Summer Holidays – how to manage children at an airfield
August 3, 2024Painting A Plane
You'll remember a while back, we posted about AOG, Aircraft On Ground and the basics behind the recovery process. Following the successful recovery of G-AWBG from Perth in Scotland to our facility in Thruxton, we have begun the long process of renovating and restoring the aircraft.
With any major renovation project, we always start by figuring out where we want to end, and this begins with a design goal. Having discussed the project extensively with the new owner and presenting many options for its finished paint work, the aircraft will be completely resprayed in a striking new livery that is sure to turn heads wherever it goes.
Now that the customer has agreed on the new livery, repainting the aircraft can begin.
Unlike re-spraying a classic car, we can't just rub down the existing paintwork and slap on another layer of paint. That would add extra weight to the aircraft and completely change its mass and balance. We cannot repair any dinks or dents with filler; the entire airframe has to be stripped to bare metal and carefully inspected. This is a great opportunity to fully understand and inspect the aircraft extensively, ensuring that there is no corrosion or damage hidden by previous repairs.
At Aerofab Restorations, we're in a great position to use a local business. Thruxton Airfield is not only home to recovery services but also upholsters and a specialised aircraft paint shop. The ability to use on-site services like this represents a huge saving in transport costs, as we can literally wheel aircraft to the various companies on special dollies.
Once the aircraft is completely dismantled, the paint is stripped in a painstaking manual process. We carefully inspect the aircraft, checking every nut, bolt, and rivet, looking for signs of wear and tear, corrosion, or previous damage, and undertake repairs as required to ensure the absolute integrity of the airframe.
Only when our experts are satisfied that the aircraft is sound do we begin the painting process.
Painting is done to the exact standards laid out by the original manufacturer and is in line with the POH. Paint varies in weight, depending on the type used and even the colour, so careful calculations have to be made to ensure the mass and balance remains within the accepted range.
Are you looking at renovating your aircraft? We're passionate about upgrading and restoring. Its much better for the environment and your budget, plus you get exactly what you want.
We're based in Thruxton, just off the A303 and the kettle is always on if you have a project you want to discuss, an upgrade you want to undertake, or just want some advice on what to do next. We're the south's leading Garmin Service Centre too. Upgrade with Aerofab Restorations today.
