I saw that you did yours over a 3 month period. Did you do it in stages so that you could continue flying? The previous owner recovered our seats but I have a headliner, carpet kit and side panels from TN Wings ready to install. We want to try to do it the best way to reduce downtime.
To reduce down time, I did everything all at once. The time to put stuff back in to go fly then pull it back out to work on it more wasn’t worth it to me.
I continued flying during the project by renting a plane at the flight school my wife teaches at.
dan
Dan
Private Pilot, ASEL & Instrument
1975 PA-28R-200
I pulled the seats in my Arrow and gave them with the Airtex seat material to a professional upholstery shop and while the seats were out I did the wall panels and door so I had room to crawl around.
Jim Torley
CFI-A/I/G
1969 Arrow 200
Based at KFLY (Colorado Springs, CO)
I’m new to this thread but have a couple of pertinent questions. First, thanks for everyone that has weighed in – LOTS of great advice.
I am getting ready to redo the entire interior of my 1986 Piper Warrior. I expect to place an order with AIRTEX within the next week or so for the entire interior package including vinyl walls, leather seats, carpet and headliner. So here are my questions:
1. Order from Airtex. Is there anything anyone learned from placing their order with Airtex that they would do differently – order extra screws, insulation, extra vinyl or leather, etc? I already have the quote from Airtex but wondering if anyone would recommend adding anything.
2. Headrests. Like all Warriors I have seen, I have a bench backseat with no headrests. I do have headrests on the front seats. Anyone ever seen or know of a way to add headrests to the back bench seat? I’ve seen Cessna’s with headrests on rear bench seats and they looked pretty good.
3. Carpet Color. I’m going with tan panels and seats and similar headliner. However, I've seen a number of vehicles with that same color scheme but with black carpet and it looks really good. But Airtex wall panels come with carpet on the lower part that usually matches the carpet on the floor. Might look strange to have tan panels with tan carpet on them and black carpet on the floor. Anybody seen this or done it that way? AIRTEX said they haven’t done one like this but even some of the new Pipers have black carpet.
not entirely relevant to airtex, but I’d make sure you get enough adhesive and adhesive remover. I went through about three containers of the adhesive in my arrow. If I did it again, I’d see about just getting a larger size or just more. Likewise for the peerco 321 adhesive remover. That way I wouldn’t have to be so mindful or stingey.
I’d look at the parts manual to see if that was standard or an option.
I have tan and black side panels. And black carpet. I didn’t want the plane to be so monochromatic. I painted all the new window and door trim to match the tan color. I painted all the ceiling plastic black. I’m happy with how it turned out. Although I just bought more headliner material to wrap all the window plastics. I’m concerned over longevity of the painted window trim.
my 22 cents,
dan
Dan
Private Pilot, ASEL & Instrument
1975 PA-28R-200
AirTex will build whatever color you ask of them. Send photos of your carpet they will try to match your side panels.
My 1973 Arrow did not have headrests but I don’t have a bench in the back. AirTex made it so I could have headrests. My A&P has installed AirTex seats in the past and knew how to make the headrest metal part, took him 5 mins to make all 4.
AirTex is very thorough, they include everything that you may need. I did buy extra glue to bond the seat covering and foam but never opened it. As far as easy to work with, AirTex is an 11, one of the best customer focused companies I have ever dealt with. I am very pleased with my Arrow, it has gone from one of the ugliest on the field to being one folks take off their shoes to get in now.
Give them a call and they will explain everything. I am extremely male, totally fashion color blind. They help get us a good combination of colors but I told them that I did not know what I was doing and needed help, they stepped up big and knocked it off the flight line and into the showroom. Tell them what you want they will know how to give it to you.
Checkout my photos or I can post more. Below are new photos. You can see my headrests.
These are through the windows. My Arrow is special, has 1973 only trim, not easily available so I have some missing trim.
Completely agree with Resq5hvy. Airtex and their staff are an 11. I loved the fact that any time I called them, I didn't have to push a dozen buttons to get a human. They answered every call, and had me speaking to someone on the support team in under 30 sec. At times, I spoke directly to Dodd (the owner).
I can do carpentry, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, etc., but like Resq, I'm also a typical male, so don't ask me to match the carpet with the curtains. Probably why my house had hardwood floors before I met my wife.
My wife has done interior design and decorating, so I let her design the airplane interior. It was the perfect call. We bought the sample kit from Airtex and it was worth every penny. 13 years later the interior still looks fantastic and is very comfortable.
I'm so pleased withe the outcome, that every year I stop at Airtex's booth at OSH and thank them.
Thanks everybody for all of the comments. I'd really like to go with Airtex because I have heard really good things - including all of the above. The issue I have is that they are currently running 19 weeks for seats. Ouch! And they currently don't have their sample book - out for printing. They sent me a couple samples but none were labeled, so I have no idea which colors are which. Was really hoping to do this at my annual in May. I'm going to start a new thread to ask about alternatives to Airtex that folks have been happy with.
Comments
Thanks for the recommendation
Dan
Private Pilot, ASEL & Instrument
1975 PA-28R-200
Looking at YokeUp.
ill be assisting during removal and with the annual. Want to spend a little more time getting to know the plane.
I saw that you did yours over a 3 month period. Did you do it in stages so that you could continue flying? The previous owner recovered our seats but I have a headliner, carpet kit and side panels from TN Wings ready to install. We want to try to do it the best way to reduce downtime.
Thanks,
Johnny
Johnny,
To reduce down time, I did everything all at once. The time to put stuff back in to go fly then pull it back out to work on it more wasn’t worth it to me.
