A Place to Share Experiences and Discuss Aviation Stories
Forum rules
You must be a member of the Cessna 120-140 Association in order to post new topics, reply to existing topics, or search for information on this forum. Use the "Join" link in the red menu bar.
V529 wrote: ↑Wed Dec 15, 2021 7:23 pm
FWIW, my brother is 6'2" and has flown in 120's since the 60's. It can be done. Long cross countries are flown solo with the right leg on the right rudder peddle ........on the co-pilot side.
We fly together about once a year.........he can take it for about 1-2 hours. (not my company, but the spacing) He's tall and lean so shoulder room isn't too much of an issue.
But yes, given the opportunity try and find a 120/140 to sit in and preferably fly.
Be care with John C hawking the A&P college experience...........he's a long time instructor...........always looking for the next student
It's worth a lot, thanks. Nice trick re: using co-pilot rudder control. I assume he switches back for landing.
Yeah, this would typically be just me putting down from ABQ to see Dad in Alpine, and general touring of NM. But I'd enjoy attending some 120-140 gatherings someday.
As for John, I'd consider myself lucky to have a CFI for tail wheel endorsement who routinely flew 120-140s.
“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself.” —Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
nm taildragger wrote: ↑Thu Dec 16, 2021 5:28 pm
As for John, I'd consider myself lucky to have a CFI for tail wheel endorsement who routinely flew 120-140s.
I teach (taught, I'm retired) A&Ps. I'm still learning to be a pilot...
I'm 6'2" / 200lb and sat in my 140 before buying. I thought it would be a no go because of knees and legroom, but once I got in I was pleasantly surprised. It fit like a glove. The yoke was key; I tried on a Luscombe and with the stick there was no way.
Make sure when you do find one that you play with the various seat back adjustments.
6643 wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 8:53 am
Interesting. My uncle is over 6' tall, albeit less than 200 lbs, and has been flying Luscombes for at least 60 years...
My knees were in the way and I couldn't get full stick travel left-right.
nm taildragger wrote: ↑Thu Dec 16, 2021 5:28 pm
As for John, I'd consider myself lucky to have a CFI for tail wheel endorsement who routinely flew 120-140s.
I teach (taught, I'm retired) A&Ps. I'm still learning to be a pilot...
Oh, got it. Well, I'd love to have worked with you, but it'd be kind of a hike to where you are.
As for your piloting skills, wasn't that you making that beautiful wheel landing on the short grass field, and then taking off again, breaking into an immediate banking climb to the left? Maybe I'm confused...
“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself.” —Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
chewie wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 7:48 am
I'm 6'2" / 200lb and sat in my 140 before buying. I thought it would be a no go because of knees and legroom, but once I got in I was pleasantly surprised. It fit like a glove. The yoke was key; I tried on a Luscombe and with the stick there was no way.
Make sure when you do find one that you play with the various seat back adjustments.
Thanks for this. It sounds increasingly like it isn't going to be an issue.
I read somewhere last night that the plane was designed with a 74" tall, 170 lb. pilot in mind--as regards the tallest intended pilot, using the farthest back top and bottom seat back adjustments (I read up on those in the manual available for download online). As I may have said above, the guy whose plane I'm looking at (but likely won't buy because it's a more than I want to pay with no transponder, Stone Age avionics, and no ADS-B out) is 6'4" and he has been flying it with his (young) daughters as passengers, often on 2~4 hours trips.
“Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself.” —Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
nm taildragger wrote: ↑Fri Dec 17, 2021 5:18 pm
wasn't that you making that beautiful wheel landing on the short grass field, and then taking off again, breaking into an immediate banking climb to the left?
I've done that, but I can't imagine where you would have seen it! Haven't been out of the Northeast with the 140 in about 20 years.
At 6'-2", height will probably not be the problem. My son who also flies our C120 is 6'-2" and 160#. He has no problem fitting in or getting in and out. You do want to see how limber you are with an actual C120 or C140 before putting down the money. I'm 5'-10" and 180# and have no problems with the 120. My son and I fly together a lot and we fir OK together.
As to the 140 vs. 120 question, our 120 looks like a 140 except it has no flaps. I've never seen the need for them in this airplane. It can do slow flight at 40 mph IAS and land in less than 1000' of runway. Also, the 120's will probably have slightly higher usable loads, other things equal, because of lower empty weights.
Good luck.
Tony
-----------
Tony Becker & "Rosebud"
C-120 NC2442N, S/N 12695, Feb. 12, 1947
"Flaps? We don' need no stinkin' flaps!"
I just looked up the seat pitch on commercial airliner and looks to be 18-19 inches. My 140 is almost 36 wide at the shoulders. So just tell your passengers to stop complaining - its the same as Jet Blue.
And when its warm out you can open the window and fly pickup truck style-try doing that in a 737.
As to 120 vs 140. I have a 140 and rarely use the flaps. They do lower the nose slightly and they do add a little drag but the difference is not great. I think the optional rear windows would be nice. I look out those a lot, and I think most 120s have them by this point.
