Would this plane-concept work/be legal?

[fireflyr]

Frank, it's all about drag,
Think, wide cabin, more surface, more drag!
Jim

[Frank N. O.]

I can understand that, but how can adults fit in the cabin? Try to sqeeze some healthy sized (not overweight) americans into a Peugeot 206 and they're most likely going to complain about it being cramped, but the cabin of it is much bigger than even a Commander let alone a Cessna or Piper GA single according to drawings and measurements I've seen.

Frank

[Sleek-Jet]

I'm not familiar with the Puegot you're talking about... but the average light airplane cabin is about the size of an American compact car... with one big difference... cabin height.  You sit up in most GA airplanes (Mooneys and Bellancas excepted).  People don't need as much room when they sit up, rather than reclined as in most cars.  Also, most of the front seats are on sliders, so you can stager them to achieve more shoulder room. 

I've flown Cessna's with some rather large people sitting next to me, and room has never been to much of a problem. 

[Frank N. O.]

Be lucky you don't know a 206, soft brakes that wear fast, rough running engine despite computercontrol and bad feedback on the power-steering (former car: 1989 Ford Orion aka sedan-version of the european Ford Escort, aka Ford Verona in south-america).

The 206 is 165cm (65.0 inches) wide in the normal version (the GTI has slightly flared arches) and the inside cabin width over the armrest at the front-seats is about 140cm I think I measured it at. According to a drawing I found then a Commander 114's ditto measurement is 46.5 inches or around 118cm, and from what I remember then I found out the Commander is wider than most other singles.

Frank

[Gulfstream Driver]

I've flown Cessna's with some rather large people sitting next to me, and room has never been to much of a problem. 

Must not have been a 152...

[fireflyr]

Actually Frank, I agree with you.
I'm 6'3" 225 lbs and I've been squeezed in a lot of GA cockpits.  Been offered flights in a Mooney Mite and a Baby Ace but couldn't get in the darn things because of the legroom.

I had a 330 lb student in a 152 (instructors, do the W&B on that one) for comfort I had to keep my left arm behind him--he spun out of a REALLY poor steep turn and I was rather busy for a moment trying to get throttled off and recover before it went flat, scared me a bit!

But the fact remains, smaller cabins make for smaller airplanes which make for less parasite drag and we ain't gonna see much relief in the training airplane department. 

I also wanted to own a bug eyed Austin Healy Sprite back in the 60s but couldn't because I couldn't fit---Hell, I've got a 54 Jag XK120 now that I have to drive in my stocking feet cause there's no leg room so the problem is not confined to aircraft.

Jim

[Sleek-Jet]

I've flown Cessna's with some rather large people sitting next to me, and room has never been to much of a problem. 

Must not have been a 152...

I've flown a 150/152 once... and never hope to again. 

[Gulfstream Driver]

I'm 6'3" 225 lbs and I've been squeezed in a lot of GA cockpits. Been offered flights in a Mooney Mite and a Baby Ace but couldn't get in the darn things because of the legroom.

I had a 330 lb student in a 152 (instructors, do the W&B on that one) for comfort I had to keep my left arm behind him--he spun out of a REALLY poor steep turn and I was rather busy for a moment trying to get throttled off and recover before it went flat, scared me a bit!

Haven't done a W&B on a 152 in a while, but isn't the useful load like 600 lbs?  How much gas did you take along? 

We used to have a 152 for training.  Before I started with Eagle 1, they had a larger student that wanted to take a check ride in it.  The DE on the fiel weighs about 250.  They had to keep coming back to get gas.

[fireflyr]

AW, we had full tanks (the only time I got too much gas is if I'm on fire)

It ain't pretty--W&B out the aft end

[Gulfstream Driver]

That's impressive.  How much runway did you use? 

[fireflyr]

Can't recall but how much but performance was OK.   We were flying off Cloverdale which is about 2,400.   If I had it to do over, I'd refuse to fly with him but I was pretty hungry in those days and hungry sometimes makes for stupid.

[Ted_Stryker]

I did my primary flight training in C-152 II's through Parks Air College (before St. Louis University took them over).  Between me, and my instructor, we were most definitely W&B challenged!  I remember some long takeoff runs, but fortunately I was flying out of KSUS and KCPS, both of which have nice long runways, and the elevations here run between 400 and 500 MSL on average.  Even so, on a hot summer's day, we took up quite a bit of runway!

I saw one of the old birds I used to fly still out there at what is now SLU-Parks at KCPS!  When I looked into the cockpit on that one, it had changed very little, except for the mode C transponder (they didn't require mode C or mode S back in those days).  I couldn't believe how small it looks now.  I remember thinking... I spent 56 hours in THIS to get my license?!!  On my long solo X-Country, it was hot, and turbulent, and I had to stay below 3000 for part of my final leg, right over the Mississipi River.  I got bounced around pretty good from all the radiation heating causing convection in the atmosphere down low.  After I got down, I felt like I'd been flying a riding lawnmower with wings!

Despite all that, it was one of the best memories I have of flying.  It was a challenge, and fun, and a huge step in my flying career. 

I still prefer the greater weight and size of a C-172 though.... of course, if you have a hot date to fly with... a C-152 can bring that "extra closeness" only a tiny plane like that can ensure

[Gulfstream Driver]

hungry sometimes makes for stupid.

I know how that goes.

I think Cessna required poor door seals for all 152's.  There was one day last winter when my student and I had to come back early because we got cold.  If it got below 0, the instructors really didn't want to fly. 

[Ted_Stryker]

hungry sometimes makes for stupid.

I know how that goes.

I think Cessna required poor door seals for all 152's. There was one day last winter when my student and I had to come back early because we got cold. If it got below 0, the instructors really didn't want to fly.

I will say one thing in defense of our trusty C-152's.... it's small enough where one can use the doors as turning mechanisms in an emergency situation!  I actually trained in using them for steering as a last resort.  With my short arms, I couldn't do it in a C-172, but in a C-152, no problem!

[Gulfstream Driver]

Neat.  I've never heard of that, but it makes sense.