The International Cessna^® 170 Association

Hi ... this is "for what it is worth". I had an installer try to put in a vinyl Airtex headliner this past Saturday and two thirds of the way through he was pulling his hair out. The aft seams did not line up with the bows correctly and the panels were inconsistent in the way they stretched. One panel would be 90 degrees out from the other in the way it stretched ... and it is supposed to be a two way stretch vinyl. I also thought the material was much thicker than the original headliner. I had an A&P and an IA watching and they saw the same problems. I called Airtex ... no joy. I am going to be "eating" the cost of the headliner ... lesson learned. I am having the installer (who does headliners for cars, boats and airplanes) make up a headliner locally. R/Lee (N1967C)

Lee, the original headliner was wool. I used the Airtex wool headliner and it came out pretty well considering I put it in.

I did a vinyl one about 10 yrs ago, it all came out great EXCEPT right at the rear door posts, where I have some wrinkles. I can (and have) live with it but it will cost me points for best of show, I suppose

I just could not make it all fit tight, and the vinyl has no shrink afterwards to hide your worksmanship like the wool ones do

Buy a wool one from Aircraft Spruce. Almost half the price of Airtex (when I bought) and we installed it ourselves in 1.5hrs. Looks perfect.

djbaker wrote:Buy a wool one from Aircraft Spruce. Almost half the price of Airtex (when I bought) and we installed it ourselves in 1.5hrs. Looks perfect.

That's good to know. I considered using the Spruce one, but couldn't find anyone who had put one in at the time to vouch for the fit.

The vinyl one is tricky to install but worth it as it can be easily cleaned of fingerprints. It was very time consuming, but the end result was excellent. It is very easy to trim too much, and then it is ruined.
Cheers Eric

Jim, how's the new legs? I got my insurance money, so i'm cracking the whip on Eric

Hi ... the only problem I have with the wool is the potential for stains that might be hard to remove. If my bird was "original", that might be a consideration. As it is, the bird has a fairly long list of modifications and I think the vinyl will, in the long run, make more sense for me. I very much appreciate the comments though, thanks guys! (I am hoping to make Petit Jean as I missed Sun 'N Fun ... the annual is turning into something of a marathon ... I tend to lean a little towards the "if it isn't right, fix it" mind set and I keep finding things I am having entirely too much fun fiddling with/working on ... the headliner is but one example! ) Regards, Lee (N1967C)

Most of the vinyl headliners that I've seen installed by an A&P look kind of lousy. Most of those I've seen done by an "upholstery guy" look great.
I'm an A&P, but I don't do headliners.

I too will be replacing my headliner (due to smoke damage). I haven't yet decided to buy a airtex and or go with the wool or vinyl. But I really wood like someone else to do it. I have already had my headliner down to replace the cabin speaker and install the shoulder harnesses, I was glad there were no firearms within reach. I know vinyl cleans easier but any consensus on appearance, wool or vinyl???

As for appearance, to my eye at least, wool wins hands down.

Miles

I had vinyl in '82A. It looked decent, but wool looks best IMHO.

WOOL. Definitely, WOOL! (Vinyl was used in those later Cessnas with the training wheel up front and plastic interiors. 170's should have WOOL.)

Wool just makes the plane look so much more distinguished.

Jim, how's the new legs? I got my insurance money, so i'm cracking the whip on Eric Vic I'll PM youwith the details, but the answer is perfect.