AIRCRAFT PAINTING &

FINISHING
The importance of A/C finishing
1- for attractive appearance.
2- for protection.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 Fabric finishing processes.
 1- dope finish.

 2- polyurethane finish.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 1- dope finish:
 - one of the easiest finish to apply
 - requires the least experience &
equipment.
 --*-- dope main drawback is cracking.
 to obtain flexibility in a dope film use
plasticizer
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 1- dope finish:
 A) Rejuvenation
 - rejuvenator is a mixture of solvents and
plasticizers.
 - it is used to refill the cracks on the
dope surface.
 B) Application of dope
 - apply a light coats of finish to fill the weave
of fabric and produce a smooth finish
 - add Ultra Violet blocker to the topcoats.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 1- dope finish:
 C) Difficulties with dope:
 1) dope adhesion ( peel off)
- caused by spraying nitrate dope over butyrate dope.
 2) Blushing
- caused by high humidity in the air.
 3) Pinholes
- caused by too much heat or wind.
 4) Sags and runs
- caused by : - too much dope being applied – moving the
gun too slowly – holding the work too close - not
thinning the dope properly.
 5) Orange peel
- caused by air draft over the surface.
 6) Fisheyes
- caused by wax, oil, or some silicone on the surface.
 7) Dope roping
- caused by the dope being too cold to flow out.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 2- polyurethane finish:

- designed for use over metal

- difficult to repair.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 SECTION B (A/C PAINTING PROCESSES)
 1- Metal and composite finishing.
 - the difference between fabric and
metal finishing is by the way the
existing coating is removed.
 a) stripping (paint removal):
 -three methods of paint stripping:
 1) chemical method.
 2) mechanical method.
 3) pyrolytic method.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 SECTION B (A/C PAINTING PROCESSES)
 1- Metal and composite finishing.
 b) corrosion removal and prevention
 c) finishing materials :
 1) primers: used to prevent corrosion
and to provide a good bond
between the metal and the
topcoats.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 c) finishing materials :
 1) primers:
 - types of primers:
 a) zinc chromate primer:
 - good corrosion resistance.
 - does not provide a good bond.
 b) epoxy primer.
 c) wash primer:
 - provides a good bond
 - cures very fast.
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 c) finishing materials :
 2) PAINTS:
 A) Synthetic enamels:
 - applied over zinc chromate primer.
 B) Acrylic lacquer:
 - applied over wash primer.
 - easy to apply
 C) Polyurethane :
 - attractive, hard, chemically resistance, durable.
 D) Acrylic urethane :
 - easy to apply.
 - durable.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 * Special finishes & finishing products:
 A) Special finishes
 1- high-visibility finishes.
 2- wrinkle finish.
 3- flat black lacquer.
 4- wing walk compound.
 5- acid-proof paint.
 6- float bottom compound.
 7- fuel tank sealer.
 8- seam paste.
 9- high temperature finishes.
 (a) engine enamel
 (b) heat resistant aluminum paint.
 10- rot-inhibiting sealer.
 11- spar varnish.
 12- tube oil.
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* Special finishes & finishing products:
 B) Finishing products:
 1- Thinners & reducers.
 a- Nitrate dope thinner.
 b- Butyrate dope thinner. (used with both )
 c- Retarder ( used to prevent blushing)
 d- Anti-blush thinner.
 e- Enamel reducer.
 f- Acetone ( solvent & cleaner).
 2- Rejuvenator ( solvent & plasticizer)
 3- Spot putty & sanding surfacer.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 Section (C) FINISHING EQUIPMENT & SAFETY
 1- Paint room :
 must be equipped with vapor-proof lights, exhaust
fans , and their temperature & humidity controlled
 -( OSHA ) Occupational Safety & Health
Administration.
 2- Air supply:
 air supply used for A/C painting must be:
 - an adequate volume with sufficient pressure.
 - free of oil & water.
 - filtered.
 - regulated.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 Section (C) FINISHING EQUIPMENT & SAFETY
 3- painting & spray equipment.
 - methods of spraying liquid finishes
 A) High Volume/ Low Pressure (HVLP).
 B) Electrostatic system.
 C) Powder coating system or ( dry painting).
 4- Spray guns:
 a) suction guns:
 used for low-volume work.
 b) pressure guns:
 the gun attached to either pressure cup or to pressure
pot.
 c) airless guns:
 - using a pump to pressure the paint out of the gun and
used when a large job to be done in a short time.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 Section (C) FINISHING EQUIPMENT & SAFETY
 5- respirators & masks:
 a) dust respirators.
 b) airflow-type mask.
 c) organic vapor respirator.
 6- mixing & viscosity measurement equipment:
 - to mix a paint can use agitator .
 - to measure the paint viscosity use ZHAN
or FORD CUP.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 Section (C) FINISHING EQUIPMENT & SAFETY
Problem Cause Correction
 7- Spray gun operation :
a) Paint pattern is heavy at Some of the holes
plugged up
may be Remove the air cap, soak it
in thinner and probe the
either the top or the bottom
holes with a broom straw.

b) The pattern is too heavy -Too much material is

coming out.
-close the fluid valve a bit.
- thinning the material.
in the center.
- material is too thick.

c) The spray pattern is too Too much air is coming

through the wing ports.
Spreader adjustment should
be shut down little.
thin in the middle.

d) Jerky or intermittent -Air getting in the fluid line

- too little material in the
refill the cup wit paint
material.
spray.
cup.

e) Banana shaped spray one wing port is closed. Remove the air cap, soak it
in thinner and blow out the
pattern.
holes wit compressed air.

f) Too much over spray. Too much air pressure on

the gun.
cut down the air at the
regulator.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 Section (C) FINISHING EQUIPMENT & SAFETY
 8- applying the finish:
 a) begin with the edges or corners.

b) move the gun parallel with the surface

(hand span- about eight inches- away).

c) each succeeding pass should overlap the

previous one by about 2/3 of their width
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 Section (C) FINISHING EQUIPMENT & SAFETY
 9- sequence for painting an airplane
 10- cleaning the spray paint equipment
 11- masking and applying the trim
 a) masking for the trim
 - use only the best quality masking
paper and tape.
 - remove the tape as soon as the paint
is no longer tacky to the touch.
 AIRCRAFT PAINTING & FINISHING
 Section (C) FINISHING EQUIPMENT & SAFETY
 11- masking and applying the trim
 a) masking for the trim
 b) laying out registration numbers
 the placement of registration numbers on an aircraft is
specified in (14 CFR Part 45 of FAR)
 - for rotorcraft : on the side of the fuselage below the
window line.
 - for fixed-wing aircraft : between the trialing edge of the
wing and the leading edge of the horizontal stabilizer.
 - for fixed-wing aircraft : marks must be at least 12
inches high.
 (1) description : the number must be two-thirds as wide as it
is high. Number 1 is one-sixth as wide as it is high. Letters
M & W equally wide as they are high. The spacing between the
letters and numbers not less than one-fourth of the character
width.