leather seats?

[Browncbr1]

Just curious what people (who have gone from fabric to leather seats) have to say about hot and cold weather.  We've had a really hot summer, so these day's I tend to think I'm glad I have fabric seats that breath well..  I'm also wondering about cold weather, if it takes a long time to warm up.  with my current seats, there are none of these issues.. 

In 90+ degree weather, how are leather seats?  Do they cause you to sweat a lot?  Does anyone have perforated leather?  just wondering what experiences folks have had. 

[Guitarmaster]

I have wondered that myself. I love the smell, but I checked out Airtex at OSH this year and they have a nice engineered material I may go with.

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[cnoe]

I have leather seats...

... underneath my sheepskin covers.

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[M20Kid]

I have not made the change from cloth to leather, but I have had leather seats in my cars and airplane for the past many years - and I live in Phoenix, which does tend to be a bit on the warm side from time to time

I have never had issues with the seats being too hot or not breathing well.  Most of my flying is up high (over the heat and the bumps) so down low it may be a different story.  What I really like about leather is that it won't hold as much dust.  Leather just seems cleaner to me and that's a plus for which I'm personally willing to pay.  Also, the wear seems better than cloth; they just look newer longer.

The real fun is in the chase to make a great choice.  Enjoy the hunt -

Tailwinds!

Rick

[MARZ]

And there's nothing better than getting into the plane and being surrounded with the smell of a baseball glove.......

[Bob_Belville]

I used to work in tanneries and buy cattle hides, when this country had tanneries.

In spite of that experience () I love leather and upgraded to leather when I redid the interior of my old E model. 

[Wakeup]

Plus one on the sheepskin covers!!  I think they feel great in the winter and summer.  

[ArtVandelay]

I use a towel on the seat because I wear shorts and don't want to stain my new leather seats, otherwise not an issue.

BTW, I think the leather (ultra?) is fairly thin and lightweight and breaths well.

[Bravoman]

 I would not have anything but leather in autos and  planes. To me much more comfortable in any weather. Also, if there is a spill, it simply wipes off rather than soaks in. 

[Bennett]

I agree that leather is the way to go. The only drawback is ball point ink is almost impossible to remove. Generally happens when the aircraft is serviced by others.

[Browncbr1]

Thanks for the feedback guys.. I too have always had leather seats in my cars and have appreciated the ease of cleanup after children eating stacks and spilling drinks..  

I just thought maybe because my cars have always been in garages with good heat and AC, it would be different for a plane sitting out in a shade hangar..  Currently, I don't have any comfort issues... I would like the smell and look of leather, but just wouldn't want to take a step backward in comfort in those hot or cold days because I have absolutely no functional problem with my current seats... I'm leaning toward not fixing something that isn't broken!  (not to mention the cost would pay for some nice panel upgrades)

Edited September 1, 2016 by Browncbr1

[Bob_Belville]

3 minutes ago, Bennett said:

I agree that leather is the way to go. The only drawback is ball point ink is almost impossible to remove. Generally happens when the aircraft is serviced by others.

I took ball point pen marks off leather side panel - I think with mineral spirits, but be sure to test on a spot out of sight.

(Ms. Google says use hair spray or rubbing alcohol but I'm sure I didn't have either of those in the hangar so it would have been mineral spirits or acetone or foam window cleaner - all of which would have been handy.)

[Danb]

2 hours ago, cnoe said:

I have leather seats...

... underneath my sheepskin covers.

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Me to.

[bonal]

Ours came with real nice leather and I like the comfort and feel. If we park in the hot sun we just throw a towel over so does not burn when we get back (remove towel) sit down. I think a good quality leather lasts longer as well

[mooneyflyfast]

When I redid my interior several years ago I went with leather with wool inserts and conforfoam seat bottoms on the front seats.. The wool material costs more than leather but I have found it very comfortable on long flights in hot weather with the conforfoam temperature sensitive bottoms.

