Air Force One Detailing and Restoring Elite Project

Avi, known fondly as the Detailer, is no stranger to prestigious detailing Aircraft jobs. He maintains private jets and planes for residents, guests and corporations up and down Florida’s east coast.

During the summer of 2011, Royal Car Care Miami president Avi Cohen joined an elite, handpicked team of 30 high-end automotive detailers to help restore two historic paragons in U.S. aviation history: the original Air Force One presidential jet; and a rare WWII B29 Bomber known as T-Square 54. Both planes are on exhibit at the Seattle Museum of Flight.

Air Force One - Boeing SAM 970

Museum of Flight

A Witness to History

In 2003, Renny Doyle of Attention to Details in Big Bear Lake, California answered a call from a Bush-administration official, to begin a decade-long restoration project on AFO’s original paint and bright work (aluminum) for the Seattle Museum of Flight where the Boeing 707-120 is on exhibit. Known at the time as SAM (Special Air Missions) 970, it was the first presidential jet to go by the Air Force One moniker, and served as a flying Oval Office for four U.S. Presidents including Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.

Every year since then, Doyle handpicks the best-of-the-best from his vast Detailing Success Network, to join the prestigious Air Force One Detailing Team. Avi Cohen made the summer 2011 team. (Read more information about Avi Cohen’s Advanced Auto Detailing Certification from Doyle’s Attention to Detail training program - READ MORE ).

In Doyle’s own words, “I am meticulous about the level of skill and talent required for this team because there is no room for mistakes in detailing these $100 million airplanes. I need people who will accept nothing short of perfection and Avi was one of those people.”

The Air Force One and B29 Bomber projects required 2,000 man-hours and used over 2,000 microfiber towels, 1,000 terry cloth towels, some 2,000 feet of plastic sheeting, over 5,000 feet of extension cords, some 200 polishing pads, and gallons and gallons of cleaner, polishes, and paint protective sealers.

“It was an indescribable experience polishing such historic icons. It was hard and exciting and beautiful, like nothing I have ever done before.” Said Avi.

2,000 Man-hours Required

Used Over 200 Polishing Pads

Used Over 2,000 Microfiber Towels

Displayed in situ on the tarmac, both AFO’s paint and raw aluminum known as “bright work” has suffered from exposure to Seattle’s notoriously torrential weather. Seattle’s constant acidic-like rain and contaminants have etched the bare aluminum (brightwork) and paint, giving it a streaked and cloudy appearance.

It is grueling, filthy work, even for an experienced detailer like Avi.

Heavy Acidic-Like Oxidation to the Aluminum

Heavy Dirt and Oxidation to the Paint

Heavy Dirt and Oxidation to the Wings

Requiring multiple stages of paint correction to remove the dirt, oxidation, and contaminants from the clear coat, the plane then has to be polished fastidiously using a Flex orbital action buffer rather than a traditional rotary buffer, to ensure they do not burn the paint. Knowing how to handle and control the buffer to get the finest shine is a skill in itself!

The bright work requires a more punishing effort. Made of pure aluminum, Avi had to climb up into the engines, sometimes curled into awkward positions with the buffer often positioned in unwieldy positions as well. The job required a cherry picker to reach the top of the vertical stabilizer, and the only way to polish the plane’s underbelly required wielding the buffer overhead, which was torture on the shoulders, arms, and neck!

After cleaning and polishing the plane back to its illustrious shine, Avi and the team applied a long-lasting semi-permanent protective coating on the surface to help protect it from year to year.

The results? Well … see for yourself!