What to replace seats on M20E

[Badmoonraising]

Rather than re-upholster the front seats, I'd like to replace then with a more up today version. Any ideas on where to get them? 

[JayMatt]

I'd like to put Porsche seats in mine. I'm also curious what people do. I believe when you get them reupholstered if you take them to a custom car shop you can have them molded into anything you want. I know a bucket seat may be a bit harder to get in and out of but the long trip comfort would be worth it to me. 

 

by one of these and install it? 

https://secretlab.co/products/titan-evo-2022-series?sku=R22SU-ATLMB&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=us-google-shop&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=datafeed&utm_source=pmax&utm_medium=cpa&utm_campaign=us-pmax-campaign-nca&utm_content=pmax-nca&gclid=CjwKCAiA3KefBhByEiwAi2LDHBdT3Jcf2tO_lqpQ7KbyIqL59kwbhCbKZxr1TOnAMv5UIE0v1s5IohoCPAAQAvD_BwE

 

 

[KSMooniac]

You can have your seats "built" into anything that is comfortable to you using good aircraft-approved materials.  Most modern materials are fine, but likely won't come with burn certs.  You can send in samples to get them tested & approved, though.  You cannot take any other seat assembly and install it, though!  Only ones from a Mooney.  Later model Mooney seats have more features and are desirable, but hard to come by.  The easiest course will be to custom-build your existing seats into something special that suits you.  

[BobbyH]

5 hours ago, KSMooniac said:

The easiest course will be to custom-build your existing seats into something special that suits you. 

Scott has the right idea here.  When it comes to interior parts, especially in our older planes, I like to maintain both quality and proper materials with burn certs.  It has been a few years but with my last plane I layered memory foam (firm on bottom, med, lighter on top) with leather upholstery, all with burn certs.  The material was a little more expensive but worth the peace of mind.  They made a some very uncomfortable seats into 4 hour seats without having to get up and walking around (as if that were an option).  The basic frames are pretty similar.  You can custom design your foam and improve both comfort and looks.  My M20E seats are next!

[goalstop]

I don't have a pic, but I did an AirTex install on my E-model - full leather, lots of structure to the seats, fits perfectly like a glove.

All-in (including install) was 5 AMU, and would have been 4 if I'd used fake leather or 2.5 if I'd installed myself (I'm not handy enough).  Installer used some extra foam to make it fully structured

I'd be very surprised if you could fit anything resembling a Porsche seat in an M20

[N201MKTurbo]

41 minutes ago, goalstop said:

I don't have a pic, but I did an AirTex install on my E-model - full leather, lots of structure to the seats, fits perfectly like a glove.

All-in (including install) was 5 AMU, and would have been 4 if I'd used fake leather or 2.5 if I'd installed myself (I'm not handy enough).  Installer used some extra foam to make it fully structured

I'd be very surprised if you could fit anything resembling a Porsche seat in an M20

The seats @ragedracer1977 put in his Mooney were pretty close. I don't know where he got them done, but they were pretty sweet.

[ragedracer1977]

I had them done at chino aircraft interiors. Very fast turn around. Less than 2 weeks, including leather wrapped yokes.  I think it was about $7k.

 

 

[goalstop]

Also here’s the pic of my Airtex install

ragedracer-those look sharp!

[cliffy]

Maybe its just the old curmudgeon in me but let me add some fact to this discussion as it comes up every year or so-

NO you can't go out and just buy things (seats) on the open market and install them like you would in your 56 Chevy

EVERYTHING in your airplane is part of the TYPE CERTIFICATE that it was approved under and any change from that design requires 

some kind of approval STC, DER etc.

When your airplane was made a complete package of design parts info was submitted to the FAA as to How the airplane as assembled

and tested to pass certification. . That "package" was approved. Every nut bolt and washer etc was included. No deviations allowed unless some

other follow on approval process is completed.

As far as seats go they are drop tested for crash worthiness before approval. Our seat belts are attached to them and have to handle all the G forces

involved in a crash with us in them.

Wish as we might its a proposition that will never happen.

[Freddb34]

On 2/15/2023 at 11:18 AM, ragedracer1977 said:

I had them done at chino aircraft interiors. Very fast turn around. Less than 2 weeks, including leather wrapped yokes.  I think it was about $7k.

 

 

Where did you get the seats with the headrests?  That's the ones i want.

[KSMooniac]

What seats do you have now?  There might be headrest provisions hidden under the covering.  They're just simple aluminum vertical tubes welded to the top of the frame that are a couple of inches long.  You might have to remove the back panel and take a look.

[LANCECASPER]

3 hours ago, Freddb34 said:

Where did you get the seats with the headrests?  That's the ones i want.

Then once you follow @KSMooniac's advice on seeing whether you have provisions for headrests, if you find you do, some have gone to salvage yards and found Toyota headrests the same size and had them upholstered to match their seats.

[varlajo]

14 hours ago, LANCECASPER said:

Then once you follow @KSMooniac's advice on seeing whether you have provisions for headrests, if you find you do, some have gone to salvage yards and found Toyota headrests the same size and had them upholstered to match their seats.

Do you happen to know which Toyota model/year headrests fit? I am only aware of certain years' Nissan Pathfinder. 

[LANCECASPER]

I bought some rear headrests once from a 1996-2002 4Runner that worked

[Scooter]

Aero Comfort 210-340-0177. Hector. Redid my seats. Easy to work with. Very accommodating. Will build to what you want or will give you clues to comfort. All certified. 

[McMooney]

I'm taking mine to a sweet upholstery shop  that handles my cars.  planning on a peanut butter quilted look, maybe peanut butter seating with black sides, kinda like the new denali ultimate

Edited Friday at 09:10 PM by McMooney

[Bob E]

On 10/2/2025 at 7:12 PM, LANCECASPER said:

Then once you follow @KSMooniac's advice on seeing whether you have provisions for headrests, if you find you do, some have gone to salvage yards and found Toyota headrests the same size and had them upholstered to match their seats.