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Tips on Detailing Airplanes

When you detail an aircraft, you not only insure the quality of the paint, you also keep dirt and grime from getting into critical parts of the airplane. When you remove dirt, oil and soot from your aircraft, you greatly reduce the chance of corrosion getting into the airframe. When you clean your aircraft, take extra care when detailing around sensitive parts of the aircraft.

The General Washdown
- Wash from top to bottom. First, rinse the airplane using a gentle spray. Use soft cloths for the majority of the aircraft. Be selective of the type of wash you use. Automotive wash is great for cars and trucks but can be corrosive to airframes, so use a wash that is designed for aircraft. Scrub and clean underneath the wings and around the wheel wells. Pay special attention to the aircraft underside and the wings: grease, oil and fuel residue build up in these areas. Look for corners and tight spaces. These collect dirt and will prevent your airplane from looking completely clean they are if ignored. Make sure to wash the wheel wells, but do not remove all the grease. Only remove grease that is on painted surfaces. Clean the turbine in the same manner as the rest of the airplane, but make sure you leave nothing behind. Any foreign object sucked into the engine could cause catastrophic damage to the aircraft.
Wax
- Apply a conservative amount of wax over one portion of the aircraft at a time. This will keep the wax from drying and leaving a tough residue. Be careful not the clog the pitot-static ports. Each port has a small hole that can be clogged, rendering the port useless and depriving the pilot of critical flight instruments such as his airspeed indicator and altimeter. Spend the majority of your time waxing the underbelly of the aircraft. If your aircraft is equipped with de-icing boots on the leading edge of its wings and tail, do not apply wax directly to them. The wax could cause a breakdown of the rubber material. Instead, purchase boot wax.
Polish
- If you are working with a polished aluminum aircraft, rebuff the aircraft with aluminum polish. This takes extra time, but the result is worth it. Be careful too not the clog the pitot-static ports. Paul Huskey, who has cleaned his fair share of small aircraft and jets, suggests polishing three square feet at a time. This will keep the polish from drying prematurely.
The Cockpit
- Use caution when cleaning the instrument panel.
  
  To prevent hazing of the windshield, use a special cleaner that is designed for plastic or coated glass panes. Use a cotton swab or small cloth around the instrument panel. Use only a small amount of cleaner. Don't neglect the seats. Small aircraft are often not equipped with air conditioning, so there may be a lot of sweat build-up on the seats.

Aviation