The allure of the cockpit has called out to me since I was a wee lad. That seems to be true for a great many folks who grow up to be pilots.
Along the way, somewhere between that initial spark and the issuance of the first certificate, there are discoveries to be made. The dream isn’t always right in line with the reality of it all.
It was 1968 or so, while enrolled at Thomas S. O’Connell Elementary School in East Hartford, Connecticut, when I encountered my first book that included a peek at aviation as a career. I distinctly recall the page devoted to the pros and cons of being a pilot. In the pro column was the pay, which was quite high by non-pilot standards. Also, the ability to travel and be paid for it was considered to be a plus. On the con side was an item that I dismissed completely.
Cockpits can be tight. Very tight.
As a 10-year old boy, there didn’t seem to be any space I couldn’t squeeze my slender pre-pubescent body into and out of with minimal effort. That turned out to be a double-edged sword of sorts.
My granddad lived on a gorgeous lake in North Florida where the water was crystal clear and adult supervision was nonexistent. My brother and I, along with the neighbor kids, spent much of each day in the water. Young boys, being young boys, tend to push the limits of good sense, and we certainly did that. By kicking a bit of sand out of the way, we took turns swimming under the bottom step of the wooden stairs that led from the lake to the dock. It never occurred to us that we’d drown if we got stuck.
A similar lack of foresight went into my early flying pursuits. By the time I climbed into the pilot’s seat with an intentional purpose, I was in my late 20s, physically fit and limber as a cat. Sliding into the Cherokee, the Tomahawk, the C-152, and C-172 was a breeze. Whether I had to climb up on a wing then step down or slither in behind the struts to step up to the seat, entry to the cockpit was never a problem.
Now, more than 30 years later, the airplanes are exactly the same. While the panels contain gadgets I could never have dreamed of, mogas fills more tanks than ever, and vinyl applications have made exotic designs on the fuselage relatively inexpensive and easy to fix in place, the practice of getting in and out of the airplane has become somewhat more challenging.
That’s not true of all aircraft, of course. I’ve never flown a C-177, the venerable Cardinal. Yet everyone I know who has taken the controls starts their description of their time in type the same way, “It’s a breeze to get in and out of.”
With a cantilever wing that requires no external strut, the door does indeed swing open wide, allowing pilots of all shapes and sizes to slide right into the seat. For those of us who are carrying a few dozen pounds more than they did years ago, that’s nice.
The airplane I first soloed was a Piper Cherokee. A PA-28-160 to be specific. It’s a wonderful airplane. The Cherokee is rugged, reasonably light on the controls, and it offers excellent visibility. It was a dream to fly early on.
Today, I still find it very easy to get into the Cherokee. Stepping up onto the wing is cake. Sliding down into the passenger seat, then scooting one seat to the left is no problem.
Getting out? That’s another story entirely. At 6 feet 1 inch tall and pushing critical mass hard at 235 pounds, my knees no longer respond well to the idea of standing up from a confined seated position to climb up onto the wing. I can do it, of course. I’m not an invalid. But it hurts. And I’m as awkward looking doing it as I was in elementary school when I asked Barbara Jacques to dance for the first time.
Let’s just say, neither scenario is pretty to watch.
I’ve got friends who own Taylorcraft BC-12s. Beautiful, classic aircraft. I just love the look of them. And I can squeeze into the cockpit if I really put some effort into it. But not if anyone else is already in there. And it’s unlikely anyone over the age of five could fit in beside me once I’m settled and ready to go.
Sometimes I wonder if the engineers who design cockpits are aware that pilots aren’t born in the seat. We have to get in there somehow. Often, that somehow requires enough twisting and turning that the manufacturer might consider adding a list of chiropractic offices to the Pilots Operating Handbook.
It’s not just old pilots having to shoehorn their way into small GA aircraft that have trouble, either. I’ve wiggled my way into corporate jet and turboprop cockpits that were very comfortable to fly, but present the pilot with a significant barrier to entry.
