Arm Rests…

[Clayvt]

I’m sure there have been, but has anyone not installed the arm rests?

I got my seat backs assembled and sat in the cabin for the first time and clecoed on the arm rest. It just felt like it sucks up a lot of elbow room.
Now granted I was sitting on the floor and not a cushion but I feel like I’d be resting my arm on my thigh and not use the arm rest much.

I don’t even really use the one in the Cherokee I rent.

Thoughts?

 

[lr172]

I’m sure there have been, but has anyone not installed the arm rests?

I got my seat backs assembled and sat in the cabin for the first time and clecoed on the arm rest. It just felt like it sucks up a lot of elbow room.
Now granted I was sitting on the floor and not a cushion but I feel like I’d be resting my arm on my thigh and not use the arm rest much.

I don’t even really use the one in the Cherokee I rent.

Thoughts?

Have you tried crawling under the panel with an arm rest installed? strongly suggest you do that before installing it.

 

[mburch]

The armrests are pretty handy, and not really in the way once you have your seat cushions installed.

In my previous RV I found that the armrests tend to get beat up, especially if passengers put too much weight on them, so I added a stiffener angle that's tied into the bulkhead on either end (picture here).

 

[Desert Rat]

You're talking about the armrest that goes along the outboard side right? Since the skin rivets to it and it ties into the fuelsage frames on both ends, it seems likely that there's a structural component to it. I don't think I'd skip that part for a little extra elbow room. At least not without talking to Vans about it. At the very least I think it's likely that the skin might oil can there in flight without that stiffening it up.

But yeah, It doesn't get used much.

Like Matt, I also added a stiffener based on seeing other planes where they were beaten up.

 

[CharlieL]

I also added a stiffener to the armrests. I don't find the armrest in the way and use it on most every flight. Elbow on the armrest, a couple of fingers on the stick. Very comfortable and stable.

 

[Clayvt]

I did stiffen the arm rest with the J channel method.

If I left the rests out I would put something there to act as a skin stiffener like J channel or something.

The arm rests would be one of the last things to get riveted on.

 

[D-Dubya]

Please clarify which armrests you're talking about. The ones built into the sides of the fuselage that come with the kit, or an add-on center console / armrest?

 

[Clayvt]

The ones on the outboard side of the seat along the skin.

 

[wirejock]

As mentioned, J-channel fits right in the inboard angle. I use mine.

 

[D-Dubya]

The ones on the outboard side of the seat along the skin.

Then I would absolutely install them. It may be structural, but I'm not positive of that. Like some of the others, I added a stiffener to mine in case someone pushes off the armrest while getting in and out. When an actual seat cushion is in place, you'll find the armrests are in the right location and aren't in the way. I added a small padded elbow cushion to mine; I like it, but that small cushion is probably not necessary.