You guys can be some real Debbie downers sometimes. I probably doesn’t make any sense, but would you listen to people like you crap all over it if you had an idea?
You're right, but the OP didn't give a lot of information in his first post. If he'd said something like< 'I'm a gentleman of size, and I'm trying to think of a low cost way to get into airplane ownership. I see that I can get an old Cessna 150 cheaply, how practical/possible would it be to convert it into a single seater?" Now I'm going to try to answer that for him.
From your opening post, I'm guessing you're not currently a pilot, or if you are, you're not familiar with the rules that govern aircraft. From most of our standpoints, there are two types of aircraft, those that are factory built, and have been issued a certification stating that they meet all the requirements for a light airplane. The other type is Experimental Amateur Built, which are not certificated by the FAA. The Cessna 150 falls under the certificated type. For certificated aircraft, anything other than minor modifications must be done using a Supplemental Type Certificate, or STC. I would consider moving the controls to be a major modification, and that would fall under an STC. Most STCs are created by for profit businesses that intend to sell modifications. I'll give you an example: Here's a Cessna 180:
It has two doors that hinge from the front. They would be very difficult to get open in flight. However, the 180 is a popular parachute jumping airplane for smaller drop zones. However, as is, it is useless as a jump plane. There have been a couple of companies that have created a top opening door that can be opened in flight:
That picture above is actually a Cessna 182, but the door is similar. Anyway, that's what an STC is for, to legally modify a certificated aircraft. That's what you'd need to make the changes to a 150.
Take a look at the 150's panel:
If you wanted to turn this into a single seater, the first thing that is going to have to go is the entire panel, since you need to put one of the yokes right on the edge of the radio stack. Then you'd have to remove that center console, redo the support for the yokes to put one in the middle. You'd have to move the engine controls, and it looks like the trim wheel will have to be moved too. You'd have to remove the two outer rudder pedals, and then switch the rudder controls, nosegear steering, and toe brakes. Then you'd have to build an all new instrument panel, and also mounts for a center seat.
Once you figured out all that, you'd have to be able to demonstrate to the FAA that all this was done within appropriate engineering standards for a certificated light plane. You'd have to refigure the weight and balance, and possibly have to demonstrate that the aircraft is safe to fly with the revised W&B. Then, after you got all that done, you'd have a modified 150 that is likely yours forever, and isn't a really good airplane for someone your size, especially flying from a short field.
You asked it you could take the C-150 experimental. The answer is essentially no. The only experimental usage that gives you the ability to use the airplane similarly to a certificated one is amateur built, and you can't take a certificated airplane and put it into the E-AB category.
There are better choices. You may want to try some of the tandem E-AB airplanes on for size. If you don't fit in them, how about a Breezy, or better yet, a Super Breezy:
In your original post you said something about cheap flying. In aviation, when the word "cheap" is used in the same sentence as "airplane", it's almost always prefaced by the word "not". You're a big guy and you want to get off the ground quick. That's going to require some power, and that's not going to come cheap.
