Bob's question: > I want to acquire an LSA-designate 'coupe. I am 6'6" > with most of it in my legs. The problem is not so much > leg room per se, but its the getting in and out that is > virtually impossible.
Bob, Well, you are two inches taller than the Ercoupe's designer, Fred Weick. The first two things I think you should consider are these: 1. Rudder pedals greatly limit your leg room and that of your passengers. A Coupe with no rudder pedals is much more comfortable for your legs and has fully equal crosswind capability. 2. Thick seat cushions can reduce your leg and headroom by 2-4 inches each. When you find a great Coupe, test it with thinner improvised cushions. If you fit, then get new seat cushions made that are thin but comfortable. My seat cushions were thin and I had lots more room than I did in other people's Coupes with their thick, new cushions. There is a large baggage compartment STC and there have been Coupes with Cessna (and other?) seats on rails mounted and approved via form 337 one-time approvals. (Make sure no new holes get drilled in the spar or spar cap if you consider doing one of these seat mods.) I'd suspect that with no pedals and thin but well shaped and soft cushions, you will be quite comfortable without changing out the seats. CAUTION: If you do consider changing the seats, do a careful evaluation of the change in CG from moving your and the passenger's weight back x-many inches. That's a lot of mass to move aft and, even if the pilot/passenger CG allows, you may not, then, be allowed any luggage at all. Compute first, cut metal second. Whatever you settle upon, please let us know what you did, what was necessary and how it is working out. Ed Ed Burkhead http://edburkhead/Ercoupe/index.htm ed -at- edburkh???ead . com (change -at- to @ and remove ??? and spaces)
