Christmas Came Early!

[Ironflight]

Some folks like to delay purchases for their projects as long as possible, but I like to have everything I need to finish an aircraft as early in the project as I can - if for no other reason than that prices never go down! But there are some things that help the process if you have them early, and one of those is seats. That might seem odd to many, but when you’re working with an older kit (like the F1 Rocket), there is little in the way of an interior provided - its all up to the builder. In order to really build an integrated interior, you need to know where you’re going to be sitting - hence, the need for your final seats (or at least the foam cushions).

I ran into DJ Lauritson at AirVenture this year. DJ has sewn interiors for several of our aircraft in the past, and I really like her work. When she told me she was planning on retiring at the end of the year, I asked if I could get one more set of seats out of her, and she agreed. Yesterday, the beautifully sewn seats (with sheepskin seating surfaces) showed up - a nice early Christmas present! Now I can get back to interior design, including (most importantly) the shape and length of the sticks. For you can’t finish wiring without the stick grips in place, and they can’t be in place until you know the stick length, and you don’t know that until…..well, you get the idea!

 

[GatorsR1]

and Vans Calendars are back, making easy shopping for my friends on the "good" list

 

[JonJay]

Those look comfy!

 

[Roadjunkie1]

Some folks like to delay purchases for their projects as long as possible, but I like to have everything I need to finish an aircraft as early in the project as I can - if for no other reason than that prices never go down! But there are some things that help the process if you have them early, and one of those is seats. That might seem odd to many, but when you’re working with an older kit (like the F1 Rocket), there is little in the way of an interior provided - its all up to the builder. In order to really build an integrated interior, you need to know where you’re going to be sitting - hence, the need for your final seats (or at least the foam cushions).

I ran into DJ Lauritson at AirVenture this year. DJ has sewn interiors for several of our aircraft in the past, and I really like her work. When she told me she was planning on retiring at the end of the year, I asked if I could get one more set of seats out of her, and she agreed. Yesterday, the beautifully sewn seats (with sheepskin seating surfaces) showed up - a nice early Christmas present! Now I can get back to interior design, including (most importantly) the shape and length of the sticks. For you can’t finish wiring without the stick grips in place, and they can’t be in place until you know the stick length, and you don’t know that until…..well, you get the idea!

View attachment 75744

WAY back when DJ sewed my seat cushions and the canopy cover! As GREAT as her work is, she has been at it long enough that she deserves to retire!! Mine have held up for decades, still comfortable and the canopy cover still looks pretty much new! Thanks for your years of helping us sit comfortably in our aircraft, DJ! (Nice place for the O2 regulator! Where are you putting the tank?)

 

[RV6_flyer]

I like the looks of your seats. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that they look just like the one's in my RV-6 that DJ made for me.

 

[msstahl]

Leather seats may look good but nothing beats the comfort and utility of sheepskin!

 

[Jonnyb]

Anywhere else we can get sheepskin seats? They look really comfortable!

 

[Mark Dickens]

Anywhere else we can get sheepskin seats? They look really comfortable!

Luke Doughton at Classic Aero Designs. I had sheepskin on my RV-8 and loved them! I'm planning to do the same on the -14

 

[Ironflight]

I think all the usual suppliers can do Sheepskin - our RV-3 has Oregon Aero upholstery, and that is sheepskin.

In answer to Michael - the O2 bottle is just behind the firewall, in front of the avionics. Remote fill port, of course.

(In-progress wiring photo from several months ago - bottle is held with metal clamps… the Velcro was temporary)

 

[Roadjunkie1]

I think all the usual suppliers can do Sheepskin - our RV-3 has Oregon Aero upholstery, and that is sheepskin.

In answer to Michael - the O2 bottle is just behind the firewall, in front of the avionics. Remote fill port, of course.

(In-progress wiring photo from several months ago - bottle is held with metal clamps… the Velcro was temporary)

View attachment 75747

Great-looking installation! Remote filling! Wow! Pretty sophisticated!! Is that a D size bottle? Looks smaller........ I'm just finishing up my installation. No room up front; mine is in the baggage compartment. Photos etc soon..........