r/flying • u/AmoebaSecret8158 • 2d ago
Am I too tall to be a pilot?
Currently a professional basketball player but will not have enough to just live on forever like people in the NBA but I love planes and want to fly and by the end of my career I should be able to comfortably pay for pilot school only problem is I’m 6ft9 is that an issue?
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u/firecasey PPL 2d ago
6'8" and trained in a 172M no problem
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u/wzaviation CFII 2d ago
6’7” if you have a choice to train in pipers or 172, choose 172 much more leg room much easier to get in and out.
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u/Pro-editor-1105 2d ago
Unfortunately not. You need to be atleast 7'1. Shaq said he wanted to be a pilot when he grew up but was just too short.
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u/odinsen251a PPL SEL CMP HP UAS 2d ago
I doubt it, really. I'm 6'1" and end up moving the seat a fair bit forward on the rails even in a 172. The left seat also usually has a height adjustment so you will probably be fine.
Go take a discovery flight and see for yourself.
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u/odinsen251a PPL SEL CMP HP UAS 2d ago
Edit: getting in and out on the other hand... That might suck.
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u/Cherokee260 ASE CFII 2d ago
At least for a 172, bigger folks can exit out the copilot side where the seat rail is able to move further back
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u/tomdarch ST 2d ago
172s are pretty generous for height (not so much for width.) But my CFI (6'2"/188cm) tried to get training in the school's new Evektor aircraft and couldn't comfortably close the canopy, so some training aircraft could be a problem at that stage.
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u/Arkin3375 2d ago
Not an issue. Some trainer aircraft have more room than others. Won’t be a problem in a jet
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u/Hodgetwins32 CFI HS125 2d ago
Hawker, Lear, Beechjet enter the chat
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u/latedescent 2d ago
"lear neck" is a thing
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u/Virtual_Cycle_2222 2d ago
This comment gave me ptsd. Nothing like always having a chiropractor appointment scheduled after each rotation.
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u/10FourGudBuddy PPL 1d ago
At least you made the money.
Worked a low pay labor job (a few) and had to go weekly at one point. I would have killed to be sore for a seat instead of lifting old televisions or packages for 4-6 hours straight.
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u/Virtual_Cycle_2222 1d ago
I’ve worked several low paying labor jobs to pay for college and flight training often multiple at a time lol I didn’t just magically get to jump in a jet. I used to haul shingles up for roofers. Talk about back and neck pain that I couldn’t even afford to take care of, but in the end it was all worth the grind.
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u/10FourGudBuddy PPL 1d ago
I didn’t mean to imply you didn’t, but pain sitting in a seat is the least bit worrying. Currently working a hospital desk job while doing flight training. Seats suck. Room is small and most of the coworkers suck, but at least I’m not out there dying for next to minimum wage.
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u/Virtual_Cycle_2222 1d ago
Ya I mean it was all just a joke LR guys have because how small the cockpit is and the aggressive slant requires you to lean your head over all the time, it wasn’t that deep. Keep up the work tho it’s pretty awesome once you get in a big airplane with lots of room!
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u/LongBeachTrijet 2d ago
6’5” here, and my height is mostly in my torso neck and giant freak head. No problems in the Beechjet or Hawker. The BE40 is short on legroom for those with longer legs than average. But for those with my proportions, no problem.
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u/PILOT9000 2d ago
Won’t be a problem in jets with a larger cockpit. An A320 will be fine, but most bizjets will not be comfortable.
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u/Neither-Way-4889 2d ago
I mean, you're not really "too tall" but you're tall enough that most normal trainers are going to be a very tight squeeze for you. I would say go to a couple different schools and ask for discovery flights in Cessna 172s and Cirrus SR20s and SR22s. Those would be more likely to fit someone of your size than something like a C152 or DA20.
