Window Tint

[tpreece]

Has anyone ever tinted the windows in their plane? I want to tint the back windows and I called a local automotive tint shop today and they said they can't tint plexiglass and won't even try. I have seen several Mooneys with the back windows tinted so how did you guys do it?

[MikeOH]

Not exactly tinting, but I have 'static cling' dark plastic sheets cut to fit the windows.  When it's hot I just 'stick' 'em on.

[carusoam]

There is probably a few threads around here for that…

Essentially plastic windows don’t tint as easily as glass…

But the whole window is pretty easy to replace… with a darker shade.

For ease of use the static cling films are popular…

Decide what you want to do… then see if the search will ferret out the answer that is best for you…

PP thoughts only…

Best regards,

-a-

[LANCECASPER]

51 minutes ago, tpreece said:

Has anyone ever tinted the windows in their plane? I want to tint the back windows and I called a local automotive tint shop today and they said they can't tint plexiglass and won't even try. I have seen several Mooneys with the back windows tinted so how did you guys do it?

Automotive tint turns out horrible after a year or two and some IAs won't sign off on the airplane for annual since they feel the heat is trapped in the plexiglass and may weaken it.  The GILA cling tint works well and can be cut to fit and @Skates97 has a link to it: https://intothesky.com/window-tinting/

 

[ArtVandelay]

I replaced the windows, the back ones with extra dark tint.

[David M20J]

I have not done it, but I have hangar neighbors who saw me trying to make sun shades and walked over and said they got "static cling" stuff like @MikeOH was saying. apparently they got it from home depot and its super easy to add and remove is what they were telling me.  I have no idea what exactly it was but I saw it on their mooney and it looked good, they are gone for the week but if they come back I'll try to remember to ask them exactly

 

[Browncbr1]

There is a static cling roll made by Gila in purple box that not just blocks sun, but is designed to block heat.  I put it on my rear windows and it makes a big difference.  I’ll try to find the box.  I got it at orielly’s.

Edited April 7, 2022 by Browncbr1

[EricJ]

8 hours ago, David M20J said:

I have not done it, but I have hangar neighbors who saw me trying to make sun shades and walked over and said they got "static cling" stuff like @MikeOH was saying. apparently they got it from home depot and its super easy to add and remove is what they were telling me.  I have no idea what exactly it was but I saw it on their mooney and it looked good, they are gone for the week but if they come back I'll try to remember to ask them exactly

 

I get it at Wal-Mart, and, yes, it's very easy to use.

[jazmintchandler]

I've never tinted windows in a plane before, but it sounds like an interesting challenge! I did a bit of research and found a few options for tinting plexiglass windows. One option is to use a heat-shrink film designed specifically for aircraft windows. Another option is to use a spray-on tint designed for plexiglass. It's important to make sure whatever product you choose is FAA-approved for use on aircraft windows. Good luck with your tinting project, and if you're interested in a sun shade for your plane's windows, you might want to check out https://snapshades.com/ for some options.

Edited March 20, 2023 by jazmintchandler

[LANCECASPER]

24 minutes ago, jazmintchandler said:

I've never tinted windows in a plane before, but it sounds like an interesting challenge! I did a bit of research and found a few options for tinting plexiglass windows.

If you use anything but the cling (removable) tint or shades (https://justplanetint.com/collections/aircraft-kits), you risk that a mechanic down the road will not sign off.

I had that happen in 2007 in an annual-gone-bad and ended up having to remove the auto-type tint to get the annual signed off. I paid to have it installed 6 months prior and I paid to have it removed. Airplane tuition is expensive education sometimes.

[ArtVandelay]

If you use anything but the cling (removable) tint or shades (https://justplanetint.com/collections/aircraft-kits), you risk that a mechanic down the road will not sign off.
I had that happen in 2007 in an annual-gone-bad and ended up having to remove the auto-type tint to get the annual signed off. I paid to have it installed 6 months prior and I paid to have it removed. Airplane tuition is expensive education sometimes.

Well, you need to be careful with front seat windows cause you need nighttime visibility and no way would I tint windshield of course. But rear windows shouldn’t be a problem, yes? I order mine with optional extra dark tint.

[LANCECASPER]

On 3/16/2023 at 12:19 PM, ArtVandelay said:

Well, you need to be careful with front seat windows cause you need nighttime visibility and no way would I tint windshield of course. But rear windows shouldn’t be a problem, yes? I order mine with optional extra dark tint.

 

On 3/16/2023 at 12:19 PM, ArtVandelay said:

Well, you need to be careful with front seat windows cause you need nighttime visibility and no way would I tint windshield of course. But rear windows shouldn’t be a problem, yes? I order mine with optional extra dark tint.