Even warbirds can be difficult. I recently saw a YouTube video featuring a young spry fellow touring a World War II Heinkel 111. It’s a fascinating airplane. Perhaps the most impressive thing about it is that pilots somehow found a way to actually climb into the pilot’s seat without incapacitating themselves in the process. Based on what I saw, I’m guessing somebody somewhere must have gotten the German equivalent of a Purple Heart for screwing up the process on cold, early morning.
Fortunately, I fly a C-152 most of the time. I’m still agile enough to get in and out of it without embarrassing myself.
And this week I’m picking up the Cub project I bought at the beginning of the month. The Cub is a small airplane, but with a wide-open right side and steel tubing overhead that allows the pilot to hoist themselves in.
Hey, I wonder if I could rig up a mechanical seat/hoist unit that could pick me up and place me gently into the Cub at the push of a button? That might be an interesting project. Because I’m pretty sure I’m not going to be getting any younger, stronger, or more flexible in the foreseeable future.
Do you want to keep flying? You do what you must to keep yourself mentally and physically in shape, and count your blessings if the outcome is positive.
Waitl ‘till you approach 80.
Great picture of my Cardinal TRG, over Iron Ridge Wisconsin…! Thanks much!
Try doing 3 to 4 hours a day primary flight instruction in PA28’s , C150,2″s ans C172’s. at age 60 plus.
Thank gooness for a hip replacement
I’m right there with you. I Have a short body Mooney and it gets a little tougher to get in and out of every year.
Yes, I am an old pilot – but not overweight – at least in my mind. I weigh 10 lbs more than I did when I graduated from college (170 lbs then and 180 lbs now). I work out daily, but now being 76 years old, I find getting in and out of my Archer II more and more difficult (especially the getting out). It happens and don’t put all the blame on aircraft engineers. Getting in and out of many of the cars is not any easier for someone my age. It is called getting old!
Planes are not different, people are fatter. End of story.
Since I lost my legs years ago I drive with hand controls. When I bought a 4×4 truck I had a power seat installed that turns out, slides out and lowers down for easy access. I’m sure you could have one installed in an airplane, but it would add more weight…
I am acquainted with a pilot who does not have the use of his legs. He flies a Cardinal with hand controls. But that’s an old Marine for you,Improvise,Adapt and Overcome!
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The Flight Design CT series is a breeze to get in and out of, has no wing struts, a nice wide cockpit, and superb visibility.
Airplane designers do not design their aircraft for obese pilots. Why would they?
The average size of people has certainly increased since the 1930s-40s, when a lot of legacy airplanes were designed/conceived. Even non-obese people are taller and wider, on average. 170 pounds for an American male is unusual these days, I think.
I believe the 152 was widened by 1.5 inches over the 150 in 1977 for this reason.
I won’t harp on anyone for being overweight, I’m lucky that my metabolism (and some exercise) keeps me reasonably fit but some of my colleagues at my airline would be very hard pressed to make their way out of the overhead escape hatch on the airplane I fly.
It is a shame that physical fitness has become such a challenge for a lot of Americans. I think there are a lot of factors at work but we’ve made it really easy and cheap to buy food that is terrible for the human body.
The medical costs alone to our society to deal with the tidal wave of diabetes, heart disease etc. are and will be staggering, even before Covid-19.
And yet, we live longer now than we did decades ago. Not all of the medical progress has turned into fat. I am older than my my dad was when he died and in much better shape. He was one of those guys that was never sick a day in his life and worked hard all his life.
I will admit that you see a lot of fat kids in school these days compared to when I was in school. Used to be the poor kids were skinny. Now, I think it’s just the opposite.
Why wouldn’t they? The size of an individual body doesn’t reflect skill or intelligence.
Outstanding reply! Thank YOU!
The Taylorcraft, though a good flying airplane, is hard to get in and narrow and has a windshield full of steel tubes. Also, for anyone over about 5’9″, you have to duck your head down to see out of it. If you just look to the side, all you see is wing root., but the front seat of a Piper PA-11 or a J-3 is near impossible if you weigh over 200 lbs. or are over 60. The Luscombe is easier to get in than the ones mentioned earlier, but is made for the old 140 lb. pilot & passenger. The Maule, though wide enough is hard to get into due to the location of some structural tubing. The Cardinal is like getting in an automobile and easier that some autos for this old goat. No doubt, the easiest general aviation airplane built to get in and out of and also the visibility once seated is amazing for a high wing airplane. Too bad Cessna didn’t put the larger engine in it to start with. The first year model was a ground lover with too small of an engine and the laminar flow wing.