I continued flying during the project by renting a plane at the flight school my wife teaches at.
dan
Dan
Private Pilot, ASEL & Instrument
1975 PA-28R-200
I pulled the seats in my Arrow and gave them with the Airtex seat material to a professional upholstery shop and while the seats were out I did the wall panels and door so I had room to crawl around.
Jim Torley
CFI-A/I/G
1969 Arrow 200
Based at KFLY (Colorado Springs, CO)
I’m new to this thread but have a couple of pertinent questions. First, thanks for everyone that has weighed in – LOTS of great advice.
I am getting ready to redo the entire interior of my 1986 Piper Warrior. I expect to place an order with AIRTEX within the next week or so for the entire interior package including vinyl walls, leather seats, carpet and headliner. So here are my questions:
1. Order from Airtex. Is there anything anyone learned from placing their order with Airtex that they would do differently – order extra screws, insulation, extra vinyl or leather, etc? I already have the quote from Airtex but wondering if anyone would recommend adding anything.
2. Headrests. Like all Warriors I have seen, I have a bench backseat with no headrests. I do have headrests on the front seats. Anyone ever seen or know of a way to add headrests to the back bench seat? I’ve seen Cessna’s with headrests on rear bench seats and they looked pretty good.
3. Carpet Color. I’m going with tan panels and seats and similar headliner. However, I've seen a number of vehicles with that same color scheme but with black carpet and it looks really good. But Airtex wall panels come with carpet on the lower part that usually matches the carpet on the floor. Might look strange to have tan panels with tan carpet on them and black carpet on the floor. Anybody seen this or done it that way? AIRTEX said they haven’t done one like this but even some of the new Pipers have black carpet.
Thanks.
my 22 cents,
dan
Dan
Private Pilot, ASEL & Instrument
1975 PA-28R-200
@BRVH61
AirTex will build whatever color you ask of them. Send photos of your carpet they will try to match your side panels.
My 1973 Arrow did not have headrests but I don’t have a bench in the back. AirTex made it so I could have headrests. My A&P has installed AirTex seats in the past and knew how to make the headrest metal part, took him 5 mins to make all 4.
AirTex is very thorough, they include everything that you may need. I did buy extra glue to bond the seat covering and foam but never opened it. As far as easy to work with, AirTex is an 11, one of the best customer focused companies I have ever dealt with. I am very pleased with my Arrow, it has gone from one of the ugliest on the field to being one folks take off their shoes to get in now.
Give them a call and they will explain everything. I am extremely male, totally fashion color blind. They help get us a good combination of colors but I told them that I did not know what I was doing and needed help, they stepped up big and knocked it off the flight line and into the showroom. Tell them what you want they will know how to give it to you.
Checkout my photos or I can post more. Below are new photos. You can see my headrests.
These are through the windows. My Arrow is special, has 1973 only trim, not easily available so I have some missing trim.
Completely agree with Resq5hvy. Airtex and their staff are an 11. I loved the fact that any time I called them, I didn't have to push a dozen buttons to get a human. They answered every call, and had me speaking to someone on the support team in under 30 sec. At times, I spoke directly to Dodd (the owner).
I can do carpentry, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, etc., but like Resq, I'm also a typical male, so don't ask me to match the carpet with the curtains. Probably why my house had hardwood floors before I met my wife.
My wife has done interior design and decorating, so I let her design the airplane interior. It was the perfect call. We bought the sample kit from Airtex and it was worth every penny. 13 years later the interior still looks fantastic and is very comfortable.
I'm so pleased withe the outcome, that every year I stop at Airtex's booth at OSH and thank them.
Jim "Doc Griff" Griffin
PA28 - 161
Chicago area
Nice job! Absolutely beautiful.
And I'll bet it has that "new plane" smell.
Jim "Doc Griff" Griffin
PA28 - 161
Chicago area
Yes it does.
The seats are so comfortable, I was fighting the CB issue, I sat back and thought about things and fell asleep.
Me, too, Griff. Dodd is very good. And everyone, else: Griff does dentistry, too, if you need a root canal!
Scott Sherer
Wright Brothers Master Pilot, FAA Commercial Pilot
Aviation Director, Piper Owner Society Forum Moderator and Pipers Author.
Need help? Let me know!
I am awaiting a root canal. I am told I need 5 more otherwise known as a Garmin G750 in my mouth. The all up is $17,795.
Think he will pick me up at the airport and take me back?
We are going to Florida, I will bring a drill, JB Weld and RTV Blue, we can go shopping with the leftover cash.
Roger Dodger! :) I have a Dremel with a diamond bit. I'll need some Jack Daniels to get through it :)
Scott Sherer
Wright Brothers Master Pilot, FAA Commercial Pilot
Aviation Director, Piper Owner Society Forum Moderator and Pipers Author.
Need help? Let me know!
Sold.
Is the Jack for you or me? If it’s for you I will bring 4 bottles, can’t be too safe these days.
Thanks everybody for all of the comments. I'd really like to go with Airtex because I have heard really good things - including all of the above. The issue I have is that they are currently running 19 weeks for seats. Ouch! And they currently don't have their sample book - out for printing. They sent me a couple samples but none were labeled, so I have no idea which colors are which. Was really hoping to do this at my annual in May. I'm going to start a new thread to ask about alternatives to Airtex that folks have been happy with.
BRV:
I have their sample book and would be happy to send it to you. I'm at 1MO2, if you're close by.
VFRs,