This slideshow will take you through the GIV refurbishment process.
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The Gulfstream IV aircraft has specific requirements for painting, which Goderich Aircraft is very familiar with OEM instructions and recommended procedures.
Our customers count on us to follow manufacturers' guidelines to assure that in addition to a very pleasing paint job, they also enjoy the peace of mind knowing that it was done properly.
Work begins with a comprehensive arrival inspection and preparation of the aircraft by defuelling when necessary.
An inventory of items on board is also done at this time, these items are securely stored until the aircraft is ready to depart.
In accordance with the manufacturer procedures, we scrub the entire aircraft with strong soap to remove the environmental contaminants, exhaust and such.
By doing this the stripper is able to more effectively penetrate the paint. The earlier the stripper is removed the better due to the corrosive affect of it.
Adhering to the specific procedures prevents any undue trauma to the airframe.
Having been scrubbed clean of contaminants the plane is brought into our strip bay for completion of masking for the application of the paint stripper.
Procedures call for very specific protection of fasteners and crucial areas to prevent damage from the stripper. Not following procedures can embrittle high stress fasteners leading to premature failure.
To protect the landing gear system, the aircraft is jacked and the gear retracted. A quality assurance inspector will complete a very detailed inspection before the stripper is applied.
We attempt to schedule the strip process to occur at night or on a weekend due to it's unpleasant nature.
The strip bay is kept clean and organized, despite it's messy nature.
The stripper has removed most of the old paint. The areas left will be cleaned by hand. When near crucial areas and seams, our staff hand sand very carefully. The GIV requires extensive sanding, the work is hard but it's work that must be done with great attention to detail.
All our staff have been trained to the specific requirements, ensuring high quality refinishing.
Flight controls are removed where applicable to gain proper access and allow for the same high quality paint removal as the rest of the aircraft.
The removal of the flight controls is very important to the painting stage. It ensures that the paint is distributed evenly and smooth.
A soft media is introduced in areas that have been shot peened at the factory, to ensure that the de-stressing nature of the shot peening is not compromised. To compromise it would be detrimental to the life of the wing.
Goderich Aircraft employs highly skilled, licensed maintenance technicians, to oversee this procedure.
Technicians work diligently to scrub the airframe with the approved metal brightener.
The product used allows for etching of the aluminum to provide a very porous substrate to put the primer on.
Preparation of the composite areas has been on going throughout the process.
Technicians have been repairing damaged areas, then applying the approved coatings in layers. This restores the static transfer capability of the composites.
If not done properly it can lead to future static build up, that can create erroneous readings or even damage to the avionics equipment.
Following the metal preparation a mild acidic solution of alodine is washed over the aluminum.
This seals the newly etched metal and acts as the first line of defense against future corrosion. This step is crucial and our staff have been trained to conduct as recommended.
The alodine solution colours the airframe a gold or light auburn colour as it is applied. The alodine solution is then washed off with water to remove the excess.
The water also dilutes the alodine solution so that the acidic affect is removed.
Once the alodine solution has been applied, the aircraft is allowed to dry.
When the aircraft is dry then it is masked in preparation for the application of the primer coat, which occurs whithin 72 hours as recommended.
The aircraft is placed in our 10,000 sq. ft. state of the art paint bay and once again the aircraft is jacked and the gear retracted.
Quality Assurance will spend hours inspecting and detailing the aircraft prior to release to the primer stage.
The application of a wash primer provides the second line of defense of corrosion.
It is applied in a very thin coat. Too much can cause premature paint flaking and/or defeat the protection properties.
Goderich Aircraft measures and records the thickness of the primer as well as completing test panels to assure high quality.
After inspection of the primer the preperation for the next step begins.
Once preperation is complete a hi-build primer is applied. This is applied specifically to hide small imperfections. Some owners prefer a smooth rivet free appearance, while others prefer a thinner coat.
Goderich Aircraft can accommodate each owner's preference.
Following the application of the Hi-Build Primer, a long day of sanding is scheduled.
The excess product is sanded off leaving it smooth and ready for the base coat application.
The Paint crews are debriefed by the night crew chiefs to maximize efficiency.
The aircraft is ready for the base coat, subject to quality assurance inspection and signoff.
The base coat of paint applied is generally white.
The painters are lauded for a great paint application, but as we've seen there has been extensive preparation leading up to this point.
Goderich Aircraft employs experts in all steps of the process.
The second coat of paint is where most shops typically stop.
At Goderich Aircraft we apply a third coat to insure that the customer receives the high luster and deep appearance that we have become known for.
Following the third coat of paint the aircraft is allowed to dry.
Goderich Aircraft has a state of the art paint booth. We set the controls for a 2 hour cure cycle and a subsequent 80 degree dwell time.
In about 10-12 hours we should be ready to start applying the owners design scheme.
Goderich Aircraft employs a skilled artist for the application of the owners custom paint scheme.
A craftsman is able to make minor adjustments that can't be done when using a paint mask.
Whether the lines are straight or flowing ribbons, our line layer exceeds expectations every time.
Large swoops in a design must be applied with near perfection. There are few that can match our line layer on such a large scale.
Like Mt.Rushmore was once a mountain face, the aircraft evolves as the lines are applied.
The flight controls receive special treatment.
If the flight controls are not done to a very high standard then you run the risk of encountering trouble down the road.
The balancing requirements of the flight controls are crucial, so the weight and distribution of the paint is precisely measured for accuracy.
Once the paint has dried, after all the colors have been completed, the aircraft begins to be unmasked.
That's when our touchup crew goes into action. They begin adding placards, detailing edges, polishing windows and cleaning up the aircraft for final delivery.
Like the preparation stage, the unmasking and touchup stages are very important.
The level of detail we apply will be a determining factor in the customers satisfaction level. Minor blemishes can be erased by tricks of the trade as well as the application of a special process we have developed.
Our state of the art paint bay has over 1500 flourescent bulbs!
This means that you don't have to worry about finding any imperfections after you have picked up your aircraft.
Having the proper facilities is a minimum requirement if you want to produce high quality work.
A picture cannot fully capture the beauty of a great paint job, but this one shows the gleam that Goderich Aircraft strives to attain for every customer.
Quality assurance inspectors make final inspections.
A touch up crew is standing by in case the inspectors come across any little blemish. They immediately take care of these last minute items.
Bring on the customer!
Goderich Aircraft and all it's staff enjoy turning a tired paint job into a new one and all the while providing a refurbishment that follows GIV specifications.
If you're thinking about paint, think Goderich Aircraft for value, quality and on time delivery.
Goderich Aircraft Inc. would like to thank Lance Matteson for his cooperation and support during the aircraft refurbishment. Lance was at our facility during all hours of the refinishing schedule and was kind enough to provide us with the photographs at the end of the project.
