By Lisa Turner, EAA Lifetime 509911
This piece originally ran in Lisa’s Airworthy column in the April 2020 issue of EAA Sport Aviation magazine.
Stillness and quiet hung over the small airport in a protective cloak. Clumps of melting snow streaked with dirt littered the grass. A hint of spring warmth rippled through the 48-degree air, humid after an early morning rain.
I parked the car in front of the T-hangar with the window down and turned off the ignition to drink in the quietude, watching the rays of the emerging sun begin to pierce the fog over the lake.
“Spring’s right around the corner!” came a shout from the corner of the hangar. Startled, I looked over to see Dave, a hangar neighbor.
I shook my head and smiled.
“It’s only April, Dave,” I said. “It could easily snow tonight, and we could wake up to 15 degrees in the morning.”
“No, no, winter is leaving,” he said. “I can feel it in the air. Are you going to pull your machine out and fly this morning?”
“I was thinking about it. I need to look at the airplane and list out the things I need to do and check before I bring it out of storage. I don’t think I’ll get it all done today. How about you?”
“I’ve got to go flying. The day is gorgeous, and I’ve been away too long. I can’t wait to get back in the air,” Dave said, waving his arms at the sky.
“Oh, I didn’t realize you’ve been flying all winter in the snow and ice,” I said. “You’re brave.”
“No, I haven’t flown for five months. But the airplane’s been in the hangar; it should be fine,” Dave said, disappearing into his hangar.
He’s braver than me, I thought. I collected my bucket of cleaning supplies and jacket and went into the hangar next door. It was a lot colder inside, so I opened the bi-fold door and let the fresh air, now in the 50s, into the chilly space.
Ten minutes later I saw Dave pull his Decathlon out onto the ramp. Shivering, I left my hangar and walked over to the Decathlon. It was encrusted with dirt and dust. Cobwebs crisscrossed the cockpit as gossamer threads connecting the controls and the seats, stretching back into the baggage area. A pile of magazines and books lay in the passenger seat with shirts and jackets on the floor. Dave grabbed a roll of paper towels and started spraying the windshield with a bottle of Windex.
“Wait! No!” I shouted, but I was too late. Dave was already wiping and scrubbing.
“I can’t figure out why this cleaner isn’t working on these streaks,” Dave said. “It seems like it makes them worse.”
“Stop,” I said. “You are making it worse with the paper towels, and that cleaner isn’t good for Plexiglas. You need some clean cotton cloths and Plexiglas cleaner. I have some. Let me get it.”
I was feeling like a nag as I returned to the hangar. I gave Dave the Plexi-Clear and several clean cloths and then retreated to the hangar, afraid I would get more annoyed by what I was seeing.
The sun was rising on the horizon, reflecting brightly off the still-wet tarmac. Everything glistened, and the air was fresh and clean. The windsock hung limp in the center of the field. Definitely a flying day. As I turned back to my checklist, I wondered for a second if I could hurry it up and fly today.
“No, it’s not safe,” my brain said.
“Hey, Lee,” Dave said from outside. “Can you come over here a minute?”
I walked over to the Decathlon. Dave was in the cockpit, cobwebs connecting him to the ceiling.
“Listen,” he said. I heard a loud solenoid click. “Dead battery. Can we hand-prop it or can we jump-start it?”
I couldn’t bite my tongue any longer. There was so much I wanted to say. I went ahead and said it.
“Dave, look, I know you want to get in the air,” I said. “It’s a gorgeous day. We all have go-fly fever. But there will be more days like this soon. My advice is to cool it. Do a total and complete preflight and make a list of things you need to do to get back in the air safely. You don’t know what other things besides the battery need servicing. Clean the airplane so you can see everything it needs. Then go flying.”
There, I’d done it. My typical shy self, emboldened. I braced for Dave to respond in anger, for him to tell me to butt out.
Dave looked at me with disappointment on his face. He climbed out of the cockpit.
“Actually, you are right, Lee,” he said. “Thank you.”
I breathed a sigh of relief.
**
Is a Clean and Organized Airplane an Airworthy Airplane?
Not necessarily. There are plenty of airplanes flying that are completely airworthy and also have a mess in the back seat and a layer of dust on the surfaces. There are also plenty of airplanes that are neat and clean but not safe to fly.
Why Should You Care About Cleaning Your Aircraft?
I propose that an aircraft — any aircraft — that is kept clean and organized will give the pilot earlier indications of problems. Whether it’s a powered parachute, an ultralight, a Beech Bonanza, or an RV-7, clean components allow us to inspect faster and feel more confident about finishing a preflight correctly. Other factors include:
Clean windows. See that little tiny speck off the right side? It that another airplane? It will be much easier to identify when you’re scanning the sky if the Plexiglas is really clear.
An organized cockpit. Knowing where things are will reduce the time to locate what you need. An organized cockpit will reduce the panic factor if there’s an emergency.
Clean surfaces and components. Being able to see everything will enable you to identify and address corrosion — an extra critical factor in older aircraft.
Clean fittings and engine. You’ll be able to identify leaks and see torque seal, and visually make sure that cotter keys and other keepers are in place.
First impressions and resale value. We love our airplanes and want others to admire them as we do. A clean airplane is far more inviting and even looks safer than a dirty one.
Cleaning Your Aircraft
Did I talk you into it? If so, here are some tips and tricks for cleaning your aircraft.
- Clean as soon as you get back from a flight. Why? It’s easier to get the bugs and grit off the surfaces right away. If you wait, not only is it harder to get the contaminants off, but also you’ll be less likely to do it.
