BC12D seat

[Armstrong]

Re: BC12D seat

Rob,
If you need to replace the seat sling too you can get them threw aircraft spruce for about $70-80 dollars or I have an old new one never been used that's been stored in my fathers basement for the last 5 years or so...it's still good,just a little dirty and dusty.I'll let ya have it for $50 plus shipping(I paid $55 or 60 for it 5 years ago).

Crispy critter, just saw your post. Thanks, but I allready orderd one from Aircraft Spruce $86. Next time I will ask here first. My wife is real good with a sewing machine and heavy fabric( made a few wall tents in her time) but her back is out, and I dont feel sewing my hand to a peice of canvas,so I orderd one.
Rob

[J Holland]

Re: BC12D seat

Frank

In answer to your post on the previous page of this thread I have been doing some similar research to you by the sounds of things.

I spoke with Airtex a few hours ago and have asked them to send me further details of their BC12D seat. The Boss man was helpful and said to email him some pictures of my current arrangement which I belive to be the standard sling type set up. My sling is fine but the seat itself is awful and in desperate need of changing for both comfort and aesthetic reasons.

As long as he can provide the seats in good hard wearing material and with a good firm foam I intend buying some.

I was with Rob Lees the other day and saw his new seats for G-BRPX. They are stunning and give excellent support (firm foam). They had been hand crafted by a local upholsterer and I have little doubt that he had a set done for the stunning G-BREY too.

When he has finished that masterpiece of T-Craftness I intend to creep into the hangar on a well moonlit night and exploit the fact that it's one of my favourite keyless hand-swung beauties and take it for a one way trip to a "hangar somewhere in the south" where he'll never find her!! She's a stunner

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: BC12D seat

Jon,

I have not had a chance to talk to Airtex again, but I intend to call them again to find out what I can about the quality, feel, and looks of the seats. I will let you know what I find out to see if it parallels your findings. It might be a few days becuase of my schedule. Thanks for sharing your findings.

Frank DeBartolo
N43684

[Bob Waldron]

Re: BC12D seat

I am planning to replace the seat cushions on my pre-war BL-65. I plan to use the TempraFoam (or equivalent). I wondered how thick to make them, when it suddenly occurred to me (I am getting old) that I have a set of nearly new AIRTEX seat cushions on the shelf, that came with the BC-12D project that I purchased a year ago. I put that set into the BL-65 and they fit perfect. I then sat on them, and WOW, they feel great.

The only problem is that they put my eyes about 2 inches higher than they used to be. The sight picture is very different.

I put both seats on the hangar floor and measured them. They are both 3 inches thick. The Airtex cushion sinks down about 1/4 inch when I press it down. My old cushion sinks about 2 and 1/4 inches.

I am still going to make a set of cushions for the BL-65, but I think I will try to make them with 2 inch material.

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: BC12D seat

wanna sell the airtex cushions?

Frank
N43684

[Bob Waldron]

Re: BC12D seat

Frank,

I can't sell the Airtex complete upholstery kit; it is for my BC-12D that I am restoring.

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: BC12D seat

Jon,

I called Airtex yesterday. The boss man--(his name is Dodd Stretch) is at Sun n Fun--therefore I was not able to talk to him. But pursuant to my last conversation with them, they sent me a palate of samples and a booklet of their products. The colors and fabric samples look ok to me. Just a matter of knowing how the seat will attach to the sling--if I have to make any modifications to the sling--add snaps or velcro etc. How do the seat belts fit etc. Also would like to know how firm the seat is how thick the seat and back are? The lady at Airtex told me four inches thick which is OK with me because I am not a tall person. For comfort I would like a relatively firm seat and back rest. Soo I have to wait till Dodd comes back from Sun n Fun.

You might request a packet (sample palate and booklet of products) from them. I did not request it but she offered to send it to me and I said OK--send it--and they did.

Thanks,

Frank

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: BC12D seat

Jon,

I talked to Dodd Stretch and because of our conversation, I ordered a seat from Airtex. Dodd tells me Airtex has the original factory drawings and specs for the T-Craft seat and can make them like factory new. Good enough for me. For $356.00 I have to believe I made the right choice. Delivery takes 4 to 5 weeks.

