C-130 Seats |

WHAT WENT BEFORE

If Flight Simulator Club 27th Squadron, we went already in the late nineties demos to the public. The desktop flying went quickly over to the first cockpit-setups. And so we were looking for real cockpitstoelen.

As secretary of the Vlieggroep -10th Tactical Wing in Kleine Brogel, I had rumors heard that the air Force their Hercules C-130 cockpits to modernize. Glass-cockpit, other seats, etc. And the hunt for the chairs was started.

A year later (16 December 1997) we have various chairs purchased (4 Pilot seats and 5 crew seats). Some members (like me) who is a crew seat had bought it to use it as a desk chair.

The construction of the clubcockpit could begin. Our chairman Paul Kellens has weeks one after the other, his living room converted into a carpentry shop. The generic cockpit should afterwards be seen. When beautiful ...

Now, years later, everything has evolved regarding cockpitbouw. Everything is much more realistic and high tech. Our clubcockpit himself on the term ‘outdated’... The investment was too high to modernise and that is for one demo every two years. End of story of our clubcockpit.

The result is that I have this cockpit-seats I bought for myself in my own homecockpitproject to use. The are admittedly not a Boeing-seats but it is better than car seats. And they have flown ...

DESCRIPTION

Adjustable horizontally via rail system;
Adjustable in height;
- Adjustable backrest;
Folding armrests;
Checklisthouder back;
4-point safety belts;
Almost new;
Lightweight;
They are very comfortable.

FACELIFT

Despite the chairs there are still nearly-new they have a facelift is needed. The current color (beige, burgundy, orange) is not quite the right look to be in a Boeingcockpit.

Therefore, following renovation work needed :

All components are fully sand;
Metal parts painting in a gray color;
Wooden parts of the track system to adjust, and clad with aluminum.
Arm - and headrests re-tracing, in grey imitation leather;
Pillows, re-upholster/coating in grey color;
Make the necessary badges and placards;

Painting in gray color

After a thorough scour off the cockpitstoelen with the sprayer in a gray color (RAL 7004 – Mat).

Wooden parts of the rail system clad with aluminum

The wooden platform, still coming from our 27Sqn-democockpit, have what need to modify and refine it to use in my cockpitsetup.

The wooden plate I have nicely along the rails cut to the two rails individually per seat. After everything I have just measured and uitgepast, are the holes drilled in the wooden railplaat and the floor of the cockpit. In these holes, on the underside of the floor, I inslagmoeren use of 6 mm. After that it was just the railplaat and fixed to rotate with a bolt. For this I galvanized bolts can be used of 6 mm x 30 mm.

To the install a little more refined to work I first need to let everything spray painting such as the chairs. I afterwards the railplaten and railsteunen coated with aluminum. Those were the scraps that I had lying on the bottom plate (2 mm) and avionics pedestal (0.5 mm).

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Arm and hoofsteunen covers with grey leather

The arm-and head rests, I once again overlaid with grey leather. The orange color of the C130-execution was not specific to Boeing.

Fortunately, I have the correct neighbor to do this job. My neighbor, Marc Eekels is the managing director of Grip-Gear, a company that deals with the sell of jet skis. One of their specialties is the position of the jet-ski saddles in leather. You can get them in all shapes and colors. And so the link to the cockpitstoelen was quickly put...

The headrests are upholstered in grey synthetic leather and are also a bit thicker. The back is closed with velcro. Job well done !

The badges are also by my neighbor, Marc Eekels made. The shape, text and dimensions are copied from airliners.net.

Pillows, re-upholster

The cushions i.e. the seat cushion and the back cushion is covered with heavy and solid curtain fabric. This I have achieved with Décor Heytens. The gray schapenvel/fleece-fabric of the Interior of the Deckers in Overpelt. This is the seat and backrest along finished.

This album is fantastic refurbished by Yvette Denemoulin, someone close to me and besides a good 27Sqn colleague. A real sorceress in sewing and stitching ... ! Excellent work delivered !

The badges are also the work of my neighbor Marc Eekels. The engraved placard on the back, I make Lambert Notes Trophyshop – Neerpelt. Shape, text and dimensions come from airliners.net.

Even a note. You will perhaps wonder, where are the seat belts ? I have become aware from the left. The metal parts such as the buckles and closures are bulky and heavy and lead to the expensive damage to the TQ and avionics pedestal.