Hi all, new to the group and very interested in the High Wing. Would have loved to have been at AirVenture to see it in person, but I’m hoping some of you did.
Right now I’m trying to figure out if it is big enough for me. The expected useful load seems fine, but I’m 6’2" and 285 (losing weight, but probably not height). Did my training in a Cessna 172 with a big CFI, and it was cozy. But I can fly with my wife without it being uncomfortably tight.
So if you’ve had an opportunity to see the cockpit, could you give me a sense of space versus a 172?
Chris,
It’s been a long time since I sat in a C172 so I don’t have any recent experience to compare it to. But Sonex lists the interior width as 42", and from what I can find on the web Textron also lists the C172 as 42". I can tell you it seems big for a Sonex!
There seems to be a lot of adjustability in the seating position and height wise I think you will be fine.
You are about the size of my father-in-law and he sat in it at the Sonex open house. He was the largest person I saw sit in it. Its doable but you are at the limits. Plenty of 6’ 2" people sat in it. I would visit Sonex and try it on. I currently fly a Cherokee 180 and I find the high wing the same in width and height but you are seated lower which makes the leg angle more comfortable and feel like there is more legroom in the HW vs the Cherokee but its really just an angle difference.
Hello All, new to this site, but I feel the need to give my impression of the highwing.
My brother (6’-0” , 250lb) and I (6’-3”, 215lb) flew to OSH’25 in his 172N (not the first time). When we sit in the 172 with our shoulders even, we overlap a few inches, so when he’s flying, I sit with the seat slid all the way bay and my upper body twisted a little to give him freedom to manipulate the controls. At Osh we sat in the High Wing together with the door closed and both in a comfortable flying position and there was about a fingers width of room between us. So no matter what dimensions you may find on-line in the real word I’d say that the High Wing has about 2 inches (or maybe a little more) than the 172. So to sum it up pre-Osh25 I was somewhat ambivalent to the High Wing but now, after meeting her face-to-face, I am quite enamored.
Thanks, Ray! I learned to fly in a 172N with an instructor who is about 6’5” and also pushing close to 300lbs, so I know what that feels like! Your comments definitely give me some confidence that the HW will be a contender!
I agree, flew up in our 1965 Cherokee 180 with two of us and we both sat in the High Wing right after. Felt like I had about the same dimensions but just seemed a little more comfortable. I think I saw it explained somewhere that the Sonex HW is 42” inside dimension where many planes are also 42” but outside dimension.
I am currently flying N3832R a 172H that I restored from spinner to rudder and was awarded a Bronze Lindy at AirVenture 2013 …Also reserved Highwing kit #37 and tried the prototype on for size at AirVenture 2025. The Sonex (taildragger) is much easier to get in and out of for me (5’-10” 185 lbs. age 72) and seems as roomy or slightly roomier than the 172. I also liked the seating position, skylights, strutless wing and baggage compartment size.