Chief Cabin size?

[addicted2climbing]

Hello All,

I was on here a while back researching info on the Champ but I now have a question about the Chief. I was considering a champ because I wanted a stick over a yoke, but I think that for flying with the soon to be wife that she would prefer side by side seating. And also after some Cessna time, I have found I dont mind flying with a yoke as much as I thought I would. Anyhow, we both are tall. I am 6'3" and she is 6'1". Our combined weight is 390lbs. Would we fit? How wide is the cabin? At our weight would there be any gas left in the tanks? I looked at a cessna 120/140 and a taylor craft and they seem so narrow that I dont think I could fit. I hear a luscomb is a no go either. I have never seen a chief in person so I dont have any clue if its bigger or smaller than those mentioned above. I know if worse comes to worse there are the 4 seat TD's like the stinson and piper models. Or other options is I build something, but I woudl tend to lean toward a restoration over a build from scratch...

Anyone have a Chief I can look at in the Los Angeles area? I train out of KVNY and I am a member of EAA chapter 40 at Whiteman. There was one for sale on barnstormers in Bakersfield that looked in serious neglect. I just checked and either the add expired or it sold.

Take care,

Marc Webster

[rkittine]

Hi,

I am 6'1" and about 190. I regularly fly a Chief with another 6' guys that weighs 190. It is tight, but once you get in, it is OK. If you can't sit comfortably in a Cessna 140 or an Early 150, then I doubt if you will be happy in a Chief as far as cabin size. The Champ has more room. In my experiece, the Luscombe is worse as is the Taylorcraft, which would also give you side by side seating. (The Luscombe is Side by Side Sticks).

As much as I hate to say it here, the Piper J-4 Coupe has a lot of room, is side by side Sticks, but they are hard to find at any price no less a good price.

Find a Chief to sit in. If you can make it in and are comfortable, you will love the plane.

[Dan1940Chief]

I'm 6'1", 190 and fit into my pre-war Chief. I can't fly it longer than 2 hours without getting cramped. 1.5 is normal, comfortable max.

With 65 HP I really can't take another 200 lb person and have fuel.

[Red(neck) Barron]

Marc, you’re trying to get a square peg into a round hole. That only works if the peg is small or the hammer is big. Yes, the two of you can fit into a Chief, but it won’t be easy, it won’t be comfortable and you will probably be overloaded some of the time. And I do not advocate overloading (In case the Friendly Aviation Authorities are reading this). Plus you should look to find one with at least 85 HP.

I fly a Champ and I too am a biggn’. Fortunately, my wife isn’t but even at that I need my aux tanks to be empty in order to be legal with her onboard. And getting in and out of the plane is no graceful act at my age and size. I truly would recommend a four seater. Look at the Sedans if you want to stay Aeronca or go to a Stinson or C-170. Those are both fairly available and affordable. You will greatly appreciate the extra size and HP. I even know where there is a Stinson with an overhauled engine and fairly new cover on it available. Some assembly still required however.

[MikeB]

I second that on the Stinson. Have a friend who owned one and it was a good flying aircraft. Not a big fan of the Franklin engines as they're a little hard on gas and maintenance/parts are expensive if even available but all in all a good aircraft.

I can't even begin to fill all three tanks (23 gallons) and carry a passenger in my Champ and I'm pretty light at 5'9" and 160#.
Mike

[Roger Anderson]

At your sizes, I don't think it would be much fun. Without measuring, I 'm guessing the Chief has no more and maybe less cabin width than the C120/140. On my Chief the useful load is 450 lbs. Aside from no shoulder room for the two of you, at your height, although you will certainly be able to see over the nose, in flight you will not have any under the wing visibility without ducking way down to watch for traffic. Even getting in and out for the second person will be a struggle to avoid hitting you knees on the fuel selector and throttle. I'm not even sure you will have head room from the cabin ceiling. In the 30s and 40s I guess everyone was just much smaller, and planes designed accordingly. If you want to stay inexpensive, a Piper Colt, for a two place, has more interior room and a much better useful load with its O-235. Many have been converted to taildragger......although they then become one of the slightly more difficult taildraggers to handle.

[addicted2climbing]

Hello All,

Thank you for the honest replies. Looks like it will have to be a champ or I head down a different route of a Piper. Another option is I build something with the help of my EAA club.

Thanks again,

Marc

[williamc]

Hello Marc,
There's a piper colt project with no engine in Pasadena Texas on barnstormers. Its being offered for $5500 by an 89 year old WW2 Marine B-26 pilot. Real nice guy, I talked to him today.
Bill

[joea]

One thing to remember is that the wife will not be as big as the husband is, so I would try to see how things work before going elsewhere.

John Rodkey of the fAA Aeronca forum fame has a Chief a few miles North from the LA area...

Joe A

[flyboy1964]

Had a lot of fun with my chief. I am 6'4" and 265 and flew with another guy that was 230. was alright for an hour or so but how long are you going to fly in a chief anyway? Just my thoughts, it is a whole lot of fun!