Large Pilots

[Kubiack]

I would like to build a Patrol and am looking for feedback from any large pilots on how cramped they felt in the Patrol. I’m 6’5” with pretty wide shoulders. One of the main reasons I like the Bearhawks is the large cabin sizes especially the width of the Patrol with inline seating. In automobiles I feel very cramped in anything less than a full size sedan and am really not comfortable unless I’m in a full sized truck or large SUV. Of course finding a Patrol to actually go sit in would be best but I like to start with feedback from anyone in a similar situation.

If you are not quite as large as I but fly a Patrol what size car would you compare the pilot’s area too?

[DRLPatrol]

I am 6'5" and 250lb. I am building a patrol (finishing spars). I have not sat in a completed one but sat on a box in a quick build frame. Lots of leg room, plenty shoulder room, 2"-3" head room.
Doug

[JimParker256]

Kubiack,

I just measured the legroom, hip-room, and headroom in my Patrol fuselage. I do not have any upholstery in place, so make whatever allowances you need to for how you would pad the seats...

Leg room: From the rudder pedal pivot to the front edge of the seat back, it's just over 42 inches. I drive a full-size sedan (Impala) as well as a 3/4 ton pickup (Silverado 2500) with the seats back as far as they will go. The Patrol feels to me as though it has as much legroom.

Head room: From the seat surface to the lowest point of the fuselage structure (the forward cross-tube), it's a bit over 40 inches.

Hip room: The narrowest part of the cabin is the inside of the door sills. That measures just over 27 inches, and gets a full inch wider immediately above that (just about hip level). Keep in mind that my fuselage is built with the "seaplane" option (doors -- and door sills -- on both sides), so a "normal" one would be a bit wider.

Shoulder room: From shoulder to elbow, you're pretty much at the level of the window, and it's the widest part of the fuselage - about 32 inches at the outside, so maybe 31 and 1/2 inches inside. Feels very roomy, and you can make it even more so by opening the windows in flight (with some airspeed limitations).

I flew in the back seat of Mark Goldberg's Patrol at OSH, and had LOTS of headroom back there. I sat in the front seat also, and don't remember having any concerns about headroom - and I was wearing a Stetson at the time... I believe you could also shorten the seat mounts a bit at the back to provide even more headroom, if you really needed it. That would probably necessitate changing the seat back angle, as well, to keep clear of the rear stick.

I hope this info helps. Good luck to you!

[Chewie]

I'm 6'2" / 200lbs and sat in the front seat of Owen Smith's Patrol at OSH last year... no complaints at all. I drive an '07 Frontier pickup and I think I measured the window-window width on that at 64", about the same width available per person as the Patrol!

[Kubiack]

Thanks you for all of the responses so far.

Jim, I really appreciate the measurement. They will give me something I can actually mock up and try in person.