The front seat of a J-3 can be tough too!
Remember that many of the airplanes we fly around in are as old as we are, and were designed even earlier than that. The definition of an FAA “standard person” was someone who weighs 140 pounds and is 5’8″ tall (although I think this has been revised slightly upward recently).
Heck, I haven’t weighed 140 pounds since Reagan was in the White House. It is now 2020, not 1950, we have teenagers significantly bigger than 140/5’8″, and they are not done growing yet. I was teaching students to do weight and balance on 150s, and one of them said “So that means with me and full tanks, my girlfriend can only weigh 36 pounds?” Yep, you got it, son.
We’re not “bigger”, we’re “fatter”. Saying “no worries guys – we’re just bigger than we used to be” is rationalizing away a problem based on poor choices.
It is not inevitable that one becomes overweight and falls out of shape. It happens for no other reason than a person allows it to happen – it’s a matter of individual choice and individual responsibility.
Well KHJ, not everyone is as perfect as you tell yourself you are!
Most high wing LSA’s are easy to board-two doors, relatively low to the ground. We built a World Aircraft Spirit. I am 6ft tall, so I simply stand at the door and slightly streach to put my but on the seat, then swing in! Our flying club has a beautiful big Commander 114 that does have two doors, but not placed next to the seat-I cannot get out of it!
As an old pilot I feel your pain , having owned many aircraft over the past 55 years, C-210 was the easiest to get in and out. VP-1 and Malibu were the hardest. Every one was a joy to fly making the gymnastics worth it.
I fly a Maule MX7-180C. I call getting into the cockpit my daily yoga exercise. There is a fair amount of bending, twisting and other contortions required. Getting out involves the same set of moves in reverse. I’m pretty good at it after 6 years of ownership, but the moves baffle passengers coming along for a ride. I suspect the ability to make those moves will control how long I fly the plane more than challenges with eyesight, finances or blood pressure. For now, I treat my ability to enter and exit the Maule as a badge of honor for my flexibility as I approach 70 years old.
We owned a Mooney 21 – which was a real challenge to get into – especially for the wife. When we were out looking at planes again – we tried out the Cirrus – and she decided to get into the back – where she tends to sit when we fly with a friend or two. “Look I am standing up!” She said as she stood in front of the rear seat. Huh? She had to explain how nice it was to step from the wing to the floor and not duck down under the upper part of the door just to enter a plane. She was sold at that point – and we had not even done the demo flight. We fly a Cirrus today.
I fly an RV-4 that I built myself. I started flying it at the age of 40, and at that time I weighed 215 pounds. Getting up on the wing and lowering myself in was a chore. Now, 20 years later, I eat right, exercise every day, and now weigh 155 pounds. Getting around is a breeze! Lesson learned: if you take care of your body, it will take care of you. If you neglect it, it will break down and you will have a very hard time with everything you try to do.
Take good care of yourself and you will feel better both physically and mentally, and you will enjoy your flying that much more. Everyone can do it!
Exactly. Excess weight is bad for airplanes, worse for humans. Use present discomfort boarding GA planes as an inspiration to get into decent shape. If general studliness isn’t sufficient motivation, consider that doing so will considerably extend your flying years. Would you rather eat that bag of Doritos or fly??
I can definitely relate to some of the airplanes getting in and out. The Mooney especially. I was comfortable after I got in though.
The Beech Duke is another one that for me was a trick for me but a very comfortable once I was in. Like all we get older and not as limber as we once we’re.
I had to separate from my beloved RV-4 because of a back injury suffered while practicing on parallel bars years ago. I am 5’10” 160# and I could get into the wee willing bird OK, but getting out after an hour or so of blissful flying was nearly impossible. Lesson: It’s not just weight of the pilot.
I am presently selling my C-152 150 because the FAA has gotten into ‘lock-down’ mode and I am the fortunate/unfortunate recipient of a pacemaker.
‘Hi’ to all the UFO pilots out there.