Duncan Aviation has performed a complete overhaul on the interior and exterior of a Citation 750.
When the aircraft arrived at the company’s full-service facility in Battle Creek, Michigan, the interior was simple, beige, and lacked any pattern or design. Duncan Aviation noted the headrests were uncomfortable and didn’t function well, the seat design was plain and standard, and the interior was worn.
The owner of the aircraft envisioned a classic updated scheme including subtle patterns in a cool grey, almost navy colour scheme. Highlights of the interior included quilted double-stitched diamond pattern inserts in the seats, and dark, rich navy sidewalls.
Seat design
“He wanted the seats to be the stars,” said Heather Pridemore, Duncan Aviation lead designer. “The contouring shape of the seats, accentuated with blue accent stitch lines, make the seats feel taller and definitely help them stand out.”
The stitching was done using Duncan Aviation’s new CNC machine, which allows the upholstery team to create perforation, multicolour sewing and multicolour embroidery on aircraft seats and panels.
“This machine allows us to control the quality and turn times, and lets our imaginations run wild with possible designs,” said Travis Smith, Duncan Aviation’s upholstery team leader. “The designs are pretty close to endless with what we can do on quilted panels.”
The owner liked the dark, cool grey theme in his interior, but wanted to bring in a splash of colour. The result was dark, rich blue lower sidewalls that give a classic yet distinctive look to the interior. They tie in with the blue stitching on the seats.
The carpet is another highlight. The owner told Pridemore he wanted a darker carpet, so she picked a pattern that had light accents in it to help balance the darkness of the lower sidewalls and the lightness of the seats. “Everything tied in so well together,” said Pridemore. “Being a small aircraft, it was a priority to make everything look and feel cohesive and flow seamlessly.”
Pridemore incorporated black composite ebony veneer, and updated all the plating to a satin chrome finish. The result is a straightforward, classic, clean and updated interior.
Exterior coordination
The owner relayed his idea for the exterior, and Pridemore made tweaks until it was perfected. The result is a scheme that brings the outside of the aircraft to the inside, highlighted by navy blues, silver and gold accents.
The finished product has a modern classic, sleek look that Pridemore said fit perfectly on the Citation without looking overwhelming. “The long, lean lines running aft to forward made the Citation look bigger than it actually is,” said Pridemore. “The lines pull the aircraft, making it feel longer and more spacious.”
While the aircraft was down, Duncan Aviation technicians also performed a few minor maintenance due items and installed the Collins Pro Line Fusion integrated avionics system and the Collins Venue CMS.
