Tall pilot experimental

4RNB

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4RNB
I fly an RV10 and am building a shop to build one, going to Airventure to learn more.

As best I can tell, there are not a lot of great options for a tall pilot tin the experimental world (a 14 barely fit me). But going to OSH, should I look out for other planes to try on? What makes and models?

Thanks.
 
Are you looking for something in lieu of but functionality similar to the RV-10 that you’re planning to build? IOW what’s your mission, aircraft requirements (other than to fit a tall pilot which I infer to be 6’6” or greater), and finally kit, plans, or it doesn’t matter?
 
Are you looking for something in lieu of but functionality similar to the RV-10 that you’re planning to build? IOW what’s your mission, aircraft requirements (other than to fit a tall pilot which I infer to be 6’6” or greater), and finally kit, plans, or it doesn’t matter?

I'm not looking to go significantly slower.
I just want to know what other options there might be to effectively use my time in WI.

I am the kind of person that goes to car shows to try on cars for size to know what will and won't work for me in five years.
 
Well you didn’t really answer my questions. So you’re ok with a suggestion for a single seat, open cockpit, plans only biplane? If not, how about a few more specifics so we don’t waste our time and yours suggesting aircraft that aren’t what you’re looking for.
 
Well you didn’t really answer my questions. So you’re ok with a suggestion for a single seat, open cockpit, plans only biplane? If not, how about a few more specifics so we don’t waste our time and yours suggesting aircraft that aren’t what you’re looking for.
Hey, sorry to waste your time. I can’t answer your questions.

The simple answer is something along the lines of an RV 10 what’s competitive in the marketplace?

The only other specifics I can say is maybe no gyrocopters no ultra lights no sale planes

I don’t know that I will ever go to another fly in airshow with so many airplanes available to try so I wanna try the ones that I might fit in otherwise all is fair game as I said when I go to a car show, I sit in all of them to see what I’ll fit in But I expect that there will be too many things to do at Oshkosh and I wanna wisely use my time
 
OK, my point was help us help you. Based upon your last comments, it’s really kinda a short list IMO. Perhaps a Murphy Moose or Velocity. None of the Slings will offer much better than an RV. I think you’re just going to have to walk around and see what piques your interest and try the airframe on for size. There’s not enough options (tall pilot, RV-10-like capabilities) where you need to be surgical in your approach unless you’re only going to be there for a day.

At Osh, 90% of the kit manufacturers and a lot of the direct support, non-avionics venders (tools, engines, etc) are concentrated into a roughly football field sized area to the immediate Southwest of Homebuilt HQ (which is pretty easy to find on the grounds map). To the East on the flight line and immediate North of HQ is Homebuilt parking which morphs into Homebuilt camping as you move West. So in general the majority of E-AB activity is concentrated in that general area of the airfield. That’s where you can focus your efforts on if time is limited.

In the past few years RVs have come to dominate all but the experimental parking/camping areas with the exception of the flight line where plans built and older designs, anecdotally, seem to hold court. To be sure other makes and models do represent particularly Rutan canards, Kitfoxes, Glastars, and Lancairs to name a few, but they are collectively outnumbered on the order of 10 to 15 to one by RVs, especially in Homebuilt camping. This assessment is based on my observations as a Homebuilt Welcome Wagon driver.
 
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Reminds of a scene in a very good movie about height problems

 
I had to modify my seat a bit
That's as much the key as "do I fit in the one I saw at Oshkosh".
The question would be "what does it take to tweek the seat /structure.
Is there a bulkhead in the way? Is there anything under the seat?
 
That's as much the key as "do I fit in the one I saw at Oshkosh".
The question would be "what does it take to tweek the seat /structure.
Is there a bulkhead in the way? Is there anything under the seat?

I'm 6'7" and my dad is 6'5". When we built the -7A, we put the piano hinge for the seat pans as far back as possible and mounted the rudder pedals as far forward as possible. We also ran thinner-than-average seat cushions. It was snug, but we fit. Had to duck down to a bit to slide the canopy open/closed, but it was feasible. After getting in the -10, my wife never flew in the -7A again.
 
Height has two relevant dimensions in an airplane seat.

Seated height, from the seat/human vertical contact patch to top of head with whatever accoutrement on said brain bucket is one dimension.

Seated length is the other. That’s from the human/seat lateral contact patch to:
1. Rudder pedals at full forward through and should account for toe braking.

2. The full throw of the yoke or stick.
 
That's as much the key as "do I fit in the one I saw at Oshkosh".
The question would be "what does it take to tweek the seat /structure.
Is there a bulkhead in the way? Is there anything under the seat?
I just modified the seat frame. Gained about 2” of headroom. Wasn’t difficult. Before buying the Velocity I looked at the factory seat mechanism and determined that it would be an easy modification.
 
I'm crowding 6'6 and fly a Zenith 601XL. I had to cut down the seat pads to under 3 inches. (previous owner was a short fella) It's snug but not uncomfortable for the 2ish hour legs I tend to fly. The 601 i am building has a bit more legroom because I mounted the rudders further forward.
 
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