Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11

Thread: Fabric for seats?

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    5

    Fabric for seats?

    Hi gang,

    Any suggestions for fabric for seats? There's a local fabric store with a pretty good selection but I'm not sure if standard household upholstery would be acceptable in an aircraft.


    TIA,

    Steve

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Clarklake, MI
    Posts
    2,461
    Hey Steve, if you are looking for interior materials for you homebuilt, you can use whatever you want. Ch. 9 in AC43-13.2B has excellent guidance on aircraft interiors for those other kind of aircraft. Might be worthwhile to look it over to see if there are interior specs that match your level of comfort.

  3. #3
    Rick Galati's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    St. Louis, MO
    Posts
    22

    Burn Notice

    Quote Originally Posted by Osprey View Post
    .......I'm not sure if standard household upholstery would be acceptable in an aircraft....
    All fabrics will burn but fabrics specifically approved for aviation use are treated and rated for some measure of fire resistance. Of course, it is perfectly legal to install household upholstery in an experimental aircraft but do you really want to? Like a dried out Christmas tree, if ignited some non-approved materials will burn at very hot temperatures while generating thick clouds of toxic fumes. If an unfortunate crash scenario occurs, the occupants might as well have napalm sticking to their skin. For that very reason, some pilots will not fly wearing clothes made with synthetic fibers.

    For the homebuilder, I recommend Abby Erdmann, owner of Flightline Interiors. She is well versed in the needs of our community. Over the years she has worked with uncounted satisfied buyers including me.
    http://www.flightlineinteriors.com/services/default.asp

    Abby can supply you with a complete upholstery package or if you desire, fabrics and leather goods that meet the following standards:

    ASTM E-84 Class I
    CAL 117-E
    MVSS 302
    UFAC Class I

  4. #4
    Jim Hann's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Ballwin, Missouri, United States
    Posts
    425
    Quote Originally Posted by Rick Galati View Post
    For that very reason, some pilots will not fly wearing clothes made with synthetic fibers.
    Which makes it even more criminal that not one airline management understands that. Pilot and F/A uniforms are universally 50-75% polyester. Ask any flight attendant about their nylons and what can happen in a fire. Please use the types of materials Rick mentions.

    Sorry for the small vent,

    Jim
    Jim Hann
    EAA 276294 Lifetime
    Vintage 722607
    1957 Piper PA-22/20 "Super Pacer"
    Chapter 32 member www.eaa32.org
    www.mykitlog.com/LinerDrivr
    Fly Baby/Hevle Classic Tandem


  5. #5

    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Posts
    2,575
    It is not hard or expensive to treat normal fabric with a fireproof liquid, which I think makes it as good as the expensive purpose made fabric. It was done for me by shop for my seats in a Be 45. I would not skip this step no matter what the FAR s may say.

  6. #6

    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Posts
    107

    Seat Material

    I fully endorse the recommendation that you consult with Abbey Erdman at Flight Line Interiors. She made the seats for my RV6A and for my RV12 and she does really outstanding work. I can't recommend her any higher, she and her relatives who do the work are an example for excellence in every respect that I wish more companies possessed.

    FWIW

  7. #7

    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    FA40
    Posts
    767
    standard household materials and threads, and most auto materials, too, are engineered with the understanding that the light hitting them will be filtered through glass. airplanes usually have plastic windows. unless specially treated, they may not filter UV radiation that will break down the upholstery. or the thread. use stuff rated for fire or treated for fire, fine, but also use stuff that will stand up to UV.

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    5
    Thanks gang. Abby was a terrific resource, I was able to find a fabric I liked and the kit manufacturer (Progressive Aerodyne) substituted my fabric for theirs.


    Name:  P1040963 (Medium).jpg
Views: 2380
Size:  89.1 KB

    Now all I gotta do is finish the bloody thing.

  9. #9
    steveinindy's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Indiana
    Posts
    1,449
    Personally, I'd go with leather backed up by a layer of Nomex. I like the look of leather (and you can find fire resistant varieties approved for aviation use) and appreciate the fire resistant properties of Nomex as a former firefighter.

    Thanks gang. Abby was a terrific resource, I was able to find a fabric I liked and the kit manufacturer (Progressive Aerodyne) substituted my fabric for theirs.
    Do those seats have any stroking distance at all? They look like they are pretty much bolted directly to the frame.
    Unfortunately in science what you believe is irrelevant.

    "I'm an old-fashioned Southern Gentleman. Which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-***** when I want to be."- Robert A. Heinlein.



  10. #10

    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Alabama
    Posts
    2,236
    My Nieuport seat is sheet metal riveted to tubing.

    The opinions and statements of this poster are largely based on facts and portray a possible version of the actual events.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •