New seats for my Champ

[Bandit]

I would like to get new seats for my Champ, any suggestions? Found a guy on e-bay in Indiana that sells them. Anybody know what they are like?

 

[Bartman]

Not familiar with the ebay seat covers but I'll check them out when I'm back home later today. Have you reached out to Airtex to see what they offer and what their prices are? I wouldn't call Airtex the gold standard but they're known for good quality with a lot of selection plus the materials are all certified for aircraft use. Ask the ebay seller if they have legit burn certificates for their materials.

 

[JimParker256]

I've got Airtex replacement seat cushions and covers in my 7ECA, and I'm not overly impressed with them. They look OK, but the fit on the frames is pretty sloppy (I can move the seat cushions at least a couple of inches fore-aft as well as right-left), and the cushions themselves are pretty uncomfortable after an hour or so. I'm about ready to rip into them and replace the cushions with memory foam from SunMate. I bought foam from their "overstock" supplies for my Bearhawk Patrol, and those seats are pretty comfy. They feel a bit too hard at first (especially in the winter), but conform to your shape and get very comfortable after just a few minutes. I used three layers of 1" foam for the Bearhawk (firm on the bottom, medium in the middle, and soft on top). They have a nice guide for figuring out how to build cushions based on your weight/size.

 

[Bob Turner]

I had mine done by an upholstery shop to my specs. She even did the burn certs. Check local auto upholstery shops.

 

[Bob Turner]

Not the parachute - that was a disaster. When you buy used parachutes, be careful who you pick to re-pack them. The last packer I had pulled one of them apart, refused to put it back together, and threatened to cut the risers. It had always passed the pH tests with flying colors; the guy was just an ass hole. But the upholstery was just what I wanted. Comfortable and attractive. Still good 15 years later.

 

[Clifford Daly]

I second the local upholstery shop! I supplied them with the materials that I got burn certificates for since I did the side panels myself. The seats are showroom quality and made specifically around MY seats, not off a template.

 

[Clifford Daly]

Here are the pictures of the stuff!

 

[Big Ed]

Reviving this thread. Need/want to have new interior ready. Would prefer to have the materials selected soon so I can install the lower rear interior panel before I cover the fuselage.

I love the Flightline seats. But they are not taking orders.

I dislike the shape of the airtex seats. I also dislike the shape of my OEM seats. Too thick and spongy, with side wings.

Was thinking of ordering side/back panels from Airtex, then getting custom seats made at local auto place.

If I showed a local auto upholstery shop photos of the Flightline seats, do you think they could replicate the shape?

 

[Bartman]

Airtex seems to be in a better position to make something for you than Flightline.

Did you get your headliner from Airtex? Did they give you enough of the welting to go all of the way around the greenhouse opening? My kit only had enough to go across the back and when I called to ask about it, the guy was a bit dismissive. The new method is to go all of the way around so I had to call back and order more. Didn't leave me with a good feeling about Airtex.

 

[Big Ed]

Airtex seems to be in a better position to make something for you than Flightline.

Did you get your headliner from Airtex? Did they give you enough of the welting to go all of the way around the greenhouse opening? My kit only had enough to go across the back and when I called to ask about it, the guy was a bit dismissive. The new method is to go all of the way around so I had to call back and order more. Didn't leave me with a good feeling about Airtex.

Unless I missed it in the package, I did not get any welting. I ordered it from Chad.

But the Airtex headliner was good quality and fit just fine.

Setting up an appointment with a local auto upholstery place next week. Will probably go with that, and splurge on leather.

 

[Bartman]

You ordered the headliner from Airtex or Chad? Was there welting lining the greenhouse opening at the seam between the glass panel and the frame?

I'd bet if an upholstery shop caught wind of the desperate need in the aircraft community for upholstery services, they'd jump on it. Good luck, leather will be nice

 

[Bob Turner]

We have a guy here who does boat awnings, and is interested in breaking in to the airplane business. He has made J3 seat slings and bungee covers for me, and is interested in doing the seats. His name is Simon Duran, and I think I can find his e-mail. Stand by for an edit:

[email protected]

 

[Big Ed]

You ordered the headliner from Airtex or Chad? Was there welting lining the greenhouse opening at the seam between the glass panel and the frame?

Got headliner from Airtex. No welting.
I did ask Chad to include a strip of it with my most recent order, which should be here in a few days.

 

[Bartman]

Gotcha. Did your plane have it all of the way around or only along the back? The guy at Airtex was quick to say how many years he made interiors for ACA and that it only went across the back. I called Dale and he said it goes all of the way around. It must have changed at some point?

 

[Big Ed]

Sides and back, but not front.