Homebuilt Aircraft Cockpit Dimensions

Over the past several years, I've taken a tape measure with me whenever I might encounter a homebuilt aircraft. The following table is the result. The categories of measurement are:

Shoulder Room. This is the width of the cockpit at the approximate shoulder height for a typical occupant. This does NOT take account of extra room available in the wing strakes of many pusher aircraft.
Hip Room. Hip room is the available width at the top of the seat. For side-by-side airplanes, this is the space available for one occupant. (This is different from the shoulder-width category to eliminate the effect of any center console.)
Height to Overhead. The distance from the top of the seat to the ceiling, along the approximate path a pilot's back will go. This category is blank for open-cockpit airplanes, or in aircraft under construction that do no yet have a canopy.
Legroom. The distance from the back of the pilot's seat to the rudder pedals.

The ruler was allowed to bend at the edge of the seat. All measurements were performed by myself, for consistency. No manufacturer data is included or will be added.

Caution: This data is subject to a lot of errors. The biggest source is that these are custom-built aircraft generally built to fit their builders. If the builder had short legs, the "Legroom" measurement will be artificially low. Similarly, I didn't take seat-cushion thickness into effect. I tried to be as consistent as I could in my measurements, but over a three-year period problems are bound to come up. I had to make judgement calls...for instance, when measuring the overhead room, is a certain high-wing airplane's spar carry-through close enough to be considered the top of the cabin, or will the pilot's head clear it?

The basic message is that the numbers should should be considered approximate. Don't reject a given plane just because it has an inch less hip room....the truss member I measured to may not actually affect your own seating. Your best bet is to find one and try it on for size. Duplication of the data in this table is authorized as follows: Duplication for personal use is authorized without additional permission, as long as the copyright notice remains attached. Permission to reprint in non-commerical publications (such as EAA Newsletters) will be granted cost-free if:

Permission is requested in advance.... Email me at ron@wanttaja.com with your request.
The copyright notice remains with the reprinted material.
You send me a copy of the newsletter for my scrapbook.

Commericial periodical rights are negotiable. Much of this data was previously published in KITPLANES magazine ("Anthro-What?", by Ron Wanttaja, Page 46, May 1996) and reprint rights are available. Rights to include this data in a book are also negotiable. Circumstances may vary, but all I'll typically ask is to be appropriately credited and receive a free copy of the book.

Copyright Notice The data in this table is Copyright 1996 by Ronald J. Wanttaja. All rights reserved

Manufacurer A/C Per Person at Hips Width at Shoulders Height to Overhead Seat to Pedals Comments

Aero Designs Pulsar 17.25 37 33 39

ARV Griffon Griffon 19.5 46 42 39

Avid Avid Mk IV 16.75 38 36.5 40

Avid Magnum 18.25 43.5 38 39.5

Bede BD-4 20.5 41 38 40.5

Cessna 152 16.5 37 38 42

Cessna 172 19.5 40 38.5 50

Early Bird Jenny 24 23.5 Open 43

Europa Europa 18 40 37.5 40

Experimental Aviation Berkut 17.5 21 35 48 Shoulder is at canopy rail-shoulder width is much greater at strake

Fisher 404 22 20 Open 45 Unfinished

Manufacurer A/C Per Person at Hips Width at Shoulders Height to Overhead Seat to Pedals Comments

Fisher Dakota Hawk 18.5 36 36 43 Unfinished

Fisher Super Koala 17 - - 43 Unfinished

Fisher Tiger Moth 25 24.5 Open 37.25

Fisher Aero Products Celebrity 24.5 23 0 42

Great Plains Sonerai IILTS 22 22 36.6 40 Unfinished

Harmon Harmon Rocket II 30 24.5 35 40

Hatz Biplane 26 25 Open 38

Hummel Hummelbird 18 20.5 36 41 No canopy- shoulder width probably less - Aircraft under construction

Lancair Lancair ES 18.5 44 39 45

Merlin Merlin GT 19.5 39 38 39

Manufacurer A/C Per Person at Hips Width at Shoulders Height to Overhead Seat to Pedals Comments

Montana Coyote Mountain Eagle 22 47.5 40 42

Murphy Rebel 19.75 43 36.5 47

Murphy SR2500 23 44 39 46

Piel Emeraude 20.75 41.5 36 41

Piel Emeraude 20.75 41.75 36 44 Builder moved seat backs back 4"

Pietenpol Air Camper 22 20 0 37

Puffer Cozy Mark IV 16 39 38 39.5

Robinson-Rand KR-2 (Custom) 15.75 32 0 43.5 Unfinished

Rutan Long-EZ 17 22 38 41

Rutan Vari-Eze 16.25 0 36 43

Manufacurer A/C Per Person at Hips Width at Shoulders Height to Overhead Seat to Pedals Comments

Sherwood Ranger 22 23 0 39

Skystar Kitfox 4-1050 17 39.5 37 41.5

Stoddard-Hamilton Glasair III 17.75 40.5 37 43

Stoddard-Hamilton Glasair Super IIS 17.75 39.5 36 43

Stoddard-Hamilton GlaStar 20.75 44 40 42

Stolp Starduster Too 28 23 0 38

TEAM Hi-Max 20 22 37 37 Hip room measured between rudder cables (on seat top)

Thorp T-18 Tiger 19 36 35 40

Tri-R KIS Cruiser 18 44 38 42

Manufacurer A/C Per Person at Hips Width at Shoulders Height to Overhead Seat to Pedals Comments

Vans RV-3 21 22.5 34 40 Actual height was 32- canopy lowered 2"

Vans RV-4 27 22 41 41 Long-Legged pilot

Vans RV-6 21.5 38 39 42 Shoulder is at stringer- hip is past stringers

Vans RV-6 18.75 40.5 36 37 Hip width is inside longeron ~4" above seat top. Outside that longeron there's 43" of hip room.

