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: 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:

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

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