Tall Pilot

I am recently licensed in gliders and am now looking to purchase a used glider. I am 6' 5' tall and weight 210 lbs. Several gliders that I have gone to look at have placed my head and the canopy in the same place...which doesn't work very well.

The Grobs seem to fit; what else in a medium to high performance sailplane will I be able to fly comfortably? Any ideas appreciated.

Either one or two place would be interesting.

Mike Rice

Look at the DG-100 and -101. There is one of each flying in Minnesota, and they both have pretty long cockpits. The -101 may be a bit longer than the -100.

I am 1.88 m and weigh 120 kg, I have flown a 304 for 15 years.... lots of space

I'm 6'7' and I fly a PIK-20D. Lots of space.

Mike, I'm 6'7' 190lbs and have been searching for a comfortable ship for a while. I fly a Pegasus with the seatback removed. There's just enough room to fly without a chute.

The Grob102 Club fits marginally; again without a chute. The G103 back seat is quite comfortable without a chute and a little less so with one on.

I also fly an SZD Junior which is quite comfortable; again sans chute.

These are all rental ships. I'd like to own something that allows for chute. The best candidates so far are the PIk20D, the LS3 with seatback removed, and the Lak17. The LS3 turned out to be VERY comfortable even with a chute on. I'm still surprised that I fit in there. It doesn't look like a big cockpit, but removing the seatback makes a huge difference. I should add that most of my height is in my legs so your milage (no pun) may vary.

Ian

I'm not too familiar with the foot-and-inch measures, but I guess you are something between 1.90 and 2.00 meters. I am 1.96 m, so from my own experience, I think you might fit well into a DG 300 or a Zugvogel IIIb (if you can find one). As for two-seaters, a Puchacz will be no problem at all for you, you will fit in with ease. Also, a Janus (backseat only) or a Duo Discus (I only flown from the front seat, worked ok for me) may be options for you.

If you can, take a seat in the 304CZ. It seems to me it might work for you as the pedals are half way back for me (5'9' and there is lots of room...morre than a Pegusas.

Armand

I don't think a -304 will work for someone who is 6'5'. I am 6' 1.5' and the -304's canopy hits my head even with the rudder pedals at full extension. Eight inches (5'9' to 6'5' makes quite a difference in sitting height (as well as standing height

All DG's will fit you, because of the design of the panel. You can raise your knees and you'll have enough space. Also any Schleicher with the panel mod- I have an ASW-24 that way, and I fly with a short parachute and fit comfortable. I'm close to 2 meters high, aprox 6 ft 6 inch. The PW-5 is roomy also- oh, but you said medium-high performance, so that's out. The Discus b is also good if flown without seatpan. Comfortable for me that way too. Maybe Ventus b, I've not flown it Grobs can accomodate you but there's the performance issue, better than a PW-5 thou.

Hope this helps!

Jose M. Alvarez

Limited experience (75 hours gliders) and not quite as big (6'2', 200 lbs) but FWIW here's my complete flight history:

Grob 102: Our club owns one and my head is right up against the canopy with peddles fully extended. Disturbingly hard contact with plexi in turbulence numerous times. The ship flies very well though, so modifications might correct this. SZD 50-3 Puchcaz: My primary trainer (two-seater). Very roomy in length and width. Good balance of flight characteristics. SGS 1-26: Close at the shoulders but plenty of headroom. Rudder pedals cannot be extended far enough so legs remain tensed. L-23: Only one flight but no conflicts once squeezed in. Knees a bit restricted under the panel. Mini-Nimbus: My private plane. Tight at the elbows and knees constricted under panel, but plenty of length both above my head and to stretch out my legs. I've flown 3- to 4-hour flights in this plane with less fatigue than any of the others listed.

Steve N751DC