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“New paint sealers will actually get down into the pores of the paint sur- face and bond with the paint, and that creates a sort of thin-film clearcoat that will form a much harder surface that will protect the paint longer,” Brown said. “It’ll last five or six times that of regular wax.”
He explained that today you have two choices regarding these new sealants: the professionally applied ceramic coatings and the DYI types like Xzilon exterior paint protectant.
“The pure ceramic sealers cure to produce a ‘diamond’ hard finish. They’re very good but rather expen- sive to put on an airplane,” Brown added. “For a lot of owners, it’s a lot more than they want to spend – even though it will do a great job of protect- ing the paint and adding years to the paint’s life.”
“An off-the-shelf sealer like Xzilon is relatively inexpensive for an air- plane. It has ceramic-like protection properties but is easy enough to apply so an owner (or their kids) can do it,”
he said. “It’s also one of those prod- ucts that you can reapply to leading edges and other surfaces to provide optimum coverage.”
Let’s Make This Perfectly Clear
I’ve saved the care and cleaning of your aircraft’s clear parts for last. Any mistakes or damage here will be there for you to see for a long time. So be careful.
First off, our experts couldn’t over- emphasize the importance of using only aviation-approved cleaning products. Don’t just grab a bottle of whatever window cleaner and start spraying the Plexi. Many glass clean- ers use ammonia, which can be harm- ful to the acrylics in the windows and windscreen. And if you have a heated windshield, best to just follow the manufacturer’s directions. Any deviation can be detrimental to its performance and longevity.
Also, never use paper towels or shop rags on clear parts; they can easily
scratch the clear Lexan and Plexiglas. Better to use high-quality, ultra-soft microfiber towels and aviation-grade clear parts cleaners. If you want to make it really easy, DuPont’s “Sontara” aircraft wipes are excellent for use on all types of aircraft surfaces. Most aviation parts suppliers carry them.
Lastly, when it comes to remov- ing insect remains off of the wind- screen, don’t use any strong cleaners. The correct way is to use water and a mild cleaner to slowly hydrate the remains until they become unstuck. Then clean the area with a clean mi- crofiber cloth.
Dale Smith has been a commercial, private and business aviation mar- keting and media communications specialist for nearly 40 years. He is an award-wining aviation journalist and aviation artist. Dale has been a licensed pilot since 1974 and has f lown more than 40 different types of aircraft. Contact Dale at dalesmith206@ comcast.net.
Luma Tech
July 2021 / TWIN & TURBINE • 21