I've done hours and hours of research and have finally come to the conclusion that by all accounts a Mooney meets my mission. Specifically, the M20F with it's extra carrying capacity and longer cabin. I love that the Mooney is so damn fast and has equally impressive efficiency.
But...
Then I started hearing of the "dreaded" small cabin. So I look at some stats and learn the Mooney cabin is actually wider, at 43.5 inches, than the 172 or 182, which are 42." Apparently, the rub comes in how you have to shimmy into the left seat of a Mooney.
I'm not a small guy. My son, who will be flying with me most the time, is also not small. I'm 6'2" and right around 300#. My son is 6'3" and around 275. I have my PPL and trained in a Cessna 172. I was about the same size, but my instructor was really small. I've never sat in a Mooney and I'm just not sure it's going to work. I badly want to make this not only work, but be realistic as well.
The obvious answer is to lose weight. I get that. But if I had that whole thing figured out I can assure you I wouldn't be this size. So, yes, that will be the plan, but I need to figure out if it will work as we presently are as well. If so, then weight loss would be a bonus in many ways.
I need a hand guys! Let me know your experience in this area and thoughts...
Thanks!