How Heavy?

[Bob - S50]

Just curious.  Any suggestions for a maximum weight for a passenger?  That of course considers walking on the wing, ability to get into the plane, and shoulder width once in.

 

I do some Angel Flights and sometimes see passenger weights up around 275 or even a bit higher.  I've been reluctant up to now to carry anyone that weighs more than about 230.

 

Of course, if it is just the two of us I would also have to consider CG.

 

Just how strong is the area under the wing walk?

 

As an aside, I've started leaving the flaps down for getting into and out of the plane when I'm carrying passengers.  Reduces the likelihood they'll step on the flaps in spite of me having briefed them.

 

Bob

[rbridges]

I remember someone talking about flying with a guy well into the 300's.  Can't remember the plane, but thinking it was a piper for some reason.  It seemed like people thought the wingwalk was fine.  I would be worried about them putting too much weight on the chair backs when they're sliding into the plane.  I tell people to grab the bar above the panel for additional support, but sometimes they don't listen and put their weight on the chair.  They don't seem very robust to me.  

[MyNameIsNobody]

  On 7/23/2015 at 2:59 PM, Bob - S50 said:

Just curious.  Any suggestions for a maximum weight for a passenger?  That of course considers walking on the wing, ability to get into the plane, and shoulder width once in.

 

I do some Angel Flights and sometimes see passenger weights up around 275 or even a bit higher.  I've been reluctant up to now to carry anyone that weighs more than about 230.

 

Of course, if it is just the two of us I would also have to consider CG.

 

Just how strong is the area under the wing walk?

 

As an aside, I've started leaving the flaps down for getting into and out of the plane when I'm carrying passengers.  Reduces the likelihood they'll step on the flaps in spite of me having briefed them.

 

Bob

Are you scaling these people? If you are trusting them about their weight and you have self-imposed a 230lb limit then you need to get out a scale and say "Surprise".

[N201MKTurbo]

It is not so much the weight it is the girth! There has to be room left for you to sit! 

[Yetti]

I am 260 with dry fur.  Wing walk seems fine so far.  Did note that the pilot and copilot seat plan had aluminum tears in them from previous usage.

[Mooney65E]

I once took my neighbor who's 6'5" 275 along with both of our wives for an hour long flight. The plane was a bit cramped and I do recall having to move his knee away to actuate the manual flaps. I'm 6'2" 200 and our wives are both under 140. I wouldn't feel comfortable doing a long cross country or taking off on full tanks with the same passengers.

[The-sky-captain]

I'd caution against putting their weight on the inspection panel on the forward section of the wing walk.

[PTK]

I will not take anyone overweight/oversize in the airplane. It's not good for the step nor for the wing nor for the seat. It's also not comfortable to sit next to them.

[Mooneymite]

Marauder might have some real world data to share.....

[Guest]

Our planes were never designed for people of that size. The boarding step, wing, seat structure and seat belt are all over stressed, to say nothing of pushing them out the door in an emergency.

"Sorry you're too big for my plane" may be an uncomfortable but required statement.

Clarence

[PTK]

  On 7/23/2015 at 10:12 PM, M20Doc said:

Our planes were never designed for people of that size. The boarding step, wing, seat structure and seat belt are all over stressed, to say nothing of pushing them out the door in an emergency.

"Sorry you're too big for my plane" may be an uncomfortable but required statement.

Clarence

Nothing uncomfortable about it!

How about: "...you're just too fat and overweight and I don't want to damage my airplane!..."

May give them incentive to go join a gym and lose weight. May save their life!

The airlines say it and sometimes charge double!

[MooneyBob]

I have started my PPL in this particular plane with this ( RIP) instructor. The DA20 is very small and light two seater. We couldn't top off the fuel tanks because of W&B. I was very careful about that back then. I couldn't believe this report when I read it. 

Yes, do your W&B and DA calculation, please. 

 

 

http://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20130531X45544&key=1

[Bob_Belville]

  On 7/23/2015 at 9:00 PM, Mooneymite said:

Marauder might have some real world data to share.....

Marauder was pretty big himself at one time. With a wife and 2 kids...

 

Al Mooney was tall though not heavy. 

 

230# is not that heavy though the seat back is not built to support that kind of weight concentrated on the top of the seat or head rest as a passenger climbs out. I had to have a seat frame repaired when I had the seats redone.

[Shadrach]

230lbs is a joke...  I am 5'10" and a healthy 205lbs (33" waste). I have had right seats with me that weighed in excess of 250.  These were big boys, but not a portrait of obesity.  Just thick .

 

Anyone learn to fly in the vicinity of Purdue U/Lafayette IN during the late 90's? I took my check ride there in Aug in a 1966 C150F.  The DPE whom I'd never met, told me to figure him at 220lbs.  When I saw him, my first thought was "no #$%#@$ way we're going to fit in this plane at the same time. He was an easy 270lbs and I was about 170lbs back then, 440lbs in a C150 cockpit in August...in Indiana.   I am glad I only fuel it with 10 gals.

