Ergonomics Good ergonomic design and comfort were high priorities for the Apollo.  Here are the major areas of improvement: • Taller cabin and wider seats:  The Apollo fuselage accommodates pilots up to 95th percentile in size.  The man-machine interface was carefully optimized to provide a roomy and comfortable cabin.  Compared to the Cozy IV (used as a baseline) the Apollo cabin is 3.9" wider at the shoulders and each seat pan is 1.5" wider.  The fuselage is 5.0" taller to accommodate more upright seating, a thicker seatpan and greater headroom. • Improved ergonomics:  The supine seating used by most canard aircraft is very comfortable and reduces frontal area, but there are disadvantages to this arrangement.  Since the pilot's torso is reclined almost 45 degrees, the instrument panel must be further back to remain within arm's reach.  This causes the knee joint on taller people to be forward of the instrument panel.  When a canopy is used for boarding the aircraft, entering and exiting the seats is more difficult because the pilot’s knees hit the lower edge of the instrument panel.  This also restricts tall occupants from rotating their knees/thighs upward to make in-flight comfort adjustments or to scratch below their knees.  Some pilots with supine seating find themselves propping their torso into a more upright position for better neck comfort or for visibility.  Headrests are definitely required. The typical canard seatback is reclined 42 to 45 degrees from vertical.  In a poll of fighter pilots, the preferred seatback angle was 36 degrees from vertical.  The Apollo seatbacks are reclined 35 degrees (from vertical) and provide a relaxed semi-reclined seating position without the disadvantages of supine seating.  The knee joint is aft of the instrument panel even for tall pilots, allowing easier entry and exit as well as in-flight leg movement by the pilot and passenger. • Better visibility:  While canards generally have great outward visibility compared to other aircraft, supine seating lowers the pilot’s head relative to the instrument panel and reduces visibility over the nose during climbs.  The strake also blocks the pilot's vertical line of sight outside the cabin.  There is some minor blockage from the canard itself, which is inherent to the design. The Apollo’s seating position elevates the pilot's head 2.5” higher above the instrument panel compared to a Cozy.  This permits a horizontal line of sight over the nose during a normal climb.  The upper contour of the instrument panel was designed to maximize the pilot’s field-of-view.  Combined with an aft wing, bubble canopy and the lack of strakes, the Apollo provides better visibility than any other canard aircraft with side-by-side seating. • Internal baggage compartment:  Canards are efficient high-speed aircraft that can carry people long distances.  But baggage capacity has been a problem for some.  Long-EZ owners have to add external baggage pods to accommodate full size carry-on bags for two people.  The Apollo’s internal baggage compartment accommodates three standard size carry-on bags (one for him and two for her!)  Two additional bags can be stacked on top - up to the weight and balance limits.  Baggage is accessible during flight, which can be a big convenience.  The Cozy IV also provides excellent baggage capacity with just two people on board. Site Map Email the Designer Copyright © 2012 Apollo Canard