Seat cost

[roadrunner20]

Originally Posted by Luke D

There are a few benefits you get from working with an experienced shop. Over the last 14 years, we've made well over 2000 sets of seats for RVs. In that time we've made some significant improvements to our seats more than once. We've also stocked almost the exact same materials for about the last 10 years. Many customers have contacted us years after their seats were made asking us to repair something, or make some other interior accessory to go along with their seats. In most cases, this was no problem (I'm sorry you were an exception Dan).

Luke, The samples you sent were close, but no match.
The rest of the covers look brand new, that's why it would be difficult opting for new covers at this time.

[brad walton]

I bought Van's foam for my RV8, two cow hides locally and had a local upholstery shop make the covers. Labor for the upholstery shop was $500.
I used the extra hide for the glare shield, side pockets, and side wall

[ty1295]

I actually covered a set of RV7 seats for someone here on Vans for just the cost of material as a test, as I have an industrial sewing machine and novice sewing skills. I had debated about doing more than my own and used this set as a test.

I plan to do my own and that it. I think I had 20 hours or more in just 2 seats (granted I am novice and could do next faster). To do it right and with the quality people expect takes a lot of practice.

If someone around Louisville Ky area wants to sew their own seats though but doesn't have the equipment I would be glad to let any RV owner use it at my hangar.

[bret]

Originally Posted by climberrn

I have classic aero seats in my -7 and have flown for over 8 hours in 1 day, and many legs up to 3 hours. The seats are wonderful. Very comfortable and worth the money for me, although the price is hard to swallow at first. If I had it to do over again, I'd get the same ones.

Bret here on the board repurposed some seats for his RV. The look great. I have not sat in his plane, but I am sure he can chime in. After hearing how much he has into his, it definitely got me thinking.

Thanks, I took some memory foam and shaped it to the seat pans, and reused some covers, they feel great after you warm the cold foam and settle in. sat in them for hours doing the panel and feels great. here is a post from 2 years ago. http://www.vansairforce.com/communit...highlight=pedi

[Canadian_JOY]

Just a reminder to those who wish to go for the ultra-bargain-basement price point on their seating... The quality of foam chosen for the seats can have a significant impact on the potential for injuries in the event of an accident. I understand that few of us really want to contemplate that aspect of the design, but it is a critical aspect, nonetheless.

[dave4754]

Completing my RV 7 i finally got the seat foam from Vans.

It seems adequate and I will get a local quote from a collector car upholsterer to apply flame resistant product. Not sure whether leather or cloth at this point, the cost is the factor as the plane is eating up any beer money and probably bread money soon as i race to finish for first flight in Sept.

For my money I like the Classic Aero products and think them fine and if it weren't for the stupid exchange rate on Canadian money I would go there I think.

Oh of course I haven't flown the seat foam yet, But Ii sit on it lots and make airplane noises..... some of my best flying to date!

Dave
p.s. I do try to support advertisers here and have done many times

[Luke D]

Originally Posted by roadrunner20

Luke, The samples you sent were close, but no match.
The rest of the covers look brand new, that's why it would be difficult opting for new covers at this time.

I'm sorry Dan, we just didn't have our current materials program established back then.

[Paul 5r4]

I used classic aero design when I built my 7A. It's somewhat painful to write that check but as soon as you sit in them the first time.... that feeling is completely gone! My seats are extremely comfortable not to mention very durable as well. I'm a happy customer and consider it money well spent. Another way to think of it.... the only real "extra" cost to have professionals like classic aero do your work is the difference in what you'd pay someone else.

[carolsyracuse]

I don;t think Vans seat foam has the features that Oregon Aero or Classic seats have. These vendor's seats allow comfort for very long trips.The secret is the comforfoam in the seats. Oregon Aero has sold me the uncovered seats. They are pricey. I have purchased the plain comfor foam from seatfoam.com (I have no affiliation with them). The recommendation is to use the blue on the bottom and pink on top. Since you have access to an upholstery expert, you could make your own seats and have her cover them to make the cost very reasonable. And she would probably love doing them for you.
The aftermarket seat makers do custom design the shape of the cushion, but if you have access to one of theirs you can see how they do it.

Kitplanes did a series of upholstery articles in 2010. Starting in the April 2010 edition with "Cover Story-designing men". There were articles in May (Building a Custom Cushion), June (Seat Cover Conventions), and July (Carpets and Panels).
All were written by Mike Manning. I clipped them all at the time. They are great articles to get you started.

[rvisnext]

I feel the price is very fair. I could see if us builders were cranking out tens of thousands of airplanes each year, then the economies of scale would come into play and the price could be lower. But even so, everything about the seats I bought from Classic Aero are top shelf. The quality of the leather is so far and above anything I've seen in any car. These are not some hacks throwing some fabric over some craft store foam.

There is real engineering, ergonomics, and design that they put into their products that are hand build to your exact specifications. I'm a satisfied customer.