[Bennett]

3 minutes ago, Bennett said: I agree that leather is the way to go. The only drawback is ball point ink is almost impossible to remove. Generally happens when the aircraft is serviced by others.

I took ball point pen marks off leather side panel - I think with mineral spirits, but be sure to test on a spot out of sight.

(Ms. Google says use hair spray or rubbing alcohol but I'm sure I didn't have either of those in the hangar so it would have been mineral spirits or acetone or foam window cleaner - all of which would have been handy.)

I've tried all sorts of products, but it is easy to damage the leather. Acetone can take the color out of leather. I bought a can of hairspray (something I have no need of), but perhaps it had the wrong formulation as it simply made a mess on top of the leather (removed with a very damp cloth), but the ball point marks remained.Oxyclean didn't do it ether. Very careful gentle rubbing with Mequires Leather Cleaner ultimately removed the ink after repeated applications. Now I warn all service people to be careful with ball point pens. But other than this pain in the butt situation I really like my leather interior. Tim at Aircraft Designs built a fantastic interior for me, including the yokes, a few years ago, and I wouldn't change a thing ">

[Marauder]

I just upgraded from cloth to leather.

Now in the market for sheepskin covers

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[Hank]

Just now, Marauder said:

I just upgraded from cloth to leather.

Now in the market for sheepskin covers

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Trade ya my woolen cloth seats for your leather ones, if they have headrests. Mine do . . .

[Marauder]

Just now, Marauder said: I just upgraded from cloth to leather.

Now in the market for sheepskin covers

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Trade ya my woolen cloth seats for your leather ones, if they have headrests. Mine do . . .

Sure do

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[Hank]

Wow! Jumbo headrests!! Mine are the more traditional style. No new interior yet, no empty seat pictures since I first bought the plane . . 

[takair]

I just went to leather in December.  Love the look and smell.  Not bad in the winter but I recently did a couple of low level flights in hot humid weather and I was wishing for cloth.  Not so bad at altitude and not bad in winter.  May end up going the sheepskin route, but feel bad hiding the leather.  Perhaps sheepskin on cloth would have been a cheaper way to go.  

[Marauder]

Wow! Jumbo headrests!! Mine are the more traditional style. No new interior yet, no empty seat pictures since I first bought the plane . . 

The rear seats head rests are smaller. I asked to have the front ones made larger so I could extend them and still have them behind my head.

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[Danb]

Chris not all of us are 7ft. tall.

[Bob]

13 hours ago, Bennett said:

I took ball point pen marks off leather side panel - I think with mineral spirits, but be sure to test on a spot out of sight.

(Ms. Google says use hair spray or rubbing alcohol but I'm sure I didn't have either of those in the hangar so it would have been mineral spirits or acetone or foam window cleaner - all of which would have been handy.)

I've tried all sorts of products, but it is easy to damage the leather. Acetone can take the color out of leather. I bought a can of hairspray (something I have no need of), but perhaps it had the wrong formulation as it simply made a mess on top of the leather (removed with a very damp cloth), but the ball point marks remained.Oxyclean didn't do it ether. Very careful gentle rubbing with Mequires Leather Cleaner ultimately removed the ink after repeated applications. Now I warn all service people to be careful with ball point pens. But other than this pain in the butt situation I really like my leather interior. Tim at Aircraft Designs built a fantastic interior for me, including the yokes, a few years ago, and I wouldn't change a thing ">

Had ink on light Mooney seats after OSH this year.  I used hairspray, rinsed with a wet cloth, then rubbing alcohol on a microfiber cloth.  Worked well, the trick is to keep the hairspray wet.  Put it on wet, let sit for 30 seconds, wipe off and reapply.  Takes a few applications.  No color lifting from the seats and no evidence of ink.  Took more time to locate the tools (hairspray) than to do the job.

[Joe Larussa]

I went with simulated leather. Not the leather smell but was more in my budget. You do sweat a bit when it's hot but I love the look and ease of cleaning.