M20J (or higher) for shorter people?

[natdm]

Hate making a topic for something so trivial but I did search and couldn't find.

I've got a friend interested in going the Mooney route. He's interested in mid-body Mooneys. I'm 6'1" and can reach the rudders just fine, though even I still have to have the seat adjusted pretty far forward. My wife is 5'4.5" (she makes sure to point that .5" out) and can't really touch the rudder pedals at all. 

Any pilots taller than 5'4.5" and shorter than 6' for mid/long-bodied mooneys care to chime in on if they're able to reach them safely? I think my friend is 5'7". 

[Fly Boomer]

53 minutes ago, natdm said:

Any pilots taller than 5'4.5" and shorter than 6' for mid/long-bodied mooneys care to chime in on if they're able to reach them safely?

If you and she will fly the same airplane, and if the rudder pedals are good for you with the seat full forward, she will need cushions to adjust how close she is, and how tall she sits.  The M20Ks came with height-adjustable seats -- not sure about the J.  It might help if you install the 3-inch rudder pedal extensions.  Then, you could move your seat back a notch, and she wouldn't need quite so much cushion.

[ArtVandelay]

Lots of variables, some like to have their legs bent and need to be closer, I’m 6’ and I prefer the seat all the way back, my legs are straight (33” inseam) and I have to point my toes to activate the brakes.
Just find one to sit in, some like it, some don’t.

[natdm]

18 minutes ago, ArtVandelay said:

Lots of variables, some like to have their legs bent and need to be closer, I’m 6’ and I prefer the seat all the way back, my legs are straight (33” inseam) and I have to point my toes to activate the brakes.
Just find one to sit in, some like it, some don’t.

I've got a 231. I'll have him sit in it and see but I was trying to see where that possible threshold is of too short.

[hubcap]

I have a 231. I am 5’8” and have no problem reaching the pedals. 

[Bolter]

With my J, at 5'7" (with shoes), I was a little stretch for the maximum rudder travel with seat full forward, but otherwise just fine, including outward visbility.  My Ovation has rudder pedals that are closer to the seat, and I Actually go 1 click back from full forward.  

[Hank]

The bigger problem than reaching the pedals is seeing over the panel and cowling to land. I'm 5'11" with 33" inseam, and sit on a 2" tapered cushion; once I got it (while still doing the insurance dual), my landings improved significantly. 

My wife, 5'3-1/2", sits with the seat in the furthest back locked position, and can stretch out her size 3 shoes, wiggle her feet around and not touch anything. She also points out the "half inch" in her height . . . To see where we are going, she sits on TWO seat cushions like we have on our hardwood stools at the breakfast bar.

Just did a Flight Review with a shorter CFII who is self-proclaimed long waisted, and the right seat was slid forward and locked in further forward than I've ever seen it, with one seat cushion. But it worked well.

[mhrivnak]

I'm 5'6" and have no problem flying Js. I put my seat at the third notch back.

[jrwilson]

On 6/20/2024 at 8:50 AM, natdm said:

Hate making a topic for something so trivial but I did search and couldn't find.

I've got a friend interested in going the Mooney route. He's interested in mid-body Mooneys. I'm 6'1" and can reach the rudders just fine, though even I still have to have the seat adjusted pretty far forward. My wife is 5'4.5" (she makes sure to point that .5" out) and can't really touch the rudder pedals at all. 

Any pilots taller than 5'4.5" and shorter than 6' for mid/long-bodied mooneys care to chime in on if they're able to reach them safely? I think my friend is 5'7". 

Mooneys are made for short people.  The tall people are the ones who have to make adjustments in mooneys. Short people are comfortable in Mooneys  and can still have people in the backseat.

[PT20J]

I'm 5'6". With no rudder extensions, I put the seat one notch back. With 1.5" extensions, I put the seat 2 notches back. With 3" extensions (which I now have), I put it three notches back. The articulated seats also move back when lowered and forward when raised.

[natdm]

On 6/21/2024 at 2:05 PM, jrwilson said:

Mooneys are made for short people.  The tall people are the ones who have to make adjustments in mooneys. Short people are comfortable in Mooneys  and can still have people in the backseat.

I disagree. I’ve got a K, I’m 6’1” and can have people behind me. Seats one notch from full forward. 

