Cabin space question

[Mooney Search]

Hello - question from a prospective mooney buyer (201 MSE) -  I am 6'1" and about 200lbs.  Buddy i fly a lot with is a tad larger.  Personally I am very comfortable in the 201.  But since I don't own one, he and I have not sat in one together.  We currently fly in a 182.  This may be a tough question to answer, but can anyone give me thoughts on two guys of that size on 2+ hour trips.  Would we be too smashed in?  Im a bit afraid of finding out the hard way (i.e. after purchase)...

Thanks in advance for any insight. 

[Danb]

No problem Todd, just have one seat up a little closer than the other. Hard to believe but we're slightly wider than a bonanza 

[Andy95W]

I think as long as your seats aren't shoulder to shoulder, you'll be comfortable.  One person forward a bit at the controls, the other slid back to the stops and you'll be fine.

[Mooney Search]

Thank you both! Do either of you do Angelflight or similar missions?  If so ,can you comment on whether or not passengers have been able to get in and our.  Obviously, its dependent on the person, but in general, to me, it seems that with right seat forward, rear seat pax can step in, turn and sit with relative ease compared to other single engine planes. 

[Bug Smasher]

The Mooney cabin is 1.5 inches wider than your 182.

[HRM]

2 hours ago, Todd Workman said:

Hello - question from a prospective mooney buyer (201 MSE) -  I am 6'1" and about 200lbs.  Buddy i fly a lot with is a tad larger.  Personally I am very comfortable in the 201.  But since I don't own one, he and I have not sat in one together.  We currently fly in a 182.  This may be a tough question to answer, but can anyone give me thoughts on two guys of that size on 2+ hour trips.  Would we be too smashed in?  Im a bit afraid of finding out the hard way (i.e. after purchase)...

Thanks in advance for any insight. 

Really? Really?

You have to go fly it, you cannot rely on others to tell you because everyone is different.

Al Mooney was over six foot tall and flew all over the US in a Mite.

My CFI wouldn't fly with me anymore after I bought my E.

Comparing a 182 to a 201? In any way? Really? Really?

[DAVIDWH]

May depend on your definition of the phrase " A tad larger".

Two 6ft 1" in the cockpit, plenty of room.

[Mooney Search]

Thanks, David - i should have been a little more clear with that.  The guy i fly most with  is just a little larger than me 

In response to the previous response - i've flown and love 20, hence the "prospective buyer part", but has been with a smaller person (5'6" /160ish) in the right seat and it was plenty comfortable, so I'm just looking for insight from others who might regularly fly with the left and right seats loaded with 2 6'1"/200 pounders. Not making a comparison to the 182. Just saying  what i'm flying now to give perspective to those kind enough to provide some insight based on otherwise very limited info I can give. 

[M20F]

The width isn't a problem but sitting L-Shaped versus bent knee like you would in other models I find to be uncomfortable after about 2hrs.  

[Hank]

I'm 5'11", 200; my neighbor beside me must be 230-240. There is space between us, i was comfortable and could reach the trim wheel easily. I fly one notch forward, his seat was in the first nitch to lick in with his wife behind him. In my short body C.

You shouldn't have a problem. Personally I like the seating position, but it gets tiring after 4 hours. I've gone 4:40 twice, and it was nice to stand up and walk around. 

Pardon the aerobatics!

[carusoam]

Time to go get fitted in one, Todd!

Sitting in one doesn't cost very much.  Except that is the first step of falling in love with a pretty nice airplane...

Where are you located?

200Lbs is the new 175...  

Best regards,

-a-

[Marauder]

I'm 5'11", 200; my neighbor beside me must be 230-240. There is space between us, i was comfortable and could reach the trim wheel easily. I fly one notch forward, his seat was in the first nitch to lick in with his wife behind him. In my short body C.
You shouldn't have a problem. Personally I like the seating position, but it gets tiring after 4 hours. I've gone 4:40 twice, and it was nice to stand up and walk around. 

Pardon the aerobatics!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Marauder]

My CFI buddy is 6'4" and weighs around 215. I'm 6'4" and 240. No fit problems.


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[Hank]

Aaah, that's better! Thanks, Marauder.

[Mooney Search]

ow that's some good perspective - thank you guys.  Between the ability to fly inverted AND bring a couple of comparably sized folks along, it looks like my concerns are abated. 

That pic is really helpful

To the Carusoam who suggested I sit in one.  I've done both - flown one and sat in one. Was actually up in NJ last week at AirMods doing that.  But again, didn't have the benefit of a sizable person to sit next to me at the time. For me it was great, but there aren't any 201s my area (Baltimore) that I can sit in so, for now,  I have to rely on what I think from when i did sit in one , but with a smaller person,  and what you all have relayed through this thread. 

I really appreciate the many helpful replies!!! 

[201er]

4 hours ago, Todd Workman said:

Thank you both! Do either of you do Angelflight or similar missions?  If so ,can you comment on whether or not passengers have been able to get in and our.  Obviously, its dependent on the person, but in general, to me, it seems that with right seat forward, rear seat pax can step in, turn and sit with relative ease compared to other single engine planes. 

What time you lose in getting passengers in and out, you'll more thank make up with speed enroute! The only thing you gotta really watch out for is old or disabled passengers trying to get out, they want to grab on the door or anything that is fragile to pull themselves up. Also, the copilot seat is by far the hardest seat in a Mooney to get in and out of. The rest are alright.

[Mooney Search]

Thank you.  I actually saw your PALS and AF videos on Youtube as i've been researching this.  Seems like you get folks in and out pretty easily. Saw a lot of your other videos as well, BTW.  Great stuff - Mooney should appreciate the free marketing they get from you because your videos have been great to watch , from a prospective buyer's standpoint.

[201er]

I usually don't let them sit up front. First of all there is usually a patient and guardian/caregiver so they are better off sitting in the back together for assistance. Secondly it is easier to get them in and out of the back. And it gives me more room up front for all of my paperwork, gadgets, and stuff. Sometimes my wife or another pilot fly up front. I have had so much trouble getting unfamiliar able bodied people out of the copilot seat that I'm not playing that game with patients. My own dad punched a hole through the plastic from grabbing at it while getting in or out of copilot seat.

[gsxrpilot]

@"Chocks" and I fly together quite a bit which is close to 500 lbs in the front seats. While it's not cramped or tight, and actually comfortable with plenty of room, it takes quite a bit of nose up trim for takeoff. 

[Danb]

Mike you forgot the barf bag, on an angel flight mission a few years ago I was going into Jacksonville was bumpy the girl was looking green, I ripped my shirt off and said use it, I did have bags, beingbto busy on approach that's all I could think of. I did feel odd walking in Jax with no shirt.