Aircraft refinishing is a very specialized group of activities. The paint scheme must compliment the aircraft, the process
must result in a robust, durable finish that will stand up to the elements for years to come, and the work must be carried out according to FAA approved methods to ensure the aircraft remains airworthy. We understand these requirements and bring a wealth of experience in working with aluminum, composite, and fabric to the refinishing process. If you are considering refinishing your airplane, please take a few moments to review our process. There is a time lapse video of the refinishing shop in action at the bottom of this page. You can also see some photos of one of our projects by clicking here.
- We meet with you to determine the design and we will work with you untill you are completely satisfied with the proposed design.
- Once the airplane is delivered to us, we inspect all surfaces, composite, and plastic pieces and the results are reviewed with you to document the existing condition and identify any repair work to be done. Any defects that affect the quality of the refinishing are discussed with you before work starts.
- Control surfaces MUST NOT be painted on the aircraft. All flight controls (ailerons, elevators and rudder) and accompanying components are removed.
- The aircraft is prepared for stripping. Chemical-resistant foil and tape is applied to all windows, fiberglass, engine inlets, actuators and other openings to prevent any chemical damage to gaskets or plastic pieces.
- The airplane and separate control surfaces are sprayed with a water based peroxide stripper, which is then allowed to work overnight.
- When the paint has loosened sufficiently, the stripper and paint residue are scraped from the surface. Stripper is reapplied and scraped as necessary. The aircraft is pressure washed to remove the remainder of the stripper and old paint.
- The foils and tapes are removed and all aluminum surfaces are ground and sanded to bare aluminum.
- Once the aircraft is completely bare of any paint or primer, it is reinspected for any damage. Any corrosion is treated, loose or missing rivets are replaced, etc. These types of minor repairs are included, however dents requiring sheet metal work are not included. If significant surface restoration is needed you will be contacted for authorization.
- All aluminum surfaces are acid etched and alodine is applied. This conversion coating provides the best substrate for both paint adhesion and corrosion resistance.
- All composite/plastic pieces are inspected and minor repairs are carried out. Then a high build epoxy primer is applied to fill and seal any remaining imperfections. Finally, these pieces are sanded smooth, ready for the topcoat.
- Once the chrome conversion is dry, surfaces which are not to be painted are masked off. The aircraft, flight surfaces and fiberglass parts are hand wiped with a cleaning solvent and then a tack cloth.
- A two part epoxy primer is sprayed on all aluminum surfaces. This is done in our paint booth which is equipped with a high capacity air filtration system to remove all airborne contaminants ensuring the smoothest possible finish.
- After drying, the aircraft and all parts are prepared for the base color by hand wiping with a cleaning solvent and a tack cloth.
- The base color is applied in multiple coats with intervals dependent on temperature and humidity. The timing of these intervals between primer and base color coats is critical to achieve a smooth, high quality, long lasting finish. Done incorrectly the result will be poor adhesion with resultant flaking and early deterioration of the finish.
- Once the base color is thoroughly dry, depending on your paint scheme, subsequent colors, stripes, and registration numbers are applied, either painted or vinyl, as per your specifications.
- When all the colors and/or vinyl have been applied, the masking is removed and all surfaces are inspected and touched up if necessary.
- The balance of the flight controls is checked and they are rebalanced as necessary.
- The rigging is checked and all items are inspected for proper operation. All hardware is inspected and if replacement is neccessary, there will be an additional charge. The aircraft is then returned to service by our A&P/IA.
We require a 10% deposit to reserve a time slot for refinishing.
Our goal at Ormond Aircraft is to exceed your expectations. We believe every aircraft we refinish is free advertising for our business, both the appearance of the aircraft and the opinion of the owner. We strive to ensure that both are the best we can possibly create. We would be very pleased to have your business