Aircraft interior redo questions

[Mark89114]

I had an issue with my FAA registration and was told it would take months....so I decided to redo the interior and now have a thousand pieces scattered about the hangar, in the meantime the FAA got my new registration to me in less than 2 weeks....go figure.  

I have the new carpet from SCS.  It looks like the old carpet in luggage area was glued to some type of foam core posterboard?  Please tell me there isn't an aviation grade supplier for this?  Or can I just buy at local hobby store? 

What about replacing the insulation?  The front panels/sidewalls have some type of foil backed insulation.  Assume I could just use that?

 

 

[RLCarter]

I wouldn’t think foam would pass a burn test, if it ever lit off the fumes would get ya before anything 

[DCarlton]

It's been years since I've worked my carpet and side panels but it seems like I remember the carpeted Airtex side panels being attached to some type of plastic core backing board that wasn't the old cardboard or fiberboard like stuff.  That may be what you are seeing with the old fiberglass insulation behind it.  Probably worth spending some time looking at side panel and insulation options from the usual approved sources.  I bought a precut foil backed insulation kit for my Mooney years back to replace the fiberglass stuff; I think some of it was closed cell foam.  

[jlunseth]

Some of the older aircraft (including mine unfortunately) were fitted with a wool or wool-like insulation in the walls (between the interior panels and the fuselage skin). This insulation would hold moisture over time and would cause corrosion in the steel frame tubes. I had to have parts of a couple of tubes replaced and some tubes sanded and repainted because of it, when I first got my aircraft. So beware what you use for insulation in the walls.

[Mark89114]

Just talked to the Airtex folks, they are selling a plastic "aviation grade" polyethylene board.  Probably same stuff you can buy at hobby store just 3 times the cost for the paperwork.  Will go down that path to keep it legal.  They also have the insulation of some kind.  

After I get the piece cut will apply some heat/fire and see what happens to the old piece.  

[Skates97]

This stuff is pretty easy to work with. 

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/appages/supersoundproofsheet.php?clickkey=59594

[Matt M]

On 3/2/2023 at 10:18 AM, Mark89114 said:

I had an issue with my FAA registration and was told it would take months....so I decided to redo the interior and now have a thousand pieces scattered about the hangar, in the meantime the FAA got my new registration to me in less than 2 weeks....go figure.  

I have the new carpet from SCS.  It looks like the old carpet in luggage area was glued to some type of foam core posterboard?  Please tell me there isn't an aviation grade supplier for this?  Or can I just buy at local hobby store? 

What about replacing the insulation?  The front panels/sidewalls have some type of foil backed insulation.  Assume I could just use that?

 

 

I am currently doing the exact same thing. Installing those same pieces tomorrow. I have the SCS carpet kit as well. I ordered the poly board from Airtex and glued it to the carpet with the glue they sell. I purchased the polyboard already cut to the shape of the side panels, spar cover, and baggage pieces to save some time. The stiffener material is basically the same material that they make lawn signs out of. Home Depot sells it. It’s called Coroplast. The Home Depot stuff is combustible while the Airtex stuff is not. I even tried lighting some scrap to confirm.

As for the insulation I removed all the open cell foam insulation installed by in the 80s and the fiberglass insulation for the headliner and aft areas. Also purchased the Airtex 1/2” and 1/4” sheets of foam insulation. Installed it all. Great quality for a decent price.

Matt

Edited March 9, 2023 by Matt M