The A109 Airedale Detail. Welcome to our first of many detail blogs. We recently detailed an Airedale A109 complete with a Nano-Glaze protective coating. It all starts when you turn up at 08:30hrs and find the aircraft you have been talking to the customer about. The aircraft always seems much bigger when you have to clean and detail it. You notice all the dirt, dust and bugs and there is a lot of dust on this one due to it just being restored and being in the maintenance hangar. First off, it’s pictures for that ever allusive before and after shot but also it helps if we come across any issues we can speak to the customer straight away and send pictures. Then it’s the pre clean, to remove all surface dust and dirt, this takes a while as it’s a big aircraft. The aim was to get the prewash all done before lunch so we could use the afternoon for the coating and final details. An early lunch was called as the pre clean went well and food was calling, and this would be the first break of the day. After the fine food provided by Gleaming Wings H.Q it was time to get on with the second clean of the aircraft. This is a pre-glaze formula that acts like a panel wipe to clean off all those tiny dirt particles that may have been left behind. It also removes any old waxes or polishes from the surface. Again, this takes a few hours as the devil is in the detail. So now comes the time to add the top coating of Nano-Glaze and this goes well even though it’s a shoulder killer. Again attention to detail in the application process makes for an astonishing finish. Nano-Glaze is added to an area we wait for it to flash off and go pale then it’s buffed off to a super glossy finish. The glass work is then cleaned and a coat of see clear added to protect the surface and give it a hydrophobic property, so any water just falls away from the surface. On the home stretch now only the tyres to be dressed and then final photos to send to the aircraft owner. We were just taking some final photos when a pilot appeared. He said he was admiring our handywork and asked some questions on who we are and what we do. He also asked for us to send some details to him so after viewing his aircraft and taking some info we sent him a quote. Time to pack away and tell the airport we are finished and leaving site it’s now 17:00hrs. We drive home and first thing to do is email the customer some pictures of their now Gleaming aircraft. A good day’s work has been had and we can’t wait for our next detail job…….