Paint my Helicopter

Dr. David Parry

Taking your helicopter right back to the ÔboneÕ

The task was straightforward enough: prepare and re-spray a Jet Ranger 206 B2 with an Allison 250c-20b2 engine, G-JBHH. Colour scheme agreed, the operation would take 'no time at all', would it? Sure it would need regular visits from approved engineers at various stages and the guidelines for spraying a helicopter are stringent, in terms of materials and dos and don'ts, but everyone concerned was professional and there was an abundance of enthusiasm, all around. There's only one way of writing this; to omit so many of the codes and legislative material details that would clog the pages and probably bore all, save those minutia fanatics. This now leaves time and space to give an account of the unravelling events that led from re-paint to full restoration.

In short and in a slightly ignorant explanation, the remit was: Transport helicopter, mask up sensitive items (pitot, engine intakes, etc.) rub down, clean, prime, spray, attach logos and take to the sky. In retrospect, is this relatively short task likely in a 30-year-old, active, craft? I think not. Fortunately, the owners made it clear that they backed whatever was necessary and that it had to be...