"wide body" side by side RV...

[GSchuld]

Dreamland question for the bigger pilots. Hypothetically speaking, how much wider would an RV-7's cabin width IDEALLY need to be to be able to handle two 6' 3" people weighing 240lbs each with enough breathing room that it would be considered comfortable for mild flight training, trips, etc? My wife is skinny, but my plane loving friends are big.

Pretend that VANs was going to offer an RV-7 in any cabin width that you choose for the same price...

The factory says that the cabin width is 43".

So would a 45" width make a world of difference? 46"?

Thanks for playing...

George

[noelf]

Yeah, I'm in this category also. I have not tried this, but this is what you can do for your own situation...

Sit on a bench and have a "friend" place 2-bys (2x4) on either side of your a.. ah, butt. Place them with the amount of space you would like to acquire with adequate wiggle room. Measure this width.

Next, drop a line from your shoulder (both of 'em) down to the bench. This gives the amount of space you occupy. Then, add whatever space you desire between your shoulder and the next shoulder. This will give the final dimension and from all the above, you can add whatever additional width(s) seem appropriate for the final cabin width dimension.

[N941WR]

That will give you the width you would like but adding those extra inches to a -7 or -9 would be a BIG undertaking.

Remember, everything is pre-punched and adding that extra width would be a big undertaking.

It would require widening the center spar, control column, longer side skins, wider floor pans, wider canopy, and more.

I'm not saying it couldn't be done, it would just take a lot of work.

If you want wide, build a -10. There is tons of room on those things.

[gvgoff99]

Originally Posted by GSchuld

Dreamland question for the bigger pilots. Hypothetically speaking, how much wider would an RV-7's cabin width IDEALLY need to be to be able to handle two 6' 3" people weighing 240lbs each with enough breathing room that it would be considered comfortable for mild flight training, trips, etc? My wife is skinny, but my plane loving friends are big.

Pretend that VANs was going to offer an RV-7 in any cabin width that you choose for the same price...

The factory says that the cabin width is 43".

So would a 45" width make a world of difference? 46"?

Thanks for playing...

George

George, I am 6'4" @ 200 lbs with a 6'5" and 265 lbs friend. We both flew from Houston to OSH (twice). Not quite the same as you describe but close. The climb performance is poor (160 HP fixed pitch).

The both of you will fit in the standard cockpit if most of your (extra?) weight is in front and not in back (of the body). So if it is mostly stomach weight then the width of the cockpit is good enough. It is cozy but not too the point that you can't wait to exit the plane.

The stall speed always increases with weight (don't ask how I know this on a first hand basis [no permanent damage but a "learned about flying from this" story]) so be careful with the gross weight plane.

[JakeLewis22]

George,

I had the same concern (6'4" 235#) as you because I want to be able to fly with my son and brothers who are all close to my size. While looking at RV's one day at Chino airport (CA) I was introduced to John Hughes and my concerns came up in conversation. He told me that he had modified his RV6 adding about an inch and a half (1 1/2") of shoulder space and was very happy with the modification. Unfortunately I wasn't able to see it because he had sold the airplane to finance a business start up but he added that if he ever built another side by side RV he wouldn't hesitate to make the same modification.

I later found Ross Schlotthouer's website where he shows how he made the same modification to his RV7 after seeing John's RV6.
http://www.experimentalair.com/n703r...l#shoulderroom
There is also a link to some pictures of John Hughes' RV6 on Ross' site. I talked to Ross on the phone and he too was happy with the modification.

I called Van's builder assist line and asked what they thought. They didn't have issue with this modification but made it clear that this was not approved by Van's Aircraft.

I hope this helps.
Good luck,
Jake

[rpdewalt]

Plenty of room front and back. Plenty of power to haul the weight around. Plus, lots of fun.

[GSchuld]

JakeLewis22,

Thanks for the suggestion. So is it correct to think that Ross Schlotthouer's modification gives the full 43" at the shoulders? It appears that the 43" is measured to the inside of the fuselage skins, true? Does anyone have a measurement handy between the inside of the upper rails on the fuselage at the shoulder area.

rpdewalt,

Sorry, no rocket for me, a side by side it muct be. Nice planes though

gvgoff99,

As this was a hypothetical question, if you had a choice, would you wish your cockpit has an inch or so wider for a bit more comfort?

N941NR,

I realize that structurally widening an RV is not realistically feasible, that is why the question was hypothetical. I'm interested in finding out how much narrower than ideal an RV6/7 etc is for the larger pilots.

Neoff,

That's a good idea with the bench measurement. Just for good measure, while doing this my friend can make the engine noises and I can make he prop noise ..you know for realism I know I'm a smart @ss sometimes, it's just so tempting to listen to the faxes from Satan that I regularly recieve

George

[rocketbob]

Originally Posted by GSchuld

I realize that structurally widening an RV is not realistically feasible, that is why the question was hypothetical. I'm interested in finding out how much narrower than ideal an RV6/7 etc is for the larger pilots.
George

Sure it is. I have a friend who is building a -6 with a turbo 540, stretched and widened. I think his cockpit is 46" across. Its very well done, and quite a bit of engineering went into it. When it flies its going to be a big hit at the airshows, I'm certain of that.

[pierre smith]

.....any possibility of posting some pictures of the 0-540 -6?

Thanks,

[rocketbob]

No Pierre I sure don't, perhaps its better to see this one in person when its done. It will knock your socks off.