Larry Noel
Active Member
Is there enough head room for a 5'-10'' pilot without raising the turtle deck?
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Head room for a 5'-10'' pilot
- Thread starter Larry Noel
- Start date
Dean Westerburg
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2020
- Messages
- 29
I am 5' 10" and can almost put my fist between my head and the canopy without any padding on the seat. With a 2" seat cussion, I will still have a little room left.
I bought my Sonerai IIL from another builder, so I can not say for certain he didnt modify it, but it appears to be stock.
I bought my Sonerai IIL from another builder, so I can not say for certain he didnt modify it, but it appears to be stock.
Larry Noel
Active Member
Thank you for your reply. I think I am going to add the extra two inches. Just to give me more options with the rear seat. I hope there is not too much of a performance loss do to wanting to be a little more comfortable.
Dean Westerburg
Active Member
- Joined
- Nov 2, 2020
- Messages
- 29
I dont think there would be much performance change, but I cant say for certain. I do notice the visibility is like a cub when the tail is down (cant see anything forward). I noticed in one of the sonerai videos on Youtube that they made part of the skit around the canopy out of clear lexan so they had more visability. IF I decide to completly redo this Sonerai one day, that will be added and I think with raising the canopy up any higher, this might be a really helpful mod.
Larry Noel
Active Member
Thank you!
John B
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2013
- Messages
- 222
I am 5'-10 and mine is stock height and I haven't ever noticed a problem with height but I do use a thin seat cushion.
If you do build I have a suggestion. At one point I took my airplane out of service to make a bunch of mods and changed the turtledeck/canopy shape. I used an ellise for the shape of the canopy rear bow/turtledeck front bow. The modified shape means you don't have to pull the canopy in as drastically as when it was per plans. It also makes it so the skirt can overlap the turtledeck to reduce drafts and provide better sealing. My airplane has had it both ways and if I were to build another Sonerai, I would do the elliptical shape again. Below is a drawing that shows the per plans canopy bow and mine side by side with the outlines of each swept in 5 degree increments about the respective hinge locations. You can see the interference that would prevent overlapping the skirt. Also is a picture of my Sonerai as it sits now and you can see the elliptical shape and the extended skirt. In my case the skirt is composite. I think the elliptical shape looks better too. It does put the hinges on the outside but it isn't really noticeable. Finally a picture from the original construction when it had the stock shape.
If you do build I have a suggestion. At one point I took my airplane out of service to make a bunch of mods and changed the turtledeck/canopy shape. I used an ellise for the shape of the canopy rear bow/turtledeck front bow. The modified shape means you don't have to pull the canopy in as drastically as when it was per plans. It also makes it so the skirt can overlap the turtledeck to reduce drafts and provide better sealing. My airplane has had it both ways and if I were to build another Sonerai, I would do the elliptical shape again. Below is a drawing that shows the per plans canopy bow and mine side by side with the outlines of each swept in 5 degree increments about the respective hinge locations. You can see the interference that would prevent overlapping the skirt. Also is a picture of my Sonerai as it sits now and you can see the elliptical shape and the extended skirt. In my case the skirt is composite. I think the elliptical shape looks better too. It does put the hinges on the outside but it isn't really noticeable. Finally a picture from the original construction when it had the stock shape.
Larry Noel
Active Member
Very good to know. I will play with this when fitting the canopy. Thank you
