THE PROJECT
This project involved Generation Global completing a full interior refit of a Cessna 172 aircraft. This included everything from repairs of the plastic trims and side paneling to new decals, floor coverings, headlining and seat upholstery. Before and after shots have been supplied to see the contrast. All these parts are available on Generation Global’s online shop.
BEFORE
The aircraft was a 1963 Cessna 172E owned and operated by the Marlborough Aeroclub. The aircraft was imported by the club in late 2012 in an effort to engage young pilots and share the enjoyment of flying. The aircraft was imported from Arizona, United States where it had spent the previous nearly 50 years. The plane is now based at the Omaka airfield, which is a grass strip airfield and home to a wide variety of classic aircraft from the world wars including one of the largest collections of WW1 aircraft at the renowned Aviation Heritage Centre.
The seats in this aircraft were completely rebuilt. The frames were stripped back and repainted, the foam cushions replaced, new seat diaphragms fitted, and new dress covers installed. The seating configuration has the two non-articulated seats in the front and a bench seat in the rear. The bench seat has a split backrest and headrests. The seat diaphragms are cut from a specialist material that has multi directional stretch yet very durable. The cushions sit on top of the diaphragm and extend down over the frame on the sides. The seat dress covers were manufactured from ‘Lead Grey’ (ADI-1111) aviation leather and was perforated in the seat insert sections. A vertical seam with double stitching runs up the centre of the inserts with the stitching matched to the leather colour.
AFTER
In this aircraft the floor and lower sidewall panelling were completed in a matching carpet (Zimmer) and the visible edges finished with a black mesh binding. The darker carpet on the bottom of the side walls helps to masks the irregularities such as the air vents. Where the carpet meets the lighter ‘Athena’ (012) synthetic leather, a band of piping in the same leather as the seats is used to tie the interior together. The lighter colour materials used on the upper sidewalls lightens up the cabin along with the plastics and headlining. The upper sidewall also features two horizontal break lines in the ‘lead grey’ leather that extend the full length of the cabin.
The plastic trim in this interior were removed and repainted to match the sidewalls and headlining. Minor repairs were made to fix cracks and damages. The headlining was a suspended ribbed vinyl headlining in ‘Athena’ (100), slightly lighter than the material used on the side walls. Other details include door pull handles, control yokes and new decals on the instrument panel.
