Foam for seats

[mike.smith]

I have cordura fabric in the hands of a local upholsterer. So now I need to decide what type and what thickness of foam for the seat and seat back. I'm 6'-1" so I have the lowered seat mod. I wouldn't want to build up too much thickness.

I have a Tempurpedic bed and am very partial to that. So maybe use that kind of foam? Where do you get small slabs of that? If anyone has done this, what thickness did you use, and are you happy with it? As foam goes, it's heavy, so I wouldn't want to go any thicker than necessary.

If not a memory foam, what other materials and thicknesses have you used?

I'd like to hear your suggestions and experiences.

Thanks,
Mike Smith

[vigilant104]

Viscoelastic foam ("Confor", etc) provides very good dissipation of impact forces. It is highly resistant to "bottoming out", and varies its response/resistance depending on the acceleration experienced. It is good stuff, and reportedly very comfortable.

Here's source. I have no connection with this company: Confor info: http://www.trelleborg.com/en/Applied-Technology/Products-and-Solutions/Energy-Control-Products/CONFOR-Cushioning-and-Impact-Absorbing-Safety-Foam/Glider-Sailplane-and-Light-Aircraft-Seat-Foam

Another source and more info: http://www.seatfoam.com/index.html

[tonyr]

I just bought 3 slabs of confor foam, 36" x 18" x 1".. cost an arm and a leg down here in Australia!

I am using 1" Blue for the seat back and 1" of pink and blue glued together for the seat bottom.

Havent put it together yet, am about to start carving it up this evening, and sewing cordura covers .. should be fun :)

Cheers
Tony

[floridasonex]

Go to Target or Wally World and buy one of those high density foam pads
for putting under a sleeping bag. Cut and attach to the seat sling.

RT

[fastj22]

Go to Target or Wally World and buy one of those high density foam pads
for putting under a sleeping bag. Cut and attach to the seat sling.

RT

When I go out to do aerobatics, I take out the fancy leather interior and just use a blue backpacking foam pad for the seat. My parachute becomes by back rest. It insulates my butt from the cold hard aluminum and gives me maximum headroom.

[radfordc]

Wicks Aircraft sells the "confor" type foam. Search for seat cushion foam.

[billmaxmcw]

My wife did a great job on my upholstery. Closed-cell foam from an upholstery shop works fine. You need harder foam for the bottom, and softer for the back. Try out several samples. Sticky-back Velcro works well for installing it.
Bill, Oregon

[kevin814]

+1 on the closed cell foam. I've spent a lot of time searching and have never found an open cell foam firm enough to sit on without bottoming out (and I'm not THAT fat).

Kevin K.

[A10snoopy]

Great article on doing your own custom foam seat in the September 2014 edition of Kitplanes magazine.

Paul, Onex 76