Author Topic: Plane crazy (Read 748 times)

Chairboy · « **Reply #15 on:** March 11, 2007, 10:58:43 AM »

Aaarrgh!

So, we meet at 8 and start working on the plane. We're putting together a small laundry list of issues/bargaining points/etc when we hit a deal breaker.

I slide into the cockpit, and it's super comfortable. It feels right, I'm loving the sight picture, but of course I had to thread my feet past the rudder pedals because the builder/current pilot is a bit shorter than I am. The maintenance hatch in the nose is open, and my mechanic guy is walks over to check out the rudder adjustment prospects.

Problem. My feet are up against the battery and brake cylinder, which is all the way forward in the nose. There's no room for rudder travel, even if we fiberglass new attachment points.

We play around with ideas for fitting, but there's no feasible place to move the battery, the brake cylinder, etc. We pull out all the seat cushions, and that gives us an inch or so, but nowhere near enough.

(smack forehead)

I always figured that if I ever had a problem fitting in a LongEZ, it would be because I was too fat, not because of my freakishly long legs. Short of cutting off the nose and extending it (there are lots of Longs w/ extended nose) I'm just outta luck with a plans built plane.

Back to the drawing board.

eagl · « **Reply #16 on:** March 11, 2007, 11:05:32 AM »

Can you adjust the seat angle back to give your knees a "natural" bend? Or do your knees hit the instrument panel when your feet are on the pedals?

That's one of the nice things about the latest versions of the RV kits... Even though they're aluminum and you can't easily change the design to lengthen the cockpits, they're already sized for reasonably tall people. They're not as sexy looking or as efficient as the ez variants but the basic RV design is pretty mature.

Chairboy · « **Reply #17 on:** March 11, 2007, 11:09:45 AM »

The seat is fixed, can't be adjusted, all adjustment comes with the pedals. It's at about a 40 degree angle, and soo comfortable.... but didn't help with this plane. Yeah, my knees would hit the panel if I pulled them back enough.

Dago · « **Reply #18 on:** March 11, 2007, 12:38:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Chairboy
The seat is fixed, can't be adjusted, all adjustment comes with the pedals. It's at about a 40 degree angle, and soo comfortable.... but didn't help with this plane. Yeah, my knees would hit the panel if I pulled them back enough.

Borrow HTs RV and see how you like it. I am sure he won't mind.

Debonair · « **Reply #19 on:** March 11, 2007, 04:44:19 PM »

Did you think of readjusting your legs?
Cut em off & get some shortened Douglas Bader models.

LePaul · « **Reply #20 on:** March 11, 2007, 10:30:00 PM »

Nice planes...I found some nice ones on Barnstormers, mostly East Coast.

Guy locally had one, beautiful plane...he broke his nose gear a few times on taxi.

Id love one but I'd really have to know canards inside and out...and have one heck of a canard/A&P mechanic with me