[Bob - S50]

Thanks for all the input.

 

Bob

[chrisk]

I have a simple rule.  The max weight for a woman is 180 lbs.  The max weight for a man is 230. If they exceed this limit, I don't let them in the plane.  I keep a scale at the hangar.  Perhaps it is unreasonable or unfair, but its my plane.  Maybe I should put a placard in my plane to reflect this.

[gsxrpilot]

  On 7/24/2015 at 2:14 PM, chrisk said:

I have a simple rule.  The max weight for a woman is 180 lbs.  The max weight for a man is 230. If they exceed this limit, I don't let them in the plane.  I keep a scale at the hangar.  Perhaps it is unreasonable or unfair, but its my plane.  Maybe I should put a placard in my plane to reflect this.

 

Good to know... I guess I wouldn't be able to ride with you. Although I fit just fine in my C.

[Marauder]

  On 7/24/2015 at 12:37 PM, Bob_Belville said:

Marauder was pretty big himself at one time. With a wife and 2 kids...

Al Mooney was tall though not heavy.

230# is not that heavy though the seat back is not built to support that kind of weight concentrated on the top of the seat or head rest as a passenger climbs out. I had to have a seat frame repaired when I had the seats redone.

My top end weight was 295 and I was careful with the seat. Regardless, I had it pulled and inspected every year to make sure Mr. Fat Arse hadn't cracked something. My wife on the other hand is small person weighing in under 110. Needless to say, I always burned my side fuel tank down first

On one of these threads I wrote about a truly big guy that wanted to fly with me. My biggest concern was an emergency egress through a fat mass of humanity that I knew was going to be more difficult climbing over than Mount Everest.

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[Hank]

  On 7/24/2015 at 2:14 PM, chrisk said:

I have a simple rule. The max weight for a woman is 180 lbs. The max weight for a man is 230. If they exceed this limit, I don't let them in the plane. I keep a scale at the hangar. Perhaps it is unreasonable or unfair, but its my plane. Maybe I should put a placard in my plane to reflect this.

My rules are simple, too, and not based on passenger sex, just the weight and balance of the plane. They do need to buckle the belt around them, and can't interfere with the flight controls, so it is somewhat self-selecting.

I found a nice W&B spreadsheet that someone did for their F, and just entered my own empty weight and arms. Then I ran a lot of scenarios putting different weights in the seats and baggage area, and used 50 / 40 / 30 / 20 / 10 gals fuel for each, as if on a long trip. There's a printed copy in the plane for quick reference. No fit, bad W&B for me and fuel in the plane, no go to ride. And no, I do not defuel, except when pushing the throttle forward.

My transition CFI was in the 220-230 range and I'm around 190-200. Never had a problem.

[chrisk]

  On 7/24/2015 at 2:18 PM, gsxrpilot said:

Good to know... I guess I wouldn't be able to ride with you. Although I fit just fine in my C.

There are always exceptions to rules!  Especially for pilots.

[jlunseth]

I always run the flaps down for all passengers. I have told people not to step on the white and a minute later they do, even though it says "NO STEP," so I don't give them the chance anymore.

[aviatoreb]

  On 7/24/2015 at 2:19 PM, Marauder said:

My top end weight was 295 and I was careful with the seat. Regardless, I had it pulled and inspected every year to make sure Mr. Fat Arse hadn't cracked something. My wife on the other hand is small person weighing in under 110. Needless to say, I always burned my side fuel tank down first

 

?!!!  I was figuring you were married to a 750lber!  Does your wife know that you think she needs to beef up?

[Shadrach]

  On 7/24/2015 at 2:14 PM, chrisk said:

I have a simple rule.  The max weight for a woman is 180 lbs.  The max weight for a man is 230. If they exceed this limit, I don't let them in the plane.  I keep a scale at the hangar.  Perhaps it is unreasonable or unfair, but its my plane.  Maybe I should put a placard in my plane to reflect this.

230?  Do you have any athletic friends over 6' tall?  Seriously, 230lbs is not uncommon for a fit male in that height range.

[Marauder]

  On 7/25/2015 at 4:08 PM, aviatoreb said:

?!!! I was figuring you were married to a 750lber! Does your wife know that you think she needs to beef up?

Nah, those girls are just a reminder of what I would end up with if I become a lard arse again...

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[Marauder]

  On 7/25/2015 at 4:14 PM, Shadrach said:

230? Do you have any athletic friends over 6' tall? Seriously, 230lbs is not uncommon for a fit male in that height range.

Exactly. I'm 6'4" and played college ball at 240. A lot of the girth issues are related to whether it is fat or muscle.

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