Frank

[Yellow Duck]

Re: BC12D seat

Frank, Like several others, I am sure, would like feed back on the seats. I am short, 5'6" and need a little thicker cushion. My sling is tight and I add about an 1 1/2 both bottom and back to my current seats. Could actually use a little more. Curious to know how it looks and feels. Take pictures.

Thank

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: BC12D seat

Lee,

I'm 5'6" also. According to Dodd, The standard seats that are made from factory specs are 2" thick. I guess it depends on how much they compress. From what I understand it (not from Airtex but I heard or read somewhere) that it also depends on the sling adjustment (how tight) etc. I guess I also heard somewhere that putting some plywood over the sling under the seat also helps to raise the seat. I have not tried any of these things including adjusting the sling. Maybe someone else out there has experimented with the seat sling/seat/plywood and will let us know what they found. In talking to Airtex, Dodd told me that the standard seat is $356.00 (which is what I bought. The standard seat comes with a basic fabric and vinyl trim. An upgraded seat (fancier fabric) can be had for appx $120.00 more. A new sling-baggage compartment is $119.00. I have a good sling-baggage set up, however Dodd is sending extra snaps and I or my IA can attach the snaps to the sling in order to attach the seat (the seat is attached to the sling with snaps). The seat is a one piece unit with cut-outs for seat belts and has ties at the bottom and is tied to the seat frame.

I hope this new seat has firm innards. I will take pics and let all know. Appx 4-5 weeks for the seat to arrive.

Frank

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: BC12D seat

Lee,

I guess I should have read your thread more thoroughly before answering. You mentioned that your sling is tight. How did you tighten it? Mine can stand to be a little tighter it kind of sags down when the present seat is removed. From what I read in your thread, maybe I should call airtex and have them make the seat a little thicker--I just ordered it Thursday and I'm sure that they have not started on it.

Frank

[Bob Waldron]

Re: BC12D seat

Hello,

I installed a new set of AirTex seats in my old pre-war BL-65. I hope I have attached a picture. They look nice. They are very firm. They appear to be 3 inches thick. They are very comfortable. The previous seats were not stock. The new seats raise my eyes a few inches compared to the old seat. It improves visibility (I am 5' 11").

When you enter your airplane, you have to place your feet between the door frame and the front seat. The old seat was rounded off on the front corners of the seat, to the left of the pilot's knee. The new seat is square. This causes a 'little' more problem getting my fat feet into the cabin. It reduces the width of the opening by more than an inch. I am not sure that when I make new seats, I will make them square or rounded. I probably just need more practice getting in and out of the airplane. Do you people remember how clumsy you felt the first few times you got into and out of your Taylorcraft?

I am not sure if my Airtex seats are standard or delux or custom made. They are well consturcted, look great, and are very comfortable. If your $356 seats are like these, you should be very happy. Remember that mine are 3 inches thick, and do NOT 'squish' down very much.

[J Holland]

Re: BC12D seat

If anyone has Dodd's email address (or Airtex's) can you let me know what it is please. I spoke with Dodd a few weeks back and hae asked me to send a few pictures of my current seat set-up which I did. I haven't heard anyhting back and I want to buy a new seat for my BC12D.

You all seem to be communicating with him ok but as I havent heard back I want to email him back.

If anyone can help I would appreciate it.

Thanks

Jonathan

[Yellow Duck]

Re: BC12D seat

Frank To Tighten Sling :

unscrew the sling from the fromt and then just roll the canvas around the wood on the front edge and screw it down again. You will need to punch another hole. But it is no big deal, very easy. Hell even I can do it. Now landing is another question. You would think after 51 years I would have the hang of it by now. LOL

Noone hurt, have insurance, fixable. Anyone have an 85 or 0-200 to sell?

[Frank DeBartolo]

Re: BC12D seat

Lee

Sorry to hear about your incident. Hope you are back up soon. I hope no one was hurt. I have been around aviation since '62 and I know that things can happen. It seems that when things happen they happen fast.

Thanks for the info on the sling. Best of luck. 85 or 0200 is best way to go. I just o-hauled my 65. It runs real good but is still a 65. Knowing what I know now, I would have installed an 85.

Frank