New member looking for a mooney "fit" !

[The201pilot]

Hey too all, great board..Here's the situation in a nutshell...I'm a new pilot (under 100 hrs), done most of my flying in diamond and piper aircraft.  I'm going to make an aircraft purchase this year, hopefullt sooner than later..I'd like it to be a Mooney !

Here's the kicker, I'm all of 5' tall soakin wet ! haha..

From research, I'm aware that there are rudder pedal extensions available, but not sure if these will/will not be enough.

My home airport is Didsbury, Alberta (cea3), but do most of my flying out of high river. (cen4).

I'd like to have a seat in a C-E model as these are the models im most interested in..

Hopefully someone out there can offer some help !

Thanks,

Marty

[1970m20e]

Good luck.  I'm 6'2" and my E is a good fit.  But with some sort of extension you should be fine.  A C or E will be perfect for you as you'll be so far forward your rear seaters will have plenty of leg room too.

[fantom]

There are 3" rudder extensions, and people have been discussing seat pads here. Try PM'ing flyboy0681 (Mike) who, as a low flyer himself, has researched options. 

Great selection of airplane make, welcome to MooneySpace, and best of luck.

[kortopates]

My wife who is 5' 4", found the 3" extensions essental. Still she is all the way forward and has a slightly bigger challenge scanning all the instruments IFR as compared to most of us sitting a little further back. We have fully articulating seats, but without them she also needs a seat cushion which is less of an issue. Being 6' myself, I don't like the extensions, so she has owned the left seat ever since . But what's not too like if your the only pilot in your family. But seriously, strongly suggest you find a Mooney owner within visiting range with the rudder pedal extensions you can at least sit and verify you have full rudder/braking range and you can see if your view of panel is still adequate - as I think you're proposing to do in your post and sorry I am so far away or I'd offer. One of the other challenges to consider with the seat fully forward is changing fuel tanks in the vintage models. But as long those basics pass I am sure you'll be very happy in a Mooney.

[FlyDave]

I'm 5'5" and was not comfortable flying my 201 when I got it. I bought a set of 3" rudder pedal extensions and I'm fine now using the 2nd from the front seat position . If you're 5' even, I'm not sure the 3" extensions will be enough for you. You definately need to find someone with a set nearby to see if they work for you. I live in Los Angeles so I'm a bit of a flight away even in a Mooney.

Best of Luck,

[Piloto]

You will need the 3" pedal extension and the articulating seat. I think the articulating seat moves forward about 5 inches.

José

 

[FlyDave]

Quote: Piloto

You will need the 3" pedal extension and the articulating seat. I think the articulating seat moves forward about 5 inches.

José

 

[Amelia]

Mooneys were designed for long-legged skinny people. To put it as gently as possible, I, um,  don't fit this description...   I flew my Mooney 231 for years first with home-made cushions under and behind me, and the seat all the way forward. Then I splurged on a stiffer Oregon Aero 2" cushion with lumbar support, which was better, and then, finally, had the seats reupholstered-- providing a lovely boost with new foam--, and for good measure, installed the 1.5" rudder extensions. Should have gone with the 3" ones, because at 5'4", I still need the seat all the way forward. I have the drawings for both of them, if you decide you want to see- or Ned Gravel on this board has scanned them, and can probably email them so you can have them fabricated. I believe they're hard to get, otherwise.

[N33GG]

I am 6 feet tall, but have a long torso and short legs.  Some problems related to legs not reaching are not just limited to "short people".  With the pilot seat at almost full forward, I do not need the extensions, and am just fine in Mooneys. 

My usual problem with a long torso is inadequate head room, in both planes and cars (can be very annoying).  There have been many cars and planes I have wanted to enjoy that I just didn't fit in.  The good news for me and other tall people is that the Mooney has plenty of head room.  No problems here.  The Mooneys are pretty amazing at being able to accomodate all shapes and sizes of people.

Marty, welcome to the forum.  Mooneys are great aircraft.  Good luck with your search.

George

[DaV8or]

I'm 5' 11" and the standard set up in my F is OK, but I am thinking I might look into the 1-1/2" extensions. I would love to sit in somebody's plane that has these.

[sleepingsquirrel]

Quote: DaV8or

I'm 5' 11" and the standard set up in my F is OK, but I am thinking I might look into the 1-1/2" extensions. I would love to sit in somebody's plane that has these.

[Barry]

Quote: N6719N

I am 6 feet tall, but have a long torso and short legs.  Some problems related to legs not reaching are not just limited to "short people".  With the pilot seat at almost full forward, I do not need the extensions, and am just fine in Mooneys. 

My usual problem with a long torso is inadequate head room, in both planes and cars (can be very annoying).  There have been many cars and planes I have wanted to enjoy that I just didn't fit in.  The good news for me and other tall people is that the Mooney has plenty of head room.  No problems here.  The Mooneys are pretty amazing at being able to accomodate all shapes and sizes of people.

Marty, welcome to the forum.  Mooneys are great aircraft.  Good luck with your search.

George

[The201pilot]

Thanks for all the input, and the warm welcome...I did notice a couple of mooneys parked around CEN4 (high river)..I'll see if i can track down any of the owners, and maybee snag a ride or just a seat !

I've narrowed my search down to a few planes, and will be recieving the logs soon to go over with my mechanic..

Looks like i'll need a new articulating seat and some pedal extensions to start with !

 

 

[Newguy]

Quote: screamingtrees

Hey too all, great board..Here's the situation in a nutshell...I'm a new pilot (under 100 hrs), done most of my flying in diamond and piper aircraft.  I'm going to make an aircraft purchase this year, hopefullt sooner than later..I'd like it to be a Mooney !

Here's the kicker, I'm all of 5' tall soakin wet ! haha..

From research, I'm aware that there are rudder pedal extensions available, but not sure if these will/will not be enough.

My home airport is Didsbury, Alberta (cea3), but do most of my flying out of high river. (cen4).

I'd like to have a seat in a C-E model as these are the models im most interested in..

Hopefully someone out there can offer some help !

Thanks,

Marty

[jax88]

Good luck snagging one of those seats.  Seems those are the first things to go when parting out a Mooney.

[Gone]

Quote: Amelia

I have the drawings for both of them, if you decide you want to see- or Ned Gravel on this board has scanned them, and can probably email them so you can have them fabricated. I believe they're hard to get, otherwise.

[The201pilot]

Thanks for the drawings !! I will be putting these to good use shortly.

[N33GG]

Quote: sleepingsquirrel

 OK,so now I'm thinking that my M20B has plenty of rudder,I'm just to short to exercise all of it! Maybe all I need to land in a 20 kt cross wind would be rudder pedal extensions?

I felt much better blaming the pitiful rudder authority on my Mooney, rather than , I can't reach the rudder pedals.

I could however make a fortune on placards:

MAXIMUM DEMONSTRATED CROSS WIND:

NO PEDAL EXTENSIONS                     11 KTS

1.5 INCH EXTENSIONS                       15 KTS

3 INCH EXTENSIONS                          25 KTS