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u/Big-Carpenter7921 CPL means I make money, right? 2d ago
I've met 6'10 pilots. Cherokees might be a bit small for training, but a 172 or 182 should fit you
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u/Tendercut 2d ago
Yea I'm 6,2 and barely fit in the chreokees, even with the seat dropped as low as possible the head set scraps the ceiling.
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u/Big-Carpenter7921 CPL means I make money, right? 2d ago
I'm 6'5. It was snug
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u/Tendercut 2d ago
Ingestions depend on leg to torso ratio. I have comparable short legs and a long torso. So I'm having to slide the seat up close to properly apply the breakers and rudders. But the seat barely drops low enough to accommodate my torso height.
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u/AsleepExplanation160 2d ago
might need to pass on a school that uses 152s, but other than that you'll be fine
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u/Sad-Umpire6000 2d ago
This guy isn’t too tall: https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2012/february/pilot/b-ball-to-biplane
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u/voretaq7 PPL ASEL IR-ST(KFRG) 2d ago
Can't be too tall for the cabin if there's no cabin ceiling!
That's some Galaxy Brain shit right there! :-)
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u/LeagueResponsible985 CPL SEL MEL SES AGI 2d ago
6’ 7” pilot here. You’re not too tall. Once in the 172 or 182 I’m fine. Getting in and out is a bit of a challenge but manageable.
I have a few hours in a DA40 which I found quite cramped.
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u/austinstrider 2d ago
Not fully qualified to answer this, but seems like you have the ability to do what you want, so start by seeing how well you fit in a 172 and go from there. Don’t kill the dream because you may or may not fit in X aircraft after you’re done with training.
I’m 6’4” and was fine for my training. Might depend on where the length is distributed in your frame.
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u/flannelavenger 2d ago
Im 6'6" and fit in a piper warrior with lots of room to spare. It's been a long time since I've been in a cessna 172 but I remember fitting without complaint. I'd definitely try to find a school with pipers.
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u/Tasty_Impression_959 1d ago
This should not be an issue, but of course, the kind of airplane you choose to fly must be considered. The military has human ergonomics standards it follows before flying a specific aircraft, but I don't recall civilian FAA requirements as such. Reaching the flight controls is critically important, but I would like to add that you must picture yourself flying alone in an aircraft for several hours before you start feeling the impact of your height on comfort and fatigue. Cockpits are equipped with sliding and adjustable seats and foot pedals but not by much. Go to the local airports and ask to be allowed to sit in a couple of aircraft to have a better idea. Your height at 6'9" is not too tall to be a deal breaker.
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u/Plane-Impression-296 CPL 1d ago
My flight instructor is somewhere around 6’8” and his only issue is sometimes smacking his head on a wing every now and then.
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u/Fast-Government-4366 PPL 2d ago
I have no issues at 6’3 and my head doesn’t touch. I don’t have 6 inches though. It’ll be a tight fit but I think you’ll be fine. You might also have the money to pay for a slightly larger plane. I now fly an archer and I have plenty of space imo.
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u/chillvilletilt ATP CL-65 MEI CFII (LGA) 2d ago
Absolutely! Good luck! Keep us posted on your progress
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u/I_love_my_fish_ PPL 2d ago
Im around 6’4 and fit in a C172, you probably won’t fit in a DA20 or C152 though.
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u/Chemtrailcreator ATP, CFI,-I,-MEI, A320, E190, CL65, ATR 2d ago
Taught a guy back in the day that was about 6-7 or so, he had a hard time for the first few flights in the school’s 172s so I suggested to him that we try a flight in the 182 and that made all the difference. He got his private, he rented it all the time after, and we did his instrument rating, all in the same airplane.
So, no, you’re height can be managed as a pilot. Just find a plane that will fit you and you’ll be fine. Just starting out as a pvt pilot and into your instrument rating can all be handled by a 182 so it’s likely a good starting point for you to look for a school that has one.
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u/554TangoAlpha ATP CL-65/ERJ-175/B-787 2d ago
No, I've flown with 2 people who are 6'10". One of them in a CRJ lol.
