5-seat mod / bench seat for RV-10

[sritchie]

Since starting my build back in 2015, I now have 3 kiddos (7yo and 2 3.5yo twins). I've been reading up on various approaches to getting a fifth seat in the back of the RV-10, and wanted to poll the community, ideally from anyone who's done this mod, for advice on the best approach and on how it's worked. Research below, with questions in bold inline.

Seating / Cushions​

The old answer was "Classic Aero" for the bench seat, but I don't see the RV-10 listed anymore: https://www.classicaero.com/web/public/cc/CC3.php?G=3679BCC14E684B31A97F0CE8C5A90865. Has anyone had success with a filler cushion, or a 60/40? I've already got the rear seats from Aerosport, it'd be great to add on to these, but I'm also fine swapping out the seats if I need to to switch between 4 and 5 seat arrangements.

Lower attach points​

The lap belt attachment makes sense, just use the existing attach points with longer bolts. Do folks do a fifth point for the middle seat, or stick with shoulder and lap?

Shoulder harness attach​

I've been reading up on various approaches to adding the shoulder harness attachment, and I see three different ideas. What do folks think is best?

1. Add another attachment to the longeron on one side, run it to the middle. Slightly offset. I can't find my reference for this anymore.
2. "I just added a connector bar between the existing cables in the luggage area and added the third harness in the middle.", from https://vansairforce.net/threads/5-seat-rv-10.199492/post-1558279, via @AaronG
3. add a new attachment point to the canopy, from @ReidVaitor https://vansairforce.net/threads/5-seat-rv-10.199492/post-1558071:

> As for your seat belt question, add another shoulder harness in the center, basically drill a 2-3" hole in the center canopy fill it with the thick fiberglass cloth (used for doors) than 4 ply of glass about 5 inches wide under it. plenty strong enough then add the center shoulder belt.

Thanks all!

 

[MacCool]

Jeremiah at Classic Aero typically responds to email and phone diligently (Monday -Thursday). As part of your investigation, I'd sure check with him and find out if indeed the RV-10 is off the table at Classic Aero. They're a great company to deal with.

 

[lr172]

Be sure you register it as a 5 place aircraft. Some risk that insurance says you put 5 people in a 4 person aircraft. I speculate rates may be higher above 4.

 

[sritchie]

Be sure you register it as a 5 place aircraft. Some risk that insurance says you put 5 people in a 4 person aircraft. I speculate rates may be higher above 4.

yup, I wrote to insurance, good reminder on updating the registration too if I do it.

 

[sritchie]

Jeremiah at Classic Aero typically responds to email and phone diligently (Monday -Thursday). As part of your investigation, I'd sure check with him and find out if indeed the RV-10 is off the table at Classic Aero. They're a great company to deal with.

Just wrote to him, I'll let the thread know what he says. Thanks for the tip!

 

[benjaman]

The problem I’ve found with little kids is that they turn into big kids really quickly, especially on homebuilding timescales. Seems like it would be really hard to fit all three across in just a couple of years, so maybe it’s not worth it? It can quickly become a W&B issue, too.

I’m in a similar family configuration but with older kids that definitely wouldn’t fit. Practically, this hasn’t turned out to be a huge issue. Short trips it’s nice to have someone rendezvous with a car (and dogs), long trips someone can fly commercial and grab a rental car, but most often not all are available anyway due to mismatched vacations and weekend activities.

I used to fly a Lance with six seats and we never used it to fly everyone together, not once.

Just my experience.

 

[lr172]

The problem I’ve found with little kids is that they turn into big kids really quickly, especially on homebuilding timescales. Seems like it would be really hard to fit all three across in just a couple of years, so maybe it’s not worth it? It can quickly become a W&B issue, too.

I’m in a similar family configuration but with older kids that definitely wouldn’t fit.

This is experimental, we should go back a century and create a rumble seat in the aft fuse Especially good for the dogs that love having their face in the breeze.

 

[RVFan671]

yup, I wrote to insurance, good reminder on updating the registration too if I do it.

I wonder if registering it as 5 is really worth it if you stick to only flying your 5 family members and if at any time you are flying even a single person outside your direct family, you only do 4. Because insurance is paying for 4 versus 5 is really on the medical claims, assuming youre flying within all other aircraft parameters (weight and balance). If you go down with your 5 family members I wouldn't think your own family members or medical insurance would be trying (or able) to sue you or the aircraft insurance to recoup the medical bills they or their medical insurance had to cover?

 

[lr172]

I wonder if registering it as 5 is really worth it if you stick to only flying your 5 family members and if at any time you are flying even a single person outside your direct family, you only do 4. Because insurance is paying for 4 versus 5 is really on the medical claims, assuming youre flying within all other aircraft parameters (weight and balance). If you go down with your 5 family members I wouldn't think your own family members or medical insurance would be trying (or able) to sue you or the aircraft insurance to recoup the medical bills they or their medical insurance had to cover?

This is of course logical. Medical payments are a small portion of a claim due to the limits. The serious financial support is from liability for property damag and to a lesser degree, the hull. But we know that insurance companies will often look for current medical, current bfr, etc., as they can typically deny claims, including hull damage if you didn’t follow the guidelines in the policy and many policies have blanket statements about following FAA guidelines. Unclear how or if sticking 5 in a 4 is an issue or not, but it definitely warrants a phone call or some research.