my training in a Blanik L-23 and I can fit OK, not the best, but no issues with the training. I've tried to fit in the ASK-21, no way. I'm wondering if I can fit in the G103 so I can go to a commercial operation and finish my rating.

So far, I fit in the following:

L-33 Solo - very comfortably I might add. I've been doing my solo work in one.
PW-5 - very comfortable. Haven't flown one yet.

Ideally, I'd like to do cross country and earn badges. I was talked out of these two because they're not the best performers for cross country and I received what seems to be a solid advice to keep looking for something I'd be happier with longer term, so here we go.

Jantar Std 3 seems like a good fit. Can't find many for sale.
LS-3A is a good fit, but would likely need a very thin parachute. I would presume LS-4 is a good fit as well.
Mosquito was a little tight.
Standard Cirrus - could not close the canopy with all the cushions out too. That was a bummer.
DG-300 and 500 seemed like a good fit.
PIK-20 - could not close the canopy.
G102 - could not close the canopy.
Discus - could not close the canopy.

If I hit the lottery, I'd be all over an Arcus M - fantastic fit, beautiful ship and a decimal place out of my price range. Ideally, I'm looking for something in the 15-25k range. Anyone selling?

Rob - did you consider the 18m Cirrus? We had a young guy in our club, who was over 2m tall and he did fly the open Cirrus with the seat all the way back while wearing a thin parachute.

Uli
'AS'

Hi Uli, I sat in the Standard Cirrus and we couldn’t close the canopy. Reading various posts here, I’m getting some conflicting information about the fit in the Open Cirrus. I thought the difference was only 15m vs. 18m but the cockpit staying the same. Am I wrong?

Cheers,

Rob

At 05:01 10 January 2020, Rob wrote:
... getting some conflicting information about the fit in the Open
Cirrus.
I thought the difference was only 15m vs. 18m but the cockpit staying the
same ...

The Open Cirrus fuselage is very different, and my impression is that it
would be
better for a tall pilot (which I am not!). It also has a part fixed / part
lift-off canopy.
J.

On Friday, January 10, 2020 at 12:01:06 AM UTC-5, Rob wrote:
Hi Uli, I sat in the Standard Cirrus and we couldn’t close the canopy. Reading various posts here, I’m getting some conflicting information about the fit in the Open Cirrus. I thought the difference was only 15m vs. 18m but the cockpit staying the same. Am I wrong?

Cheers,

Rob

Rob - please try to find an 'open Cirrus' and sit in it. They are totally different ships - their fuselages are completely different and very roomy!

Uli
'AS'

On Thursday, January 9, 2020 at 9:01:06 PM UTC-8, Rob wrote:

...Open Cirrus.

"Didn't you guys ever _watch_ the show?"

I did not know that about Open Cirrus. I thought it was the same cockpit.

It was interesting that a number of ships I tried that everyone was certain I could fit in, I did fit just fine legroom-wise, but could not close the canopy.

I'm in the Houston area, and I have an airplane, so any excuse to go fly is very welcome. If anyone's got an Open Cirrus or Genesis 2 or maybe Discus 2b or Nimbus, or prety much anything for a tall guy in area, I'd love to check it out. What's for sale in the area?

Rob,

You're welcome to sit in my LS-4 this weekend to see how it fits if you'd like. I know Erik Saxon posted his LS-4a for sale here the other day and they're a fantastic first ship and are quite comfortable also. If you fit, that might be a very good consideration.

I really enjoyed my Standard Cirrus and am surprised you didn't fit. I'd second Tony's recommendation that we try it again just to be sure. We'll find a good bird that'll fit your shape and budget!

On Friday, January 10, 2020 at 10:08:25 AM UTC-8, Rob wrote:

It was interesting that a number of ships I tried that everyone was certain I could fit in, I did fit just fine legroom-wise, but could not close the canopy.

I studied anthropometry in my Human Factors courses, and I've had the opportunity to observe how a wide variety of people fit into sailplanes. It is kind of amazing how much variability there is in the relative sizes of arms, legs, and torsos, and how much difference it makes in cockpit fit.

Unfortunately, your height places you up around the 99.9 percentile, which is a sparsely accommodated corner case.

If for whatever reason you wanted to build your own glider, we could adapt our cockpit to fit you.

If there's a glider you really like, but don't fit into, you might consider having the cockpit modified to suit. From what you describe, it's your torso length that's critical, and moving the control stick and bolster forward could give you the room you need. There are a couple shops around the US that could do this kind of modification work, though it would really help if the glider carried an experimental airworthiness certificate. As you might expect, resale value will likely take a hit, so you'll want to factor that into your calculations.

--Bob K.

At 18:08 10 January 2020, Rob wrote:
I did not know that about Open Cirrus. I thought it was the same
cockpit.=
=20

It was interesting that a number of ships I tried that everyone was
certain=
I could fit in, I did fit just fine legroom-wise, but could not close
the
=
canopy.=20

I'm in the Houston area, and I have an airplane, so any excuse to
go fly
is=
very welcome. If anyone's got an Open Cirrus or Genesis 2 or
maybe Discus
=
2b or Nimbus, or prety much anything for a tall guy in area, I'd
love to
ch=
eck it out. What's for sale in the area?=20


I am 6'2" with a long torso (39" sitting height). I have had my
Discus-2b for 20 years now. I can sit in it - the rudder pedals pulled
back 2 notches with my legs still flat on the floor, a regular Strong
Paracushion-seat/back chute with the seat-back still installed and
have plenty of room. After having been crammed into various other
top line racing gliders (and at a competitive disadvantage due to
comfort factors), I have been extremely happy with my D-2b. Mike
Westbrook has one for sale in the DFW area. The only issue is that
it is way above your desired price point. V-2b has the same cockpit.
When I visited S-H to see the prototype D-2b, I told Tilo and Biggo
my concerns about my size. They just smiled and said that we
should go try it on for size. Once I sat in it and realized how much
room I had, Tilo and Biggo said that they had figured that it was
time to build a cockpit that almost anyone could fit into. That sold
me.

You may look at the SZD 55-1 too. I hear it has a large cockpit.
Gordon Boettger had a Grob Twin Astir 1 and a Kestrel at one point.
There are different STD Cirrus models. I understand that the later
Cirrus 76 (or was it 75?) models have a larger cockpit.

Good luck!

RO