Seats for 1961 M20C

[Alec]

I'm a new Mooney owner and have bought a 1961 M20C with original interior.  looking at upgrading.  Does anyone know if I can swap in seats that have headrests?  What about getting seatbelts with shoulder straps put in.  

Also, who is best company to redo the interior panels and headliner, etc?  I'm on a budget, so best value.  I've looked at Airtex and Jaegers in Wisnonsin.

Thanks.

[Hank]

59 minutes ago, Alec said:

I'm a new Mooney owner and have bought a 1961 M20C with original interior.  looking at upgrading.  Does anyone know if I can swap in seats that have headrests?  What about getting seatbelts with shoulder straps put in.  

Also, who is best company to redo the interior panels and headliner, etc?  I'm on a budget, so best value.  I've looked at Airtex and Jaegers in Wisnonsin.

Thanks.

Yes, both are possible. Seatbelts come with appropriate paperwork to install, you have a choice between fixed or retractable shoulder straps, but the retract bundle is not hidden in the sidewall of the plane like in your car, and must be dodged to get into the backseat.

There are threads buried here that talk about ways to add headrests to seats, it seems there is a Toyota headrest that fits just fine. Exercise your google skills and you may find it, or someone else may come along with a link. It was easy reading, and looked simple to do, but I have headrests already so don't recall (m)any details.

[Bob E]

 

[skydvrboy]

For the headrests you are looking for 3/8" posts on 6" centers.  Most Mazda and Toyota cars have them.  As for being on a budget, depending on what that budget is, you may be better off doing your own.  All of the airplane interior outfits seem quite pricey to me, but there is no denying their finished product looks great.

Seat belts are available from https://www.hookerharness.com/aviation.html or https://alphaaviation.com/mooney-m20-a-thru-k-push-button-release/.  The hooker harness ones are significantly less expensive.  Alpha aviation belts offer push button release instead of the lever style you have now.  Otherwise, their basically both the same thing.

 

Edited December 9, 2021 by skydvrboy

[Alec]

Thank you so much to everybody for helping and providing input on this.  I'm a shorter pilot, 5'6" and my wife is 5'5" (110 lbs).  i've heard that there isn't room in the cabin, but so far I found that i have to pull the seat all the way to the front stop and i need an extra pillow or cushion on the seat for me to see over the panel.  I may have new seats made that have more cushion and sit higher.   My two little girls weigh 40 lbs each.  with full fuel, my family, luggage, I still have over 200 lbs before max weight.  I'm sure I'm the exact opposite situation compared to others.   

I'm excited to be part of the Mooney group.  I just bought it, it's in annual, and i haven't flown it yet.  my first flight will be with an instructor for complex checkout.  This plane has had a ton of mods put on it, so i'm excited to get going in it.  I'm sure I'll be back here asking for advice.

[Hank]

You can get rudder pedal extensions in two sizes, to help reach them if your legs are long like Al Mooney's were. I wear a 33-34" inseam, and fly my C from the middle hole in the seat rail [slide forward to lock in, then one more notch].