C177RG (1971)

Newps wrote:
It was a big cabin in all respects expect the most important. It had
no headroom. I'm 6'1" and the top of my head hit the overhead. Not
just scraped it occasionally but so much that I had to conciously
scooch down to minimize it as best I could.

Did you not have vertically adjustable seats? I'm 6'4", my brother is
6'5" and both did fine in my B model. Just had to crank the seats
down.

Yeah, that's the damndest thing too. I had the adjustable seat, set it
as low as it would go. I have had people tell me the fixed seat was
actually lower, that that is what I needed. Which of course makes no
sense that the fixed seat would be lower than the adjustable, logic says
it would be somewhere in the middle.

I'm 6'5" and I find the headroom in the 177RG very tight, especially with a
tall headset on. Basically can't wear my Lightspeed in it. And that's with
the seat cranked down all the way and seriously reclined (to the point of
discomfort for any duration). Throw in turbulence and my skull has hit the
ceiling many times.

"Rich Ahrens" wrote in message
.. .
I'm 6'5" and I find the headroom in the 177RG very tight, especially with
a
tall headset on.

6'4", Cardinal is very comfortable to me.

Even for people the same height, they will require a different amount of
headroom when seated, depending on their body proportions. I have a
relatively short torso and longer legs, so legroom is the problem for me.
For others, they have a longer torso and shorter legs, so headroom becomes
the issue. Total height is only part of the picture.

The Cardinal may be too small for some people, but I suspect that for those
people, many other planes are too. Want room? Go for the 182, Navion, or
something like that.

Pete

Peter Duniho wrote:
"Rich Ahrens" wrote in message
.. .

I'm 6'5" and I find the headroom in the 177RG very tight, especially with

a

tall headset on.


6'4", Cardinal is very comfortable to me.

Even for people the same height, they will require a different amount of
headroom when seated, depending on their body proportions. I have a
relatively short torso and longer legs, so legroom is the problem for me.
For others, they have a longer torso and shorter legs, so headroom becomes
the issue. Total height is only part of the picture.

Yep. I'm the opposite - long torso.

The Cardinal may be too small for some people, but I suspect that for those
people, many other planes are too. Want room? Go for the 182, Navion, or
something like that.

The 182 is quite roomy for me, especially in headroom. I enjoy flying both,
but when time came for a two-week trip last year, the 182 was the only
reasonable choice for several reasons. Comfort was a major one.

"Peter Duniho" wrote in message ...

Even for people the same height, they will require a different amount of
headroom when seated, depending on their body proportions. I have a
relatively short torso and longer legs, so legroom is the problem for me.

Yep, exactly so. DH wasn't too comfy in the Cardinal. He's 6'1" but
it's all in the torso. His brother is the same height but when they're
sitting side by side, they look as though they're about 6" different
in height. Bro's height is all in the legs.

The Cardinal may be too small for some people, but I suspect that for those
people, many other planes are too.

Interestingly, our Grumman was roomier for DH. The Cardinal was
wierd -- it looked as though it should have great visibility, but
it has such a high instrument panel it blocked a lot of view for
me. And it looked as though it should have great room, but it
was a tight fit for DH. That's not to say our Tiger has headroom
to spare for him, but he can wear his Lightspeeds and sit up straight,
it has awesome vis. for me, and it can hold 2 full size mtn bikes
(believe it or don't, 'struth). If we're expecting a bumpy ride he
pulls the standard seat cushion and replaces it w/ 1" Oregon Aero.

Anyway, just goes to show the importance of actually *flying*
planes before one gets too excited about buying. Lots of little
details where what sounds great when you read about it doesn't
fit you, personally, as well as you expected.

Cheers,
Sydney