This is the start of the
construction of my seat bottom.
I used 1/2" styrofoam with 2
layers of 8 oz fiberglass on each
side. On the edges of the seat I
used a dremel to cut out the
foam and floxed the edges all
around. I have also added two I
beams 1/2" foam and fiberglass
to the bottom of the seat running
front to back.
construction of my seat bottom.
I used 1/2" styrofoam with 2
layers of 8 oz fiberglass on each
side. On the edges of the seat I
used a dremel to cut out the
foam and floxed the edges all
around. I have also added two I
beams 1/2" foam and fiberglass
to the bottom of the seat running
front to back.
The seat is supported on the
main and aft spars by 5/8"
spruce blocks. I did an
engineering calc. to check
this out; the weakest point is
actually the 5/8" spruce and
not the seat itself. I still have
a pretty good safety factor in
the design. The seat back is
also 1/2" styrofoam with 1
layer of fiberglass each side.
The seat back is attached to
the rear spar with a piano
hinge so it will fold forward.
main and aft spars by 5/8"
spruce blocks. I did an
engineering calc. to check
this out; the weakest point is
actually the 5/8" spruce and
not the seat itself. I still have
a pretty good safety factor in
the design. The seat back is
also 1/2" styrofoam with 1
layer of fiberglass each side.
The seat back is attached to
the rear spar with a piano
hinge so it will fold forward.
Initial design load testing of
seat with 40-pound son
Sean. Inital test was passed
and more testing has since
been conducted.
seat with 40-pound son
Sean. Inital test was passed
and more testing has since
been conducted.
I added a forward lip at the
main spar to give the seat a
better appearance. The lip is
two layers of fiberglass.
Then I painted the seat white.
main spar to give the seat a
better appearance. The lip is
two layers of fiberglass.
Then I painted the seat white.
Update 2006, The seat bottom started to
delaminate after about 30 hours of flight testing.
For a quick fix I replaced it with a sheet metal pan
across the two spars. After 5 years, the sheet
metal pan is still in place.
delaminate after about 30 hours of flight testing.
For a quick fix I replaced it with a sheet metal pan
across the two spars. After 5 years, the sheet
metal pan is still in place.