- Use the right methods and materials. It’s a lot easier to ruin aircraft surfaces than it is automotive surfaces. Cars and trucks have tempered glass that is tougher to scratch than acrylics, but they are heavy. The acrylic windows in aircraft are tougher and harder to crack than the windows in automobiles, and much lighter, but they are sensitive to abrasion (read more below).
- The trouble with covers. If you hangar your aircraft, a cover designed to fit your airplane with a protective inner coating can keep contaminants off. However, even good covers can produce scratching on windows. If you keep your aircraft outside, the benefit a cover provides will outweigh the somewhat accelerated wear on the windows.
- Consider critters. Whether your airplane is inside or out, critters will try to take up residence. If you’re flying often, it’s less likely but still something to check. Mice love getting into fabric-covered craft and silently chew through lacing, which causes structural damage (read more below).
- Get organized in the cockpit. The next time you fly, look around inside. Would anything go flying in turbulence? Do you have to reach for anything you need? Is there anything blocking controls or sightlines to gauges? Think of ways to improve how the interior is organized so you’re not distracted during flight.
- Look for and address corrosion. Corrosion can hide in corners and be covered by dirt. Inspect leading edges and the propeller carefully. If you live in a coastal area, this is especially important because of the salt air.
Have you hand-washed your car or truck only to find a dent or scratch you hadn’t noticed before? This is a great reason to clean your airplane. As thorough as you may be on your preflights, the attention given to cleaning produces a more detailed focus that can help you identify items that you normally would overlook. Besides having your friends and family ooh and ahh over your aircraft, you’ll be confident that your aircraft is clean, organized, and airworthy.
* *
Cleaning Acrylic (Plexiglas) Windows
If your aircraft windows are already scratched, hazy, or smoky, you have two choices. The first is to replace them, and the second is to have them professionally repaired. I say professionally because it is a lot of work, it’s easy to mess up, and there are multiple systems available. This is not a job for the fainthearted. You should research systems carefully because everyone has a different opinion.
If your windows are in good, clear shape, then you can keep them that way by following these steps:
- The keywords for acrylic window cleaning are sensitive and gentle. The material is sensitive to scratching, and you want to use gentle cleaning techniques. Have a supply of clean, premium-grade microfiber cloths or clean, lint-free cotton. The cleaning liquid you use should be acrylic specific, or you can use clean water with a few drops of mild dish soap.
- Flush debris, dust, dirt, and bugs from the windows with a gentle fan stream of water. Many experts tell you to use your bare hand to dislodge debris while doing this. You certainly can do this, but you may want to use a clean, wetted microfiber cloth instead. Why get bug guts under your fingernails?
- Once you have the large debris gone from the surface, put some of the cleaner on the wet cloth. Then, gently wipe the window with a vertical rather than a circular motion. Turn the cloth so it’s moving the dirt to the inside and use more cloths if that one gets dirty.
- When you dry, use a clean cloth and wipe gently, just enough to get rid of wet streaks.
Critter Damage Check
Did you find mice in your fabric-covered airplane? Be sure to check what you can’t identify through the existing inspection covers by taking a suction cup and pulling on fabric panels to make sure they are all still attached.
Quiz
The No. 1 reason to clean your airplane is:
A. Improve aerodynamics.
B. Impress your friends.
C. Find and address safety and maintenance issues.
D. Improve fuel efficiency.
Answer: C. Find and address safety and maintenance issues. It’s easier to identify corrosion areas, loose fasteners, leaks, and faulty adjustments when the components are clean and visible. To some extent, aerodynamics and fuel efficiency may be positive but aren’t the top reasons. Of course, impressing your friends is right up there, but shouldn’t be No. 1!
Do’s and Don’ts for Cleaning Your Aircraft
| Do | Don’t |
| Check the pilot’s operating handbook for advice on cleaning. | Grab the first cleaner handy. It could damage aircraft surfaces. |
| Tape areas like the pitot tube, static port, and other areas where you don’t want washing fluids. | Pressure-clean an aircraft unless the manufacturer recommends it. Follow directions exactly. |
| Find out what the aircraft manufacturer and the coatings (paint) manufacturer say about cleaning techniques and products to use. | Pressure-wash the engine like you do with cars and trucks unless the manufacturer says it’s okay. Follow the directions exactly. |
| Use water to flush dirt and debris from surfaces. | Use high hand pressure to scrub acrylic. Even with a wet, clean cloth, it can produce scratches. |
| Use waxes and fillers that are specifically designed for what you are cleaning and polishing. | Wipe dry surfaces, especially plastics. It will introduce scratches. |
| Use only clean, premium microfiber or lint-free cotton cloths to clean acrylics and paint. | Use paper towels on acrylic (Plexiglas), Lexan, or paint. It will introduce scratches. |
| Inspect all leading edges, particularly the propeller, for debris and corrosion. | Use gasoline, alcohol, acetone, MEK, lacquer thinner, or ammonia-based glass cleaners on acrylics, and check before using them on paint or other metal components. |
| Use a clean, soft bristle brush for metal and paint areas. A pressurized garden tank sprayer is helpful (not the same as a pressure washer). | Leave the airplane in the sun without drying off all of the wet areas, or you could add streaks and spots that are difficult to remove. |
More Info
See “Haven’t Flown in a While?” from the November 2018 edition of EAA Sport Aviation for more details about how to safely bring your aircraft out of storage.
Lisa Turner, EAA Lifetime 509911, is a manufacturing engineer, A&P, technical counselor, flight advisor, and former DAR. She built and flew a Pulsar XP and Kolb Mark III, and is researching her next homebuilt project. Lisa’s third book, Dream Take Flight, details her Pulsar flying adventures and life lessons. Write Lisa at Lisa@DreamTakeFlight.com and learn more at https://DreamTakeFlight.com.