| To wash an airplane there are many items you | | | | make sure you are standing on a part of the |
| will need to keep in mind. The first is | | | | plane that is designated as an area to walk |
| safety while working on the tarmac of an | | | | on. Most planes have these areas marked. If |
| airfield. When moving any vehicle on the | | | | you are using a pressure washer, then use the |
| tarmac the driver should always maneuver the | | | | sprayer in such a way that you hold the |
| vehicle in square turns. The reason for this | | | | trigger in one hand and hold the hose out at |
| is so that the pilots of the other airplanes | | | | arm's length with the other hand so that the |
| can predict the movement of your vehicle. A | | | | hose does not bang on any part of the plane. |
| person should never drive their car or truck | | | | If you feel you are falling never grab onto |
| under the wing of larger planes. This can be | | | | any part of the plane to try and save |
| dangerous because the top of the vehicle can | | | | yourself. A small antenna will not save you |
| catch a part of the plane and cause damage or | | | | from falling and if you pull it off it will |
| if the plane is starting up. If a pilot does | | | | be expensive to replace. When you fall push |
| not see the vehicle when starting up his | | | | away from the plane and fall flat so as to |
| plane some loose part from the vehicle could | | | | break your fall.When you wash a plane make |
| come off and hit the prop or be sucked into | | | | sure all leading edges (the areas of the |
| the jet engine and besides it's just not | | | | plane that come in first contact with the |
| safe.Planes are designed with very | | | | air) are washed with a bug pad. Planes may be |
| light-weight material so that more free | | | | going twice as fast as cars but they do get |
| weight can be carried by the plane's | | | | bugs on them. When you are spraying or |
| structure. Thus, parts of a plane are easy to | | | | washing a part of the plane always be aware |
| dent and or tear. Planes are not cheap and | | | | of areas where paint is flaking or chipping. |
| the parts that make them up are expensive to | | | | Keep in mind that the wings have moving |
| repair or replace if damaged, not to mention | | | | parts. This is important because, if you can, |
| that the damage could cause problems to the | | | | you want the ability to be able to move these |
| plane that would make it unsafe to fly. Just | | | | two parts so that all the dirt and grease can |
| remember it this way, a plane costs twice as | | | | be removed. When you wash ailerons, |
| much as a boat and a boat cost twice as much | | | | elevators, flaps, and rudder areas you can't |
| as a car. Using safety on a taxiway is very | | | | use that much pressure to wash them or you |
| important. It's just plane smart and it shows | | | | might cause a dent in the wing. If you need |
| proper etiquette to the other pilots around | | | | to use a little more pressure then usual you |
| you.When moving a plane into an area, if need | | | | should put your arm under it so as to give |
| be, to be able to wash it, there are a few | | | | the area more support and aid in not running |
| parts of the plane you can use to move it by. | | | | the possibility of bending or putting a dent |
| When holding the prop you should always hold | | | | in it.To spray the plane, front to back |
| it near the center or where the spinner is. | | | | motions should be made as if the plane was |
| This will prevent you from possibly bending | | | | moving in a forward motion. The reason for |
| the prop, which can happen if you tried to | | | | this is some holes on the plane are designed |
| hold it on the outer part of the prop. | | | | so that water can pass over them in this |
| Another way to safely move a plane, if you | | | | manner but not allow any water to get in |
| absolutely have to, is to use the tow bar | | | | them. Most of the grease on the plane will be |
| that is attached to the lower bracket of the | | | | on the under belly of the plane. You may want |
| front wheel. If you have to turn the plane | | | | to buy a creeper with metal wheels to be able |
| then grab the leading edge of the wing next | | | | to get under the plane and effectively remove |
| to the fuselage. This is where the wing is | | | | the grease. For bigger planes you want to |
| strongest.When you are washing a plane there | | | | have at least a 6-8 foot ladder on hand to be |
| are some key points to remember so as not to | | | | able to get the top of the rear wings and the |
| damage any instruments or windows. The | | | | fuselage. The easiest method to get the |
| windows of a plane are made of Plexiglas. | | | | grease off is by using a citrus degreaser. It |
| Plexiglas can be scratched very easily. To | | | | is perfectly biodegradable but some places |
| wash the windscreen and windows you need to | | | | are still strict on the use of it. So if you |
| use light up and down motions so as to cause | | | | can, just spray it on but if worse comes to |
| minimal scratches. There is no way to not | | | | worse you will have to spray it on a rag, |
| scratch a Plexiglas window. That is why a | | | | wipe it on, then wipe it off. More often then |
| product called Mirror Glaze will be used | | | | not you can just spray it on and pressure |
| after washing to remove a lot of the | | | | wash it off.Always keep the trigger at least |
| scratches. Do not push on the front | | | | two and a half feet away. This is a safe |
| windshield when washing. If you break a | | | | distance so that the dirt and soap will come |
| windshield on a small Cessna single prop it | | | | off but at the same time the spray will not |
| can cost and upward of $1000 dollars. The | | | | damage the plane. In order for you to dry the |
| reason for this is that a front windshield is | | | | plane after it has been washed you should use |
| bolted in by rivets that are flush and it a | | | | a big towel. You can buy one at almost any |
| very pain staking job to get the rivets out | | | | store for a good price. These towels will |
| and put new ones in to make them all | | | | just be for planes only. The bigger the towel |
| flush.Near the rear of the plane is a hole | | | | the faster you can dry a plane not to mention |
| that sticks out just about an eighth of an | | | | the easier it will be. Use wide wiping |
| inch that is called the static board. When | | | | motions to cover the whole plane. If a towel |
| washing near these instruments never spray | | | | should ever hit the ground be sure you shake |
| directly into the hole. Spray around it and | | | | the towel so that any rocks from the ground |
| when using a wash mitt wash around it not | | | | are not in the towel and you will not scratch |
| over it. Under the wing of most planes is a | | | | any part of the plane. To dry the windows you |
| Pitot tube that is used for wind speed. It is | | | | want to wipe very lightly or even dab them as |
| an L-shaped looking tube. Water should never | | | | if you were using a sponge to dry them. This |
| be sprayed directly into the hole, just as | | | | will help reduce the scratches you put into |
| with the static board. If you have to step on | | | | the window.Now if you still have energy it is |
| a plane to get to where you can reach the | | | | time to wax! |
| higher parts so you can wash them, always | | | | |