David, There are several ways to skin this cat, depending upon the quality of the carpet you install.
"Loop" pile carpet is not a good candidate for airplanes, in my opinion. The loops can catch on items like sliding seats, cargo, some belt-clasps, etc., and pull-out or destroy the loop(s) leaving your carpet with a damaged appearance.
Short "cut" pile is best for airplanes, the best material being natural fibers such as wool or horsehair (if you can find it.) The Model T Ford collectors use an excellent replacement product which mimics horsehair but is made of wool. It makes a good carpet because it looks like what Cessna originally installed, it wears well and passes the burn test.
My carpet is made of that, and was cut and serged by an upholstery shop.
Serging can be done in several ways, the most common being a "whipped" serge/edging, done by sewing-machine. This looks nice and can be closely matched to the carpet base-color...but it has a disadvantage....the whipping cord/threads suffer the same fate as loop-pile carpet. They can "catch" and be torn loose, leaving you with a raggedy-looking edge which detracts from the appearance. Alongside seat tracks that type of serging usually wears quickly and becomes unsightly.
Another method is to use "serging tape" ....which is similar to what seamstresses use called "sizing tape". Carpet makers are usually familiar with it. Some of it is self-adhesive (I don't like that)...the best method is to have it sewn to the edge of the carpet. This is much more durable than other methods, in my opinion, and is how mine was done.
The carpet on the tunnel can be carefully cut, serged and and glued directly to the non-removeable portions of the tunnel....and can be glued to the cover or left loose in other areas (as well as the main area of carpet which will be regularly removed during inspections) then can be screwed or velcroed directly to the floor. My main carpet is actually loose on the floor, being held in position by the rear seat, pilot seats, tracks, and pilot/co-pilot pedal scuff-pads which are stainless plates screwed to the floor.
To better illustrate this method, here's a pic of the tunnel cover and flap-handle area...as well as a shot of the main floor directly behind the pilot's seat, alongside the seat track.
- Click to ENLARGE PICS
You might also notice the flap-handle "boot" I have. In order to discourage rodents searching for scraps, as Captain of my ship, I don't allow anyone to eat food in the airplane.
This rule is sometimes ignored by the Admiral, and on the way to Benton-Harbor last year she pulled a can of mixed nuts out of her purse and began to open it up. I stopped her and told her why I didn't want anythng other than water or coffee consumed in-flight. She gave me big sad eyes and promised not to drop a SINGLE NUT in the airplane...and I detailed again how important I thought keeping mice out of stored airplanes can be, in order to further emphasize how important I thought it that she not drop a SINGLE nut...as doubtless it would roll around and drop below the floor making it almost impossible to find/remove.
Sad eyes won.
The can was opened, and as a gesture of good-will...she held the can towards me in an offer of "first bite". As I reached for it my elbow bumped the can and not ONE SINGLE NUT fell into the space between the flap handle and the tunnel.....
By actual count it was about 36 of them which slipped the surly bonds of that can and promptly descended beneath the footless halls of that tunnel.
Our next fuel stop was Mena, AR where
"WingNut" (Del Lehmann) met us and arranged a car for our lunch (and a discount for our fuel.) Del also has excellent connections with local upholstery shops, and he arranged for one of them to manufacture a leather boot for my flap handle.
The tunnel cover can be removed to install the boot, and it is glued to the underside of that cover. It took far less time and effort than the two hours to find all 36 nuts.
Yes. I know. It's not original. But sometimes you have to
ASK YOURSELF is it better
TO BE an originality-nut ?....
OR NOT TO BE a half-day contorted in wierd positions looking for your nuts?