Vans RV-8 31 24 40 41

Van's RV-6 18.75 40.5 34.5 39.5

Velocity Velocity RG 18.5 41 36 40.5 Shoulder is at longeron- shoulder width is much greater at strake

Warner Revolution 24 22 0 38

Zenair CH-601HD 20.5 41 37 37 Notches at hip level- may not be fully representative

Zenair CH-801 19.75 44 37 40

Return to Ron Wanttaja's Aviation Page

Manufacurer	A/C	Per Person at Hips	Width at Shoulders	Height to Overhead	Seat to Pedals	Comments
Aero Designs	Pulsar	17.25	37	33	39
ARV Griffon	Griffon	19.5	46	42	39
Avid	Avid Mk IV	16.75	38	36.5	40
Avid	Magnum	18.25	43.5	38	39.5
Bede	BD-4	20.5	41	38	40.5
Cessna	152	16.5	37	38	42
Cessna	172	19.5	40	38.5	50
Early Bird	Jenny	24	23.5	Open	43
Europa	Europa	18	40	37.5	40
Experimental Aviation	Berkut	17.5	21	35	48	Shoulder is at canopy rail-shoulder width is much greater at strake
Fisher	404	22	20	Open	45	Unfinished
Manufacurer	A/C	Per Person at Hips	Width at Shoulders	Height to Overhead	Seat to Pedals	Comments
Fisher	Dakota Hawk	18.5	36	36	43	Unfinished
Fisher	Super Koala	17	-	-	43	Unfinished
Fisher	Tiger Moth	25	24.5	Open	37.25
Fisher Aero Products	Celebrity	24.5	23	0	42
Great Plains	Sonerai IILTS	22	22	36.6	40	Unfinished
Harmon	Harmon Rocket II	30	24.5	35	40
Hatz	Biplane	26	25	Open	38
Hummel	Hummelbird	18	20.5	36	41	No canopy- shoulder width probably less - Aircraft under construction
Lancair	Lancair ES	18.5	44	39	45
Merlin	Merlin GT	19.5	39	38	39
Manufacurer	A/C	Per Person at Hips	Width at Shoulders	Height to Overhead	Seat to Pedals	Comments
Montana Coyote	Mountain Eagle	22	47.5	40	42
Murphy	Rebel	19.75	43	36.5	47
Murphy	SR2500	23	44	39	46
Piel	Emeraude	20.75	41.5	36	41
Piel	Emeraude	20.75	41.75	36	44	Builder moved seat backs back 4"
Pietenpol	Air Camper	22	20	0	37
Puffer	Cozy Mark IV	16	39	38	39.5
Robinson-Rand	KR-2 (Custom)	15.75	32	0	43.5	Unfinished
Rutan	Long-EZ	17	22	38	41
Rutan	Vari-Eze	16.25	0	36	43
Manufacurer	A/C	Per Person at Hips	Width at Shoulders	Height to Overhead	Seat to Pedals	Comments
Sherwood	Ranger	22	23	0	39
Skystar	Kitfox 4-1050	17	39.5	37	41.5
Stoddard-Hamilton	Glasair III	17.75	40.5	37	43
Stoddard-Hamilton	Glasair Super IIS	17.75	39.5	36	43
Stoddard-Hamilton	GlaStar	20.75	44	40	42
Stolp	Starduster Too	28	23	0	38
TEAM	Hi-Max	20	22	37	37	Hip room measured between rudder cables (on seat top)
Thorp	T-18 Tiger	19	36	35	40
Tri-R	KIS Cruiser	18	44	38	42
Manufacurer	A/C	Per Person at Hips	Width at Shoulders	Height to Overhead	Seat to Pedals	Comments
Vans	RV-3	21	22.5	34	40	Actual height was 32- canopy lowered 2"
Vans	RV-4	27	22	41	41	Long-Legged pilot
Vans	RV-6	21.5	38	39	42	Shoulder is at stringer- hip is past stringers
Vans	RV-6	18.75	40.5	36	37	Hip width is inside longeron ~4" above seat top. Outside that longeron there's 43" of hip room.
Vans	RV-8	31	24	40	41
Van's	RV-6	18.75	40.5	34.5	39.5
Velocity	Velocity RG	18.5	41	36	40.5	Shoulder is at longeron- shoulder width is much greater at strake
Warner	Revolution	24	22	0	38
Zenair	CH-601HD	20.5	41	37	37	Notches at hip level- may not be fully representative
Zenair	CH-801	19.75	44	37	40