Injection-molded plastic Aft Bulkheads are available from Plane Plastics. ($366 with shipping on the date that I checked.)

If you're interested in something a little more robust, however, we have Aft Bulkheads (replaces Cessna part number 1715053-1 in my book) for Fixed Gear Cardinals made from 1/16" thick, "aircraft grade" 6061-T6 aluminum alloy which is then powder coated.*  As usual, click any picture to enlarge.

All attaching hardware is made from 18-8 stainless steel (except the e-clip retaining rings which have a zinc chromate finish).  The assembly is mounted to the aircraft via three 1/4" bolts and isolated from the airframe via neoprene washers and foam tape to mitigate vibration.

These bulkhead assemblies are shipped as a kit and can be assembled with simple tools in about 90 minutes.  If you'd like to check out the assembly instructions before purchase, click here.

The aluminum bulkhead assembly weighs ~9.8 pounds and resides at station 175 (according to my POH).  Since Cardinals tend to be nose-heavy, especially with full-sized adults in the front, I normally fly with a case of water in the baggage compartment to assist with balance anyway so a little additional weight back here shouldn't hurt.  Please do your own calculations however!

If you'd rather paint or powder coat your own, I have a few bare aluminum sets available.

A note about crashworthiness: None of these parts have been tested for crashworthiness and I make no guarantees in the event of an off-airport landing.  However, if you consider what you're removing - in my case 30-year old sun-damaged plastic with 30-year old heat-cycled hook-and-loop tape - I'll bet that this solution is much more secure.  If three 1/4" bolts aren't enough for you, there are a total of seven holes drilled in the bulkhead which can all be filled with your choice of hardware if you have corresponding holes in your airframe.

And finally: If this project appeals to you but you have an RG, please let me know.  If I get a large enough response, I'll take the time to capture those dimensions and make a batch.  I believe the only thing that needs to change is the bulkhead itself - the hat shelf should be common.

Price: $450.00 (Includes shipping within the continental United States. For orders outside CONUS, please contact me ahead of time so we can figure it out together.)

Return policy: If returned unmodified within 180 days from your order, I will refund 100% of your purchase price.  If you want to return the parts after 180 days, please contact me.

How to pay: PayPal (username "mjparry@verizon.net") or check payable to: Matt Parry, 531 Geranium Pl, Oxnard, CA 93036

* Funny coincidence, the manufacturer of the powder coating material used in this application is Cardinal Paint.

The bulkhead assemblies are made and powder coated in the USA.