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contaminants later on. The next step is to tape off the windows, de-icing boots, brightwork, and clean the air- frame again with a degreaser.
“Then we apply the Ceramic Pro’s aviation-grade coating on all the air- craft’s painted surfaces. Not once, but three to six times,” he said. “The prod- uct is actually a Si02-based silica di- oxide nano-technology that is applied in a series of very thin layers. They bond to the paint surface and then to themselves as each layer dries.”
“After the layers are cured, we have created a permanent, yet flexible, ‘glass shield’ on the paint that has a Mohs hardness rating of 9H, which is the next hardest to a diamond (10H),” Fox stated. “Don’t confuse this with the ceramic coatings you see at a carwash nor the heavily ad- vertised spray-on ‘Top Coats.’ Those are not genuine ceramic, and own- ers have every right to view them as ‘snake oil.’”
The Finish is Just the Beginning
As Fox explained, once the pro- cess is completed, the aircraft not only looks better than paint-shop fresh, the ceramic-coated exterior is protected from airborne contami- nants and subsequent corrosion. In addition, according to the company, Ceramic Pro coatings are non-organic and cannot be dissolved by acids, bases and solvents. Properly applied and maintained, it will permanently remain on an aircraft or helicopter, protecting its “brand-new appear- ance” for years.
While the corrosion protection qualities and the “I can see myself” shine are Ceramic Pro’s most ob- vious benefits, Fox points out that there are others that can be equally or even more important to the air- craft’s owner.
“Washing takes less time and ef- fort because exhaust soot can’t build up as quickly and doesn’t stick to the ceramic-like it does to paint,” he said. “Also, the product’s hydrophobic and hydrophilic attributes protect the paint against other corrosives like bugs and bird poop. Plus, they’re easier to clean off of leading edges,
which reduces drag and saves fuel.” “Speaking of drag, let’s talk para- sitic drag. When you wax an airplane, you may gain a knot of airspeed, but we’re told of much bigger gains with Ceramic Pro,” Fox continued. “On the Pilatus PC-12s, for example, over the years owners have told us they’ve seen a five- to seven-knot increase in cruise speeds and lower fuel burns purely because of the slickness of
the airframe.”
“We don’t claim any airspeed in-
creases, but who am I to argue with the pilots who fly them all the time?” he added. “Besides, no one can argue that the airplane’s ceramic shine just looks a heck of a lot better.” Interiors Need Love Too
Whether you’re flying your family or paying Part 135 passengers, your aircraft’s interior leads a tough life. Fox Aviation Service also offers solu- tions to help keep your cabin looking like it’s fresh out of a refurbish.
“After completing the exterior, our operators begin working with the in- terior upholstery, carpeting, sidewalls and cabinetry,” Fox explained. “We use Ceramic Pro’s leather and vinyl treatments on all the soft surfaces. We use Ceramic Pro Textile to treat the carpets. They are specifically formulated for these materials and leave no residue nor discoloration or glossy, oily shine. Everything we treat looks and feels like it did when it was newly installed. The only dif- ference is that if a passenger spills something on the seat, it’s just going to bead up and roll off. Wine, Coke, whatever, can just be wiped right up. It makes it so easy to clean the cabin after each flight.”
You Can’t Try This at Home
If all the benefits that the Ceramic Pro products bring to your airplane have you wanting to rush out and buy some, well, you can’t. Because of the tools and training it takes to properly lay down multiple layers successfully, trained and certified installation pro- fessionals are the only ones who can buy and apply the materials.
“When it comes to installers, you want to absolutely double-check
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