I’ve already installed hardpoints in the seatpans and mounted the seatback. But after talking with the people that will be making the foam cushions (Oregon Aero), I found out that they can make the compressed thickness (how thick the cushion as when you’re sitting on it) to your specifications. They recommended installing the seat to see how much headroom I’ll have first.

This is where having the plane in SC kinda sucks. So next time down, I brought the pilot seat and put some foam blocks on the floor which put the rear of the seat at the height with the same angle that the rails would have. And that’s when I discovered the problem. With an inch and a half of foam between me and the seatpan, my head was jammed into the roof. When I moved the seat so that I could reach the pedals, I couldn’t reach the stick. If I moved the seat forward so I could reach the stick, my knees were elevated so that my thighs were no longer supported by the seat. So I needed to lower the rear (to get headroom) and raise the front (to support my legs).

Here’s the result:

Now the problem is that the rails will have to be modified.

Here’s the factory rail.

Normally people mount these upside down from this picture. That way as you slide the seat forward, it also raises the seat. To gain more headroom, I removed the bottom straps and replaced the top straps with a pair that are taller in the front.

Here it is after a ton of thought and modifying.

Modified seat rail installed with me at the controls.

I’ve sent the pictures and dimensions to Oregon Aero and now I’m waiting to hear back.