[jrwilson]

14 minutes ago, natdm said:

I disagree. I’ve got a K, I’m 6’1” and can have people behind me. Seats one notch from full forward. 

Well then I stand corrected!  Mooneys are great for people of all sizes!!  :)

[Pinecone]

On 6/21/2024 at 5:05 PM, jrwilson said:

Mooneys are made for short people.  The tall people are the ones who have to make adjustments in mooneys. Short people are comfortable in Mooneys  and can still have people in the backseat.

Really???

IIRC Al Mooney was 6' 5".

I am sure he designed a plane he could not fit into.

 

[rickseeman]

I'm 5'5" 140 and have had a F, K and an R and they all fit me fine.

[Shadrach]

On 6/21/2024 at 5:05 PM, jrwilson said:

Mooneys are made for short people.  The tall people are the ones who have to make adjustments in mooneys. Short people are comfortable in Mooneys  and can still have people in the backseat.

I'm not particularly tall at 5'10", I have an inseam of 32" and I am perfectly comfortable with the seat on the first notch back from full forward. The airframe suits long legged people just fine. My dad is 5'4" and has a 29" inseam and he can fly comfortably from the most forward seat notch without extensions, but I think he would do better with them.

[Shadrach]

On 6/20/2024 at 11:50 AM, natdm said:

Hate making a topic for something so trivial but I did search and couldn't find.

I've got a friend interested in going the Mooney route. He's interested in mid-body Mooneys. I'm 6'1" and can reach the rudders just fine, though even I still have to have the seat adjusted pretty far forward. My wife is 5'4.5" (she makes sure to point that .5" out) and can't really touch the rudder pedals at all. 

Any pilots taller than 5'4.5" and shorter than 6' for mid/long-bodied mooneys care to chime in on if they're able to reach them safely? I think my friend is 5'7". 

I am pretty sure that all M20s are the same for the left seater. Leg length is more the issue than height. With peddle extensions, the cockpit an work for a wide spectrum of leg lengths.   The airframe is not ideally suited for tall folks whose height is in their torso, but that to can be mitigated to a degree with the articulating seats.

[M20F]

I am not particularly tall at 6’ 9” but find it a little tight.  

[natdm]

2 minutes ago, M20F said:

I am not particularly tall at 6’ 9” but find it a little tight.  

I'm sure your friends in the NBA thought just that.

My buddy sat in my K and fit just perfect. Both him and his wife. 5'7 and 5'6. 

[Danb]

I gotta stretch to get to 5’8” and had to remove the 3” extension that came with the Acclaim although I sit forward on a long flight I’ll put the seat back a couple notches get get more comfy and return to forward getting ready to descend. I think it’s a myth that the plane is just for short small people 

[N201MKTurbo]

My wookie friend Chris who is 6' 7" tall has rode in the right seat a few times and didn't seem to have any issues.

[shawnd]

I think pedal access is typically not an issue in the J or K (I have flown both). But certainly, the extensions can help alleviate access for those that need them. I find that sitting at the most forward seat notch makes my upper body work harder when working with the yoke vs if I sit slightly back. Since I am no doctor, I asked my favorite new friend ChatGPT and here's what it said in summary:

• Close to Yoke: Primarily involves shoulder muscles (deltoids, rotator cuff), upper arm muscles (biceps brachii), and forearm muscles.
• Farther from Yoke: Involves a greater range of motion, engaging additional muscles such as the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, triceps, and core muscles for stability and posture.

I would tend to agree that more muscles are engaged making moving the yoke easier. As far as which ones - lets the doctors in the group chime in if the above is correct.

[Hyett6420]

Flew with a 5’7” pilot last week.  He had a booster cushion so he could see over the console well enough, but could reach the pedals just fine.  Didn’t even have the seat full forward.  I have mentee (Kathan Dudhela, google him I’m quite proud of this kid) who is a bit shorter and he cant reach the pedals, but with the cushion can see over the console.  Nb both chaps were in the right seat. First one is a safety Pilot for me, Kathan just someone who loves flying in the Mooney.

Hope that helps.

[flyboy0681]

I’m 5’4” and have absolutely no problem with the rudder or brakes.  For takeoff and landing I use the second notch and once in cruise settle back into the third. 

[Yetti]

Should be fine.   Many seats as they have been recovered received more or less foam.  That changes things a bit.   The Rudder pedal extension drawing is in the download sections.