Hatz Biplane Association

That's WEIGHT and balance. Sorry.

I am 6'5" and 240 lbs. mostly muscle, but broad shoulders and long legs, especially from the foot to the knee. I modified my Hatz Classic (after consulting my tech counselor)so I'd be comfortable. I originally built a mockup cockpit using 1/4"ply and firring strips and using some of the dimensions of my car seat as a guide, built up the cockpit. This allowed me to get the feel of distance from my seat to the instrument panel as well as shoulder room and knee clearance. Because the Hatz has a generous wing chord and wing area, I believed as well as some of the gurus in my flying club, that this design would allow for such modifications without compromising safety. I raised the upper longerons 3" and widened the cockpit by 2". By laying tracing paper over the plan using a scale ruler (1/4" scale) I drew the longerons at 3" higher and kept the stations from the firewall back pretty much where they are on the plan, but a whole bunch of other things become affected. The firewall comes forward by 1" and I stole an inch going to the tail from each station behind rear seat to tail. So my plane is actually 5" longer than the plan. The center section had to be made 2" wider to accommodate the extra 2" cockpit width, but the center section struts remain the same as on the plan. The outer struts had to be re-worked, but the wing stagger is the same. The mac changes slightly and there is more airflow between the wings. Also, the dimensions of flying and landing wires had to be recalculated.
I have an IO-320 converted for fixed pitch with a wooden prop. Been working on this aircraft for over nine years but am very close to being finished. I hand made just about everything, throttle quadrants and joy sticks,etc. and found this project to be the most rewarding thing I've ever done. I'm on the waiting list for a hangar and soon we'll do the wait and balance. I'll report in with the effects of my modifications on flight characteristics, unless the effects are really bad, in which case I won't be reporting in. Stay with it. Never surrender. One day your plane will be complete. I have some old pictures of early construction on the website for Ch.66

Bitshifter wrote:I am 5 minutes from N57 in Pa if you want to fly down and sit in a fuselage. The wings and center section are hanging on the walls/ceiling but you can get a look at what is involved. I started 3 years ago building ribs and have tried to do a little each day but it is starting to look like a plane. I don't know how much room you have but it can be built with very little. I have a bunch of pictures on my site at http://edwinwhite.com/hatz.html

Thanks Ed. I enjoyed your builder sitr

I am 5 minutes from N57 in Pa if you want to fly down and sit in a fuselage. The wings and center section are hanging on the walls/ceiling but you can get a look at what is involved. I started 3 years ago building ribs and have tried to do a little each day but it is starting to look like a plane. I don't know how much room you have but it can be built with very little. I have a bunch of pictures on my site at http://edwinwhite.com/hatz.html

Thanks JB and Bitshifter! Sounds like I should fit fine. Planning on sitting in one soon just to make sure, but you guys have alleviated some of my fears.

Welcome to the forum.
I am 6'4" and 220 lbs, 210 before Thanksgiving. My Classic is far from finished but the seats and controls are in and of course I have sat in it. I have built the seat and rudder pedal locations as per the plans and feel that it is quite roomy. There is more leg room in the back seat and it would be a simple matter to move the rudder pedals forward if required, not so for the front.

Hope to see you get started.

6'-3" and fit nicely into the back seat.... whole 'nother issue if you are talking about the fromt.
One thing about building is you can customize some things in the cockpit to fit you personally. Be sure you "try on for size" any completed plane.

Good luck and welcome Jim!

Jeff Moore

tlandrum wrote:Welcome to the forum! There are a lot of helpful people here, and a lot of people have some great webpages that help a ton! Best of luck, and if you have any questions feel free to ask. I can help with ribs... not sure about much else!! But welcome, and happy building!

Tre'

thank! Looking forward to meeting folks and picking their brains. All the best

dougm wrote:Welcome aboard Jim! Lots of good info and very helpful folks here. Let's stay in touch and arrange a visit.

thanks Doug! Appreciate getting me set up on the forum, and thanks for all you do for the site. I will PM once my schedule is clear.

hatz215 wrote:I'm 6'5" and have been flying a CB-1 for thirty years. It would be nice to have "Classic" room though. Is there one close by you can try on? The FAA database lists types by county so maybe you can find one. Study and read all you can. Don't be shy about asking questions here. Lots of knowledge on this site. Good luck!

Steve G

thanks Steve! Appreciate the info, planning to visit a classic under construction and maybe a cb-1 that's for sale nearby. I have struggled with fitting into some other experimental in the past. So real glad to hear you fit! Looking forward to nodding this for awhile, and nice to see this forum seems pretty active!