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