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watching the end of the Cessna Caravan Tour, I like the textured floorboards. mine are not textured. when I change the carpet, I will use textured alum floorboards and make them bigger. https://youtu.be/461Tz1AcHjU

anyone knows where to obtain textured alum sheet?

McMaster-Carr has textured alum sheet for a reasonable price but it is 3003, not 6061 or 2024. 3003 is really soft, like the Van's standard supplied alum tubing. I don't want that because I currently have 6061 and I need to flatten it every couple of years because it bends upward at the edges from the heel pressure. perhaps a textured epoxy/carbon fiber sheet would be the best. epoxy is flammable, however. humm...

perhaps try a 2-3mm carbon plate from Amazon or other. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09WYBQNB9/re ... RydWU&th=1

my current alum plate is glued to the carpet and is secure.

I had pretty terrible carpet in my RV which has been getting in worse and worse shape after 10 years and 1000 hours. I finally just tossed it out and replaced it with some cheap wood I used as just a template for making out of something nicer. You've got my thinking here though - I may buy some carbon fiber and do a layup with over the existing template that I have. I think it would look sharp.

I wonder if you could place a coat of clear urethane over the epoxy / carbon fiber for durability?

I was going to order some carbon fiber mat and run some experiments. Ideally I would like a smooth coat which is 100% transparent. I was thinking of applying multiple skim layers of epoxy over the finished product and then see if I could smooth it out. Nothing is more durable than epoxy!

two things I don't like about mine; 1) they don't extend far enough forward and when the rudder pedel is depressed fully the heel catches on the fwd edge. that's the worst of it. 2) they eventually deform and curl at the edges. I don't believe a carbon fiber panel would do that.

two things I don't like about mine; 1) they don't extend far enough forward and when the rudder pedel is depressed fully the heel catches on the fwd edge. that's the worst of it. 2) they eventually deform and curl at the edges. I don't believe a carbon fiber panel would do that.

carbon fiber plate. after reviewing various carbon fiber plate I decided to go with some good stuff and reduce the thickness. 1.2mm plate using 12K tows from a US manufacturer. the stuff on Amazon is from China and is 3K tows and some comments of really poor edge quality when cutting, like massive fraying. I don't want that. hopefully this stuff will cut well, and it should be stiff enough and be very lightweight.

Clint Miller - Bertha Lou
https://youtu.be/x6AO9nmY4rY

getting ready for the carbon fiber. removed the alum floorboard and silicone. heat the alum sheet with a heat gun to then roll it off. I think I'll use 3M dual lock to secure the carbon fiber.

say hello to heel air ride! spaced the 3M dual lock so the heel will be supported by the thin carbon fiber sheet. allows for flex and should reduce vibration felt in the heel. I think I am going to really like this but needs to be flight tested. it looks good! this carbon fiber sheet cut very well with no frayed edges. one of the big complaints about the Chinese stuff is that it explodes at the edges when cut and makes a mess.

I was amazed, this sheet felt really good at my feet. this carbon fiber sheet is bigger than the alum sheet it replaced but reduced the weight by 35 grams. the carbon fiber sheet will not develop a permanent set and curl at the edge like the alum sheet did. the carbon fiber sheet still has the blue backing. if your feet are happy, the whole body is happy!

I need to extend my curtain all the way to the floor to trap the heat in the back for comfort.

what can I say, it feels good. I made some in-flight photos to understand if there is some flex with normal heel pressure. I think there is some. tennis shoe size = 13 US.











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before, my floor plates were dumpy and curling. now, carbon fiber: 1) heel air ride, 2) bigger, 3) reduced weight, 4) these will not curl, 5) they look great! that's five-characteristic improvements.

more carbon fiber floor plate testing with boots on. it was really nice! when carbon fiber air ride becomes standard, remember, you saw it first right here on RivetBangers!

-7C on the ground here today at takeoff, -17C at 4500 ft (squeezed my way on top but below the Class-B 5000 ft floor), but I was nice and toasty as the heater works well. before the flight I called the airplane to start the preheat. the engine compartment was warm when I arrived. leave the oil door closed for preheat. I decided to remove my bug blades for the Winter. squeeze fore and aft to remove. these have been going strong for 4 yrs.

flew 25 minutes to Hangar 5 restaurant and had a nice conversation with a couple about Michigan UP geology. I had a big unhealthy (2500 calorie) but good breakfast; hey, put some more cheese on the gravy. when I went to pay my bill, it had already been paid for me. thank-you. flew home, fired up the heater, swung the curtains and crawled into the loft hammock to read a book and then was asleep. a very good day.

nice artwork at the FBO at KBAK. 5 planes arrived at the restaurant when I was there.

55 hrs on the oil, I may change it at 75. I have two oil filters on the shelf remaining. I think my engine is healthier if I keep the CHTs up in the Winter.

weird precip or something up ahead at -16C, I decided not to fly into it. Winter flying is the best!

Kosianut - Wasting My Young Years
https://youtu.be/tLp0niknHMo

after 10 hrs in the plane I can say the carbon fiber air ride floor plates are much better than alum plates. you saw it first on RivetBangers!

the blue protective plastic film is holding up better than I thought it would, but it will succumb eventually. today I thought of what I will replace it with. 3D printer mat PEI. very tough and can be applied very smoothly. I believe that will give the floor mats the same life as the airplane.