Dacron...

[John Boucher]

Help guys.....

How do you clean (wash etc.) Dacron so that it look as good as new?

Are there special detergents that must or can be used to restore the material to it's former "new" look?

BAD NAV

[John Boucher]

Ok..... is this a state secret or what?

[Morph]

No Idea,

I haven't used Dacron for ages. I know you can protect it with a UV spray when new so it doesn't fade, but old dacron

[John Boucher]

Thanks Morph

What are modern day trike wings made of?

Trylam is used on the newer models of Cheetahs. What is the skyranger and the Bantam covered in?

BAD NAV

[lamercyfly]

Yo Badnav........

How do you get your car to look like it did the day you picked it up from the sales-room

You will never get it to look new - it is used........

But you can clean dacron with normal sunlight soap (you know- the green bar of soap) a soft nap broom and clean tepid water. Rinse thoroughly with fresh water. NO HIGH PRESSURE!!!!

Small oily spots can be spot cleaned by hand using a linnen cloth (old T-shirt)with thinners and immediately washed with sunlight soap and rinsed. Large oily spots, or bird poo stains are there to stay.

If it is a fixed wing aircraft, you can clean and then spray with a special blend of clear lacquer and a flexible additive. I did this to my skyranger aircraft, and it looked years younger. Like 'buffing' your car to remove the oxidation and get the shine back...... This also adds UV protection, and if done when new, can almost quadruple your dacrons life span!! Yup, no one told me when I built the skyranger. I only found out when it had already done 350 hours. The problem with this is that you have to replace the dacron if you remove it from the frame for what-ever reason.
Once you have sprayed it, the dacron is ruined if you take it off the frame. This is the reason we do not spray trike wings (we fold them regularly)

Later,

[DieselFan]

NO HIGH PRESSURE!!!!

Later,

All / most the planes at microland do this? Would love to give Hannes a reason why his income will be reduced?

[John Boucher]

Thanx guys...

I was contemplating recovering the Cheetah with Trylam but at a cost of about R 30 000 I shelved this idea. Was at John Weston - Kimberley yesterday and one of the chaps mentioned WAP universal cleaner...

Use a diluted mixture, wash one area at a time, wet properly, soft broom or brush, rinse properly! I don't want to treat the material as Murphy would then decide that something has to be done with the frame.

Will try the sunlight soap action first though!

BAD NAV

[smallfly]

Question.....

Would it be a bad idea to clean it using the type of vacume cleaner

that sprays water and detergent mixture onto the surface

and then sucking it up again ? Like the normal carpet cleaner.

As far as the UV protection, in Postma's..............

you think theres something in this universe that can beat THAT sun ??

[Neophron]

Hi Guyes
I found the following link on the Skyranger forum. http://www.thepolishingcompany.com/foryourplane.html
Lots of cleaning stuf there.

Cheers :D

[nicow]

BAD NAV
I only use water mixed with Sunlight soap,and a soft broom.Do not use high pressure to wash the wing!We had a trike that was washed with high pressure,and the wing looked like a fish skin after the wash.

[nicow]

Neophron
Welcome!Do you fly in Marble Hall?

[John Boucher]

Nico

Interesting link and I am sure many will benefit from it. The sun is really harsh in the Northern Cape but luckily my plane is always hangared when not flying. I fly out gravel strips and conditions out in Postmasburg are dusty to say the least!

I just want to protect what life the covering still has and obviously cleaning it already adds value to what you feel about your aerie!

[Neophron]

Nico

Avirm
Lovely weather and area all year.

Cheers :D

[Hot Stuff]

Is there anyone going to order any of the products, if so contact myself as I would like to order

[John Boucher]

Batman....

I have sent them an e-mail to see if there is a local supplier, if not ..... will post and we can take it from there!