Commodious Sailplane?

I've been searching for a used sailplane for a month; most are proportioned
for pilots not-so-large as me. Any recommendations for ships with commodious
cockpit dimensions?
Jim Hultman
6'3" 240 lb.
Just call me 'Falstaffian".

Jim wrote:
I've been searching for a used sailplane for a month; most are proportioned
for pilots not-so-large as me. Any recommendations for ships with commodious
cockpit dimensions?
Jim Hultman
6'3" 240 lb.
Just call me 'Falstaffian".


Identical proportions - well same mass and length fits nicely in a Std Cirrus,
and Kestrel.

ASK21 and Grob 103 are also comfortable enough, if not neccessarily what you are
looking for.

Bruce

Try an Astir CS. Much better performance than either of these twin
ships. The cockpit is so roomy I used to set up a picnic when I got
hungry during cross-country flights. Lots of room for me and I'm 6' and
200lbs. There was spare movement on the rudder pedal adjustment etc.

Dave Kearns

Bruce Greef wrote:
Jim wrote:
I've been searching for a used sailplane for a month; most are
proportioned
for pilots not-so-large as me. Any recommendations for ships with
commodious
cockpit dimensions?
Jim Hultman
6'3" 240 lb.
Just call me 'Falstaffian".


Identical proportions - well same mass and length fits nicely in a Std
Cirrus, and Kestrel.

ASK21 and Grob 103 are also comfortable enough, if not neccessarily what
you are looking for.

Bruce

I am about the same, a little heavier. I have flown all schweizer
products, Nimbus 3 and Pegasus, both of those without seat pans. Also
LS-4, Standard Cirrus.

Sit before you buy.


Bruce Greef wrote:
Jim wrote:
I've been searching for a used sailplane for a month; most are
proportioned
for pilots not-so-large as me. Any recommendations for ships with
commodious
cockpit dimensions?
Jim Hultman
6'3" 240 lb.
Just call me 'Falstaffian".


Identical proportions - well same mass and length fits nicely in a Std
Cirrus, and Kestrel.

ASK21 and Grob 103 are also comfortable enough, if not neccessarily what
you are looking for.

Bruce

Genesis has a huge cockpit.

Jim wrote:
I've been searching for a used sailplane for a month; most are proportioned
for pilots not-so-large as me. Any recommendations for ships with commodious
cockpit dimensions?
Jim Hultman
6'3" 240 lb.
Just call me 'Falstaffian".

I have a Concept 70 - cockpit is as large as they come. I'm 6' and 240,
with several inches of rudder pedal adjustment left.

Ben Jeffrey
"MO"


Jim wrote:
I've been searching for a used sailplane for a month; most are proportioned
for pilots not-so-large as me. Any recommendations for ships with commodious
cockpit dimensions?
Jim Hultman
6'3" 240 lb.
Just call me 'Falstaffian".

Jim wrote:
I've been searching for a used sailplane for a month; most are proportioned
for pilots not-so-large as me. Any recommendations for ships with commodious
cockpit dimensions?
Jim Hultman
6'3" 240 lb.
Just call me 'Falstaffian".

Jim, go sit in an ASW-20.Preferably a later model with the flip up
instrument panel.

K Urban

It's surprising what you can fit in if you really want to! I'm 5-10,
about 250, and fit in my LS-6 perfectly. Of course, there is no room
to spare at all - forget folding a sectional inflight - and wearing
heavy clothes for winter or wave flying is probably out of the
question, but for where I fly (shorts and t-shirt, perhaps jeans and a
windbreaker) it works.

Makes it feel like an F-1 race car - no room to rattle around!

Ventus B's and LS-4s are huge by comparison.

A PIK-20, OTOH, is tight - narrow, which makes the flap handle hard to
use; and I haven't found a chute that I can wear in it.

The chute can make a big difference, so be sure include that in your
gear when you try a cockpit on for size.

Good luck!

66

Yes; it's really as much a safety issue as comfort, as flap or spoiler
handles are usually pinned somewhere behind my knee. The stick's
range-of-motion can be impeded as well. The Std. Sirrus sounds good under
$20K. I'm searching out all others mentioned here as well.
Thanks to all who've posted!
Jim Hultman

wrote in message
ups.com...
It's surprising what you can fit in if you really want to! I'm 5-10,
about 250, and fit in my LS-6 perfectly. Of course, there is no room
to spare at all - forget folding a sectional inflight - and wearing
heavy clothes for winter or wave flying is probably out of the
question, but for where I fly (shorts and t-shirt, perhaps jeans and a
windbreaker) it works.

Makes it feel like an F-1 race car - no room to rattle around!

Ventus B's and LS-4s are huge by comparison.

A PIK-20, OTOH, is tight - narrow, which makes the flap handle hard to
use; and I haven't found a chute that I can wear in it.

The chute can make a big difference, so be sure include that in your
gear when you try a cockpit on for size.

Good luck!

66

Jim,

You will have no problem fitting comfortably in a Genesis cockpit.


Robert Mudd


Jim wrote:
I've been searching for a used sailplane for a month; most are proportioned
for pilots not-so-large as me. Any recommendations for ships with commodious
cockpit dimensions?
Jim Hultman
6'3" 240 lb.
Just call me 'Falstaffian".