Have you ever worked on aircraft?

M

mini1

New member
I recently detailed a couple vehicles for a pilot. He told me that he is responsible for maintaining the jet that he flies. The Learjet is owned by an investor and chartered around the country. Its home base hanger is not far from where I live, and he told that me he would be interested in having me detail the entire interior of jet. The plane is normally chartered by multi-millionaire executives and for special corporate events. It seats about 12 passengers, but he told that there is a lot open space. I'm not exactly sure how big or old it is, and I have yet to see it.

I have never been asked to work on aircraft. I've done vehicles, tractors, boats and mega-yachts (with crew).

I would be charging by the hour on this one, and it would only be interior work.

What do you think? Have you ever been asked or worked on Learjet sized aircraft?
 
Just think of the interior as a high end car. If you have to clean the cockpit, make sure you tell the pilots to recheck ALL the switches. Other than that its not a big deal, other than it takes a lot longer because there is more of it.
 
If you haven't googled "airplane detailing", try that. I did before and a lot of info came up. WHAT EVER YOU DO, DO NOT UNDER CUT YOUR PRICES!!!!!!!!!
 
Just detailed an airplane this week actually. It's a lot of work doing the exterior, but interior isn't too difficult.



John
 
There are usually small, just a bit bigger than pin hole vents in several places on the outside of planes. Be sure you don't fill them with wax, tape them off with bright blue tape, don't count on your detailing brush. Ask your client what they're for.



Also, since you're a car detailer - not a plane detailer as your client to show you the parts that have to be handled carefully. Ask him and record his answers. Have him run you through the routine a couple of times.



Of course, the best advice is to stick with cars, but the temptation might be too much.



Robert
 
If you are just working on the interior just thinkof it as a large high end car. The LearJets are not too big so you shouldn't be too overwhelmed. If you have done "mega-yachts" then you should be ok.

If I were you I would stay away from the cockpit for now until you and your client are more comfortable with each other. There are some instruments ind teh cockpit they are worth more then most cars we all work on.

All in all take your time and leave no stone unturned. Good luck let us know if you have anymore questions.
 
I'm starting to worry about the insurance requirements and super high cost. It may not be worth it, since this would be a couple times per year deal.
 
a learjet usually has a few pitot-static holes on both sides of the nose on the lower half...do not get those filled with water or wax....and be careful with the angle of attack vanes behind them a bit....depending on which model you are gonna detail.....if its a factory paint job with no metallic stripes on it then it isnt clear coated...but the learjets are covered with putty...so be careful if you come across a patch of exposed putty u dont want to go over it with a d.a. or what not other wise you'll grab the edge of it and start flaking off more putty and paint...usually the learjets are painted with jetglo matterhorn white...which is an enamel paint...very hard...paint thickness is around 4 to 6 mil,,,but then again depending on who painted it,,,if it has metallic stripes...they are clearcoated and the clearcoat is not even half that thickness....if yo9u are gonna do some wet sanding...be careful over the clearcoat u dont wanna eat into the metallics otherwise u have to respray the metallic and blend it in then clearcoat and buff and polish the area...do not wax the forward windshields...they are heated and some waxes actually get a bit sticky when it gets warmed up..use a sealant......normally on the windows around the glass is usually a black,dark brown, or dark gray sealant that does get a bit soft if u go over it with a rotary or a da so use caution over that...its usually about an 1/8'' to 1/4'' wide....have the owner/mechanic go over the aircraft with you and have him show you what to tape off and what he should take off....static wicks on the trailing edges of the controll surfaces/wings/tail. etc,,, if u break one,,,,,its like 300 to 400 bucks a peice...depending on the model...sometimes there is about 8-12 of em on the jet, some have more...some have less......i have worked on learjets/citations and others and i aslo am lead painter for aircraft at my work...when i respray a section...i go over it with 1500 grit 3m wet or dry on a pneumatic sander...respray...resand with 1500 and then buff with 3m rubbing compound on a rotary with a wool pad...glass smooth......nothing more than that is needed with that kind of paint....there is a detailing crew at my work and the types of wax they use is mostly acrylic sealants on the high end big buck planes...those last a fricken long *** time....and believe me.....nothing sticks to that shyte!! i think its called aps 365 made by jetstream....dynamite stuff....in other words...biggest worry are bugs on the leading edges...DONT USE SIMPLE GREEN!!! its corrosive!!...and be careful around any exposed metal from missing patches of putty/paint...those jets usually have a well maintained finish...
 
dj1976s said:
a learjet usually has a few pitot-static holes on both sides of the nose on the lower half...do not get those filled with water or wax....and be careful with the angle of attack vanes behind them a bit....depending on which model you are gonna detail.....if its a factory paint job with no metallic stripes on it then it isnt clear coated...but the learjets are covered with putty...so be careful if you come across a patch of exposed putty u dont want to go over it with a d.a. or what not other wise you'll grab the edge of it and start flaking off more putty and paint...usually the learjets are painted with jetglo matterhorn white...which is an enamel paint...very hard...paint thickness is around 4 to 6 mil,,,but then again depending on who painted it,,,if it has metallic stripes...they are clearcoated and the clearcoat is not even half that thickness....if yo9u are gonna do some wet sanding...be careful over the clearcoat u dont wanna eat into the metallics otherwise u have to respray the metallic and blend it in then clearcoat and buff and polish the area...do not wax the forward windshields...they are heated and some waxes actually get a bit sticky when it gets warmed up..use a sealant......normally on the windows around the glass is usually a black,dark brown, or dark gray sealant that does get a bit soft if u go over it with a rotary or a da so use caution over that...its usually about an 1/8'' to 1/4'' wide....have the owner/mechanic go over the aircraft with you and have him show you what to tape off and what he should take off....static wicks on the trailing edges of the controll surfaces/wings/tail. etc,,, if u break one,,,,,its like 300 to 400 bucks a peice...depending on the model...sometimes there is about 8-12 of em on the jet, some have more...some have less......i have worked on learjets/citations and others and i aslo am lead painter for aircraft at my work...when i respray a section...i go over it with 1500 grit 3m wet or dry on a pneumatic sander...respray...resand with 1500 and then buff with 3m rubbing compound on a rotary with a wool pad...glass smooth......nothing more than that is needed with that kind of paint....there is a detailing crew at my work and the types of wax they use is mostly acrylic sealants on the high end big buck planes...those last a fricken long *** time....and believe me.....nothing sticks to that shyte!! i think its called aps 365 made by jetstream....dynamite stuff....in other words...biggest worry are bugs on the leading edges...DONT USE SIMPLE GREEN!!! its corrosive!!...and be careful around any exposed metal from missing patches of putty/paint...those jets usually have a well maintained finish...
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wow, and I thought I used the triple period "..." a lot. :wow:
 
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