Leather vs other interior materials

Ed Haywood

Ed Haywood

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Big Ed
About to order a new interior as part of my Decathlon restoration.

Looking at ordering leather seats from one maker, and vinyl wall panels from another. Walls in leather seems like a waste. Much of that would be back in the baggage area where nobody will see it.

"Ultra-leather" is also an option. ACA really likes that material. Says it saves about 5 pounds.

Thoughts on pros and cons of leather, synthetic leather, and vinyl?

Anyone have issues with mixing leather and vinyl?
 
Ed Haywood said:
Thoughts on pros and cons of leather, synthetic leather, and vinyl?
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In new cars, the synthetic stuff looks quite convincing and feels pretty darned good. I hear they're not as breathable and look worse when both are near end-of-life.
 
This tidbit may be worthless as it applies to my experience with car interiors and not planes...

But having recently had two cars of the same model but different trims, the faux leather was much easier to clean than the real leather, and to remove spills from. The trim with real leather was more expensive but I actually preferred the faux version.
 
Ed Haywood said:
Thoughts on pros and cons of leather, synthetic leather, and vinyl?
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FWIW: I'm a firm believer in using naugahyde products. A lot of commercial ops use it as it lasts. It was the only material I would use when working interior upgrades.
 
My interior is ultraleather. Haven't had any problems with in over 15 years.
 
How does the vinyl perform in fire? Seems like it could melt to skin. Would it also give off dangerous fumes?
 
We redid a 172 in Ultraleather and it turned out so good, it made the rest of the plane look like crap.

Surprisingly supple feel, was impressive stuff.
 
Half Fast said:
How does the vinyl perform in fire? Seems like it could melt to skin. Would it also give off dangerous fumes?
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All materials have burn certs, and are identical to the factory TC materials, so whatever risk there is, the FAA approves of it.
 
Ed Haywood said:
Thoughts on pros and cons of leather, synthetic leather, and vinyl?
Click to expand...

"Ultra-leather" is also an option. ACA really likes that material. Says it saves about 5 pounds.

:)

Seriously, every plane I've ever had the ability to fly has been in the "ounces make pounds" category. So I would be happy to get five pounds in one decision.
 
asicer said:
In new cars, the synthetic stuff looks quite convincing and feels pretty darned good. I hear they're not as breathable and look worse when both are near end-of-life.
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I also understand the lifespan of the synthetic is longer. We've come a long way from the vinyl seats of the 1980s
 
Stewartb said:
I prefer fabric for airplane seats. I slide around less.
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I second the fabric. Sitting down on hot or cold leather seats in an airplane suck. If I could have a ballistic nylon like in my truck I would be a happy guy.
 
Baked Potato said:
This tidbit may be worthless as it applies to my experience with car interiors and not planes...

But having recently had two cars of the same model but different trims, the faux leather was much easier to clean than the real leather, and to remove spills from. The trim with real leather was more expensive but I actually preferred the faux version.
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I've got both. Agreed, synthetic performs better. But leather is subjectively nicer to me. Minor stains and variations are part of the charm. I especially love saddle leather seats like the old King Ranch truck seats. Those things are sex on a stick.

Oh man, now I'm dreaming about going to Tandy and buying a hide for my local auto shop to do seats from.
 
I’ve got real leather in mine. Both the seats and the side panels. If I had it to do over, I’d use ultra leather. It’s lighter, softer, wears better and is indistinguishable from real leather.
 
I love the smell of new leather. Old leather, not so much.
 
Bell206 said:
FWIW: I'm a firm believer in using naugahyde products. A lot of commercial ops use it as it lasts. It was the only material I would use when working interior upgrades.
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because of people like you, the nauga is about to be put on the endangered list. they have been hunted almost to extinction for their hides......
 
I’ve had leather in my last two cars - my old 2004 with cloth looks better and feels better than the leather ALL the time. I put cloth in my plane - comfort over smells and looks for me. To each his own
 
Ultra leather is supposed to breathe. My Tesla has PU synthetic leather, which I think is chemically the same as ultra-leather, and it does not breathe well compared to leather.

After mulling on it for a week, I think the optimal combo would be leather seats and ultra-leather wall panels. For whatever reason, Flightline does not want to mix materials. Has to be either/or. Am considering getting leather seats from Flightline, and vinyl wall panels from Airtex.
 
Why not just take the interior to a local car upholster shop and have them do it in the requested materials?
 
N135TB 4.JPG

I like leather.....no issues here. I think mine is a mix of ultra with real....DM me and I can give you more details of the log entry.
 
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Ed Haywood said:
Ultra leather is supposed to breathe. My Tesla has PU synthetic leather, which I think is chemically the same as ultra-leather, and it does not breathe well compared to leather.

After mulling on it for a week, I think the optimal combo would be leather seats and ultra-leather wall panels. For whatever reason, Flightline does not want to mix materials. Has to be either/or. Am considering getting leather seats from Flightline, and vinyl wall panels from Airtex.
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I used Airtex for everything. Very pleased. A lot of work, though.
 
lsaway said:
I love the smell of new leather. Old leather, not so much.
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Ah, yes. That smell. It's the oils of the leather outgassing. I'm old enough to remember the oily windshields and windows of old cars with leather seats. That vapor condenses on the glass and so needs constant cleaning off.
 
unsafervguy said:
because of people like you, the nauga is about to be put on the endangered list. they have been hunted almost to extinction for their hides......
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You must have been out of circulation for awhile. Through careful conservation native naugas have been brought back from extinction. Know of several modest herds Texas way. Last I heard they were trying to cross a few naugas with an Angus. But we may want to speak softly as there is a local feller here who goes by the same nomenclature if you catch my drift and might think we're trying to cross him with an Angus. However, I heard he was more partial to goats....;)
Ed Haywood said:
For whatever reason, Flightline does not want to mix materials.
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FYI: It could be their CRS approval don't permit mixed materials.
 
A ridiculous non-sequitur, but this thread is really making me miss the old Naugles fast-food chain, the sister to Del Taco.
 
unsafervguy said:
because of people like you, the nauga is about to be put on the endangered list. they have been hunted almost to extinction for their hides......
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naugamonsterad.jpg
 
Bell206 said:
FYI: It could be their CRS approval don't permit mixed materials.
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Maybe. But Airtex specifically recommends mixed materials. Not sure why the standards would be different. And Flightline did not say they could not, just that "different materials don't work together." I may call them to discuss. Or I could just order the items separately.
 
tyndall said:
Could be their colors don't match between materials or have different fade rates. Maybe they don't want the hassle of dealing with that.
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I think that is probably it. And since they are the interior provider for the factory aircraft, they have their expectations to meet. As well as a brand to protect, since they charge a premium over Airtex.
 
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