If the plexiglass came tinted no problem, I agree the back windows are great dark. However the IA who I was dealing with showed me a document that described how auto tint film that adheres to plexiglass traps the heat inside and causes them to craze prematurely. I didn't agree with him then, but saw years later on another airplane what he was talking about. The front un-tinted windows had no crazing and the back auto-tinted windows had a lot of crazing visible. Of course the airplane referred to wasn't hangared and it was a Texas airplane.

[Pinecone]

On 3/16/2023 at 12:01 PM, LANCECASPER said:

If you use anything but the cling (removable) tint or shades (https://justplanetint.com/collections/aircraft-kits), you risk that a mechanic down the road will not sign off.

I had that happen in 2007 in an annual-gone-bad and ended up having to remove the auto-type tint to get the annual signed off. I paid to have it installed 6 months prior and I paid to have it removed. Airplane tuition is expensive education sometimes.

So the IA would not sign it off because something MIGHT happen in the future?  Wow, heck you engine might fall off in the future.

[LANCECASPER]

7 minutes ago, Pinecone said:

So the IA would not sign it off because something MIGHT happen in the future?  Wow, heck you engine might fall off in the future.

Probably since there was no mention of it in the log book and he was asked to sign off the first annual under my ownership. I didn't like it at the time, but I agree with it now. Even after six months it didn't look great, there were already bubbles in the tint. It was just a bad idea in the first place. 

[Skates97]

As others have said, use the static cling. It is easy to use and easy to remove if you want to. I wrote up a step by step a few years back. After a couple years it gets a little hazy so I just remove and replace it. 

https://intothesky.com/window-tinting/

[Ragsf15e]

On 4/7/2022 at 9:31 AM, EricJ said:

I get it at Wal-Mart, and, yes, it's very easy to use.

@Skates97

Have either of you guys seen clear static film that’s uv protection?  I used the “light” grey Gila on the back windows in my F and it was actually pretty dark.  I want to keep out uv but I’m not so worried about heat/light up here in Washington.

[EricJ]

37 minutes ago, Ragsf15e said:

@Skates97

Have either of you guys seen clear static film that’s uv protection?  I used the “light” grey Gila on the back windows in my F and it was actually pretty dark.  I want to keep out uv but I’m not so worried about heat/light up here in Washington.

I haven't, but I haven't been looking for it, either.

[bcg]

The static cling is the way to go. I use 5% in the back and 20% up front. I keep some squares of 5% rolled up in the plane to slap up where the sun is really bad. It causes a slight distortion in the view but, nothing that would affect safety.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

[Schllc]

10 minutes ago, bcg said:

The static cling is the way to go. I use 5% in the back and 20% up front. I keep some squares of 5% rolled up in the plane to slap up where the sun is really bad. It causes a slight distortion in the view but, nothing that would affect safety.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk
^^^^THIS^^^^

I applied the static film semi permanently to the back windows in both planes. Looks great. Works even better and I also keep squares to move around as needed. 

[bcg]

I applied the static film semi permanently to the back windows in both planes. Looks great. Works even better and I also keep squares to move around as needed. 

I did also. I cut the shape on the outside and then used soapy water to get it into place inside and squeegeed the water out. I think it looks really nice. GJ the Adventure Kitty likes it also.

I have some Velcro on the back windows also for the foil bubble wrap, in the summer time I put that up on the back windows. It makes a huge difference in comfort in the Texas summer. I painted one side of the foil a flat black so it's not blinding inside the airplane.

Sent from my Pixel 9 Pro XL using Tapatalk

[Ragsf15e]

I found some lighter film from greenfilm usa.  99.9%uv and 70% transmissivity vs the 20% for the “light” gila static.  I doubt it’ll cut the heat much but I live in Washington, not texas, so I’ll let you know how it goes.

[Schllc]

I put the darkest I could find on the rear. 
I usually have foil sunshades too

[Ragsf15e]

15 minutes ago, Schllc said:

I put the darkest I could find on the rear. 
I usually have foil sunshades too

Yeah, I could see that.  When I first got my F we lived in Del Rio, TX along the Rio Grande.  The darkest tint wasn’t dark enough.  I still have an icebox AC in my hangar collecting dust.  Haven’t used it once in Washington!

[Schllc]

3 minutes ago, Ragsf15e said:

Yeah, I could see that.  When I first got my F we lived in Del Rio, TX along the Rio Grande.  The darkest tint wasn’t dark enough.  I still have an icebox AC in my hangar collecting dust.  Haven’t used it once in Washington!

A kool scoop is a must have. Don’t miss my ac since I got one. 

[Pinecone]

15 hours ago, Ragsf15e said:

Yeah, I could see that.  When I first got my F we lived in Del Rio, TX along the Rio Grande.  The darkest tint wasn’t dark enough.  I still have an icebox AC in my hangar collecting dust.  Haven’t used it once in Washington!

Wimp.

I went through Laughlin AFB, having to wear a flight suit and boots every day.
 

When were you there?