More back seat stuff

[madpilot]

I have seen some talk on the back seat and after taking and putting my back in, I have decided that if I have to take it back out for some reason it was going to stay out. I don't haul more than my wife as a rule so they can stay out. I have look into the BAS folding seats but have only found on place in Iowa that sells them and they want $1600 for the set. I found this pretty steep and was wondering if there was another dealer that handled these seats. Any ideas?

Larry

[mit]

http://fadodge.com/

still costs

[jrenwick]

As posted in the "206 seat" thread:

BAS's STC for jump seats has been sold to a new company. The web site is http://cessnajumpseats.com/. BAS is still at http://www.basinc-aeromod.com/, but they now only list harnesses and tail pull handles as products.

(These are a little cheaper than the F.A. Dodge STC.)

[denalipilot]

My '53 B came with front seats from a 172. The seller mentioned that this made it easier to remove/ install the rear seat. I didn't fully understand until hitting on this rear-seat thread. Sounds like the original set-up was a pain in the butt. He did comment that the original 170 front seats were more comfortable than the replacement 172 seats, but I have only ever flown the 172 seats, and don't find them lacking in any way. Plus, the 172 pilot seat has a raise/lower hankcrank which can be nice. I routinely install and remove my rear seat, and with nut plates in the floor I would have to say that it is quite easy. You do still have to watch out for the paint on the door posts, for sure.

Don't anybody ask me what vintage 172 seats these are, because I haven't the foggiest. I know this conversion won't sit well with you originality nuts , but for actually enhancing utility of the a/c- I'd have to give it pretty high marks. One advantage over the Atlee Dodge seats ( a fine product) is the 26-or-so pounds that you save when you don't wish to have rear seats installed.

Curious to know if others have gone this route.

-DP

[denalipilot]

The web site is http://cessnajumpseats.com/.

Just checked this site and they claim 5.5 lbs/ seat, which is better than I had understood. Guess I still prefer the minmal stripped-down weight and bulk of plain-old removal.

-DP

[GAHorn]

If the rear seat belts didn't attach to the seat itself....and instead if they attached to the floor or other structure...this would be a simpler problem. The fuzz don't care if you sit on an apple crate. What they care about is if you are properly strapped in and have back/shoulder support in case of a crash.
A "hammock" rear seat (a la Stinsons) would likely be a nice alternative....if only the seat belt installations could be simplified/approved.

[hilltop170]

denalipilot-
A lot of the rear seat discussion revolves around how comfortable you want your rear seat passengers to be. If you don't care, the original Cessna jump seat are the way to go. They are the lightest but no legroom, small, uncomfortable, and backs that don't recline. They sit more forward in the cabin and allow more baggage behind them than the ones on the above website which look like knockoffs of Atlee's seats.

Other options are more to much more comfortable with the full size 206 rear seats being the most comfortable with recliners and headrests, very comfortable. They're 10 pounds each plus the weight of the seat tracks and seat belt attach points, but still less than the bench at 27 pounds.


George-
The Kenmore Air 206 rear seat conversion STC includes seat belt attach points on the side walls and at the existing bench seat rear anchor nut plate as on the C-185. All parts have Cessna part numbers. Once installed the rear seat belts can be used with any rear seat or used as cargo tie-downs.

I have a sling seat with all the paperwork and associated parts that was approved years ago in Alaska on the Wein Airways 180s. The feds up there say they won't ever approve another sling seat installation in a Cessna without an STC. And the Alaska feds are the most liberal ones I know of. It sure works good though (as a cargo net only, of course ).

[denalipilot]

If the rear seat belts didn't attach to the seat itself....and instead if they attached to the floor or other structure...this would be a simpler problem.

Actually, My seatbelts do attach to the floor/ walls. I didn't realize this was also non-original. I never monkey with them at all, since they can be just as handy for securing cargo as for securing live bodies. (all other bodies constituting the former...)

Makes me want to re-check the paperwork right now, but everything is with the mechanic for annual. I don't actually take rear-seat passengers all that often, since my home strip is on the short side. I'm still glad for the flexibility of the setup, though.

Thanks for the helpful information, guys

DP

[GAHorn]

...George-
The Kenmore Air 206 rear seat conversion STC includes seat belt attach points on the side walls and at the existing bench seat rear anchor nut plate as on the C-185. All parts have Cessna part numbers. Once installed the rear seat belts can be used with any rear seat or used as cargo tie-downs.....

To clarify.... just because an item has a "Cessna part number" does not qualify it for installation on any Cessna model. It must qualify for an approval basis for airworthiness purposes.

[hilltop170]

To clarify.... just because an item has a "Cessna part number" does not qualify it for installation on any Cessna model. It must qualify for an approval basis for airworthiness purposes.

George-
Good point. I only mentioned they were Cessna parts to clarify that you don't have to manufacture any parts for the STC installation, they are all off the shelf.

[Boiler Bill]

After reading some about how hard it is to get the rear seat out of my 170 B a 1953 model. I decided to make the change. Its so simple to do.
Replace the hinge pins with a pin that has a hole drilled in it and a keeper with a cord on it. It takes less than 5 minutes to remove the seat, no problem at all. The back comes out first, then unbolt the bottom legs and it comes out. Done ! It cost about two bucks and no more damage.

Bill