Washing your chopper...
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 240
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Be careful of chemical degreasers and some detergents as they can be corrosive to aluminium, the easiest way to check is to dip a small scrap piece in and see what happens after a few hours. Once your diluted wash mix has dried up, that is what the left over chemicals are doing to your machine.
Mr Sheen is not a good option for the transperancies, give Plexus a go instead (from Aviall) and if you dont belive me clean one side with each and see the difference yourself.
Mr Sheen is not a good option for the transperancies, give Plexus a go instead (from Aviall) and if you dont belive me clean one side with each and see the difference yourself.
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: uk
I can't think of anything better than giving my chopper a wash outside in the sun with a power washer and lots of soap...
Last time i washed an aircraft it was a Lynx, and it had to be supervised by an engineer so us pleby pilots didn't stick things were we shoudn't have, or use the wrong soap/detergent.
Helibelly i don't envy you washing something that size, phnar phnar...
Last time i washed an aircraft it was a Lynx, and it had to be supervised by an engineer so us pleby pilots didn't stick things were we shoudn't have, or use the wrong soap/detergent.
Helibelly i don't envy you washing something that size, phnar phnar...
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 512
Likes: 0
From: Texas
Barring other circumstances to the contrary, our helicopters are washed daily, both the outside and the turbines internally. The pilot is responsible for the engine rinse, but other employees do the external fuselage wash. Let the wash go for a few days (if you're flying every day) and you'll see that the paint is a darker color, and you'll need wax or something to restore it. Let it go a few weeks, and you can never get the paint back to the original color. This is especially obvious with white paint, which will become grey, and no amount of washing will ever make it white again, because the carbon and grime gets into the paint. Just last night maintenance had a ship inside the hangar, waxing and cleaning it, and the white t/r blades, on the inside surfaces where they hadn't been washed properly, were visibly darkened, and could not be cleaned even with intense effort.
Aircraft soap is readily available, and far less damaging to paint than carbon and grime. Just don't use that stuff on your car, though. It will remove the clearcoat very quickly, and make your car look like it's tens of years old.
Aircraft soap is readily available, and far less damaging to paint than carbon and grime. Just don't use that stuff on your car, though. It will remove the clearcoat very quickly, and make your car look like it's tens of years old.
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 814
Likes: 1
From: Iceland
In some countries there are rules called "Duty time limits" !
It's far better for the company to have the pilot flying the helicopter and making money for the company than using his precious and limited duty time for other duties!
I know in some countries they don't take fatigue and overwork so serious but it could kill someone in the end.
Besides procedures for washing and cleaning the aircraft are prescribed in the MM and it can be expensive to damage the aircraft with the wrong solvent or a wrong move!
I feel my responsibility to bring the aircraft back home safely at the end of the day is enough for me.
However during my free periods I like nothing better than to wash and clean my share owned Bell 206B and S-300. But then again I then I have plenty of free time and know what material to use for the cleaning.
It's far better for the company to have the pilot flying the helicopter and making money for the company than using his precious and limited duty time for other duties!
I know in some countries they don't take fatigue and overwork so serious but it could kill someone in the end.
Besides procedures for washing and cleaning the aircraft are prescribed in the MM and it can be expensive to damage the aircraft with the wrong solvent or a wrong move!
I feel my responsibility to bring the aircraft back home safely at the end of the day is enough for me.
However during my free periods I like nothing better than to wash and clean my share owned Bell 206B and S-300. But then again I then I have plenty of free time and know what material to use for the cleaning.
