Interior refit PA28 Arrow

[jaycee46]

Any good advice on an organisation, preferably in the UK, which could replace the rather nasty 'baby poo' coloured, faded velour upholstry in our 'new' Arrow 4?

I've surfed t'interweb, and there's quite a few options if you're fitting out a bis jet or airliner, but we're looking for someone a bit more geared to the smaller end of GA. Any advice or experience, either way, on this would be much appreciated.

JC

[TheOddOne]

We had the 4 seats and carpets replaced in our Archer by an automotive restorer, with our licensed engineer overseeing and approving the work. I chose leather with a cloth insert for extra breathability (I do 300+ hours a year in the right seat!)
We also had the cushion material replaced as the original was badly sagged. The whole cost us circa £1,000. We didn't have the side walls done at that stage as we're having a paint-off respray next year with new transparencies so will have them done then.
My advice is to find a good automotive restorer locally and get your licensed engineer on side.
I've seen some horrendously bad jobs done up-country by people purporting to specialise in light aircraft.
TOO

[GiveMeABreak]

I used Air Interiors (Elstree), chap called Richard Baldwin. Provided quality results at the price agreed. He did all the measuring and fitting at my home base. Google search will reveal his contact details.

Regards...

[BoeingBoy]

I'm currently having my Archer carpets refitted by Aircraft Interior Refurbishment. They are a mobile company who will come to you nationwide.

As for seats, simply use your nearest classic car trimmer or upholsterer. Make sure all materials are fire resistant and that your engineer knows what's going on for your next Certificate of Release to Service.

[Pilot DAR]

I recommend all leather for durability, and cleanability, should someone have an oops. My first leather interior is still in great shape after 27 years, my second is 9 years old and doing fine, and I'm just redoing the seats from their original vinyl of 1977 in nice leather this weekend on my third plane. The seats in my second plane (done in 2006, I bought in 2008) were done in FAR Part 25 fire compliant fabric, but they deteriorated rapidly in the sun, and were faded and badly wearing by 2009, so I redid them in leather then. They get stepped on every time you enter the plane, and splashed with water from time to time, and are in fine shape. I would never use any fabric on a seat again. The labour to do the work is the same irrespective of the material chosen, so by using quality leather, you can reduce the frequency of redoing the seats, and save money in the long run that way.

Consider having your upholsterer add extra pockets on the seat backs, now's the time! You can also replace the original foam with "memory foam" which is very comfortable. However, if you expect to sit on the seats when they are very cold, this is not so good, as that foam becomes very still in the extreme cold, and can break, rather than compress under your weight.