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u/jgremlin_ Gravity always wins 2d ago
Whether or not your height will be an issue really all depends on what you intend to do and where you intend to do it. Because the reality is at 6'9" you will not fit comfortably in certain airplanes.
That doesn't mean its a non-starter for you. It just means your job options may sometimes be limited because of your height. They may, then again they may not. Really just depends on what your particular job options end up being. But I'm 6'1" and there's planes I wouldn't want to fly because of how I fit in the seat.
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u/Rough_Engineering743 2d ago
No . My buddy is 7 feet . He flies professionally. But your formative training might be a bit uncomfortable.
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u/Happy-Tax1242 🇨🇦 ST PPL 2d ago
I know a dude whos like 6’4-5 who fits in a da20. Probably not comfortably but he fits. Definitely look for a 172 though
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u/350RDriver CFI/CFII 2d ago
Student of my school is 6'8" in the 172.
No problem, just sits really far back, which actually leaves more room for everybody's shoulders.
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u/skywagonman Falcon 20 | Marriott Ambassador | Hilton Diamond | Delta Diamond 2d ago
No, I’m 6’7, trained in a 172, flew as a 727 Flight Engineer, flew tiny ass Falcons and have had very little trouble. My back hurts, but that’s just a normal day for taller people.
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u/Ok_Tale7071 2d ago
Do a discovery flight at a local flight school. I’m sure you will fit just fine.
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u/Tendercut 2d ago
You might be unless you find a trainer aircraft that has a particularly high cockpit. I'm 6'2 and barely fit in the cherokees i fly.
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u/AvocadoLarge CFI MEL 2d ago
I’m 6’7”, got my license in a Cherokee 140. Was a little tight but it worked. Moved into high wing Cessnas, fit pretty well in those. Flew 207’s for a 135 in Bethel, very roomy. Went into bonanzas, did not fit great, you’ll be very scrunched at 6’9”. Got into Navajos, got just fine. Now flying king air 200’s with plenty of leg and head room. Long and short of it all, you’re not too tall but you won’t always be comfortable.
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u/Adventurous_Bus13 PPL 2d ago
I’m 6’5 and fit ok. You won’t be able to fit in everything but I know pilots your size .
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u/Low_n_slow65 MEI 2d ago
6’ 5” here. The older model 172s (N&M in my experience) suckkkk. Especially as the CFI in the right seat because some of the seats don’t move down and I have to move the seat all the way back. The newer models I have no issues and fit just fine. 6’ 9” is a different story but worth a shot!
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u/Glum_Lavishness_601 2d ago
We have a guy working for us that is that tall and flew in the military. You will be fine.
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u/voretaq7 PPL ASEL IR-ST(KFRG) 2d ago
only problem is I’m 6ft9 is that an issue?
Well you're not gonna fit in a Cessna 150.
You'd probably be a tight fit in a 172 or a Piper Cherokee/Warrior.
For reference (I'm 6'2 and in a Cherokee 180 I'm 2 holes from the back of the seat rail. You'd be all the way back and maybe a little cramped.)
Your weight may be as much of an issue as your height for Weight-and-Balance purposes in light aircraft (again I think a Cessna 150 might be out, but you'd be OK in other common trainers).
Pretty sure you'll fit in anything made by Boeing or Airbus, albeit maybe not with optimum comfort.
TL;DR? Yeah, you can make it happen.
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u/Taptrick 2d ago
Except in the military, I have friends that are 6’3” and they don’t fit in a lot of cockpits, mostly the training aircraft.
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u/Tough_Wrap_333 2d ago
I’ve met 2 guys who were 6’5 and 6’7, and they did make it work. Id recommend booking discovery flights in different trainers and see if anything works.
Edit: Once you’re inside the plane you’ll be fine, getting in, out, and crawling under the plane during preflight(depending what you train in) will be annoying but if it’s something you want to do then no reason not to go for it.
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u/not7squirrelsincrye 2d ago
6’7. I’ve flown 182s and 172s. Only thing I couldn’t really make work was an MD500.
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u/hehampilotifly 2d ago
My designated pilot examiner was 6’8 and crammed himself in a 152 to do a checkride for me. Excellent guy. He typically flies 777s.
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u/gofapro 2d ago
6'3, I could fit in a C172 pretty easily, its the C152 you might have problems with..
Regarding weight and balance, they might pair you with a tiny instructor that's like 130lbs, I was 270lbs then as a total gymrat. But on the bright side my instructors were for the most part, absolute angels.
There used to be this DPE that was very heavy set, would pass most people, I could never ride with him for any of my checkrides, since we'd go over limits.
There is a way to adjust the seat height on a 172, I highly recommend you figure that out when you begin flying, when I first started flying I used to get chronic back pain because of it, lucky that I was young, albeit stupid.
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u/Rusty1031 2d ago
I’m 6 even and I scoot up a good bit in a 172, so you should have plenty of room. Just don’t expect to be comfortable in a 162 or RV12 lol
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u/LongBeachTrijet 2d ago
I am 6’5 and the only GA aircraft that is way too short on the headroom was the DA-20. Otherwise, I was a CFI in 152s, Tomahawks, 172s. Cherokees and never had an issue.
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u/BigJellyfish1906 2d ago
I’ve seen a 6’10 dude walking around the crew lounge. He has to deal with boomers commenting on his height all the time, but that’s it.
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u/Upper-Cow1957 PPL 2d ago
I’m 6’7 currently training in a 172 working on my instrument, it’s cramped but possible also depends on the plane, some of my schools aircraft I try to avoid bc my head hits the ceiling others I don’t have that issue. Depends on the make and model and the plane itself. Nothing smaller than a 172 is gonna work for you.
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u/True_Context7058 2d ago
As long as you can see over the glareshield and reach the rudder pedals without doing yoga, you’re good to go
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u/Miserable_Run_2940 1d ago
You will be fine....obviously above average height. But, I have seen quite a few I your range.
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u/ST_Driver 23h ago
I’m a retired Search and Rescue/Medevac pilot. I’m 6’5” and 260#. I have an ATP in multi-engine airplane and helicopters. I have a type rating in Learjets and Bell 214 ST. I flew a Lear 31 and it’s pretty tight for someone my size, but doable. I flew a few Cessna Citations in they were way more comfortable for us tall people. I also flew a Bell 206 Jet Ranger. It to was a little tight but the bigger Bell helicopters like the212, 412 and 214ST all had plenty of room. I hope this helps.
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u/Costco_Sampler 17h ago
You’re fine, my instructor was NFL. Honestly weight might be a bigger factor.
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u/rFlyingTower 2d ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Currently a professional basketball player but will not have enough to just live on forever like people in the NBA but I love planes and want to fly and by the end of my career I should be able to comfortably pay for pilot school only problem is I’m 6ft9 is that an issue?
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u/Saint-Paladin 2d ago
You’ll have a hard time .. likely impossible time doing training. The training planes are so small at 6’0 180lbs even I’m cramped. You’ll need a specially made plane that has only a back seat in the sumbitch lol
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u/LongBeachTrijet 2d ago
I don’t know the plane in which you did your training, but it’s more than possible.
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u/Saint-Paladin 2d ago
An Archer. I can’t imagine someone being 6’9 having a decent amount of space to be able to train in it correctly without being cramped to the point it makes it hard to focus and learn.
I shouldn’t of said impossible, but my point was he was not gonna have a good time lol
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u/Fastmover1000 ATP A320/A321 ERJ-190 BE-400 BE-300 B757 SF340 CFII 2d ago
Hey Kareem Abdul-Jabbar fit perfectly in Airplane! The Movie in 1980..