First Look: Putting A New Sheen On Old Paint

I’d love to get the airplane repainted, but spending more than $10,000 on a new paint job is not feasible. Besides, the paint is in fairly good shape, aside from some scratches and bare patches.

There’s an option for owners who want to freshen up their airplane’s paint without going to the time and expense of a total paint job.

The Superbird paint restoration system wants to help spiff up your bird while letting you keep some money in your pocket. At $99.95 for the starter kit, the company’s pledge to help you save money over investing in a total paint job seems legit. But could Superbird really make dull paint look new—or at least newish?

Superbird’s four-part system was created by Jim Hall, a student pilot and AOPA member who owns a Cessna 172. Hall is a longtime automotive journalist, and he’d been tracking developments in the industry “where the chemicals are good enough where you can…really improve the color and bring back the color and brightness to faded auto paint,” he said.

Hall hired an expert to develop a similar process for aluminum and composite aircraft. (Superbird has not been tested on fabric airplanes.) Superbird debuted at Sun ’n Fun in April 2017. Hall came to Frederick, Maryland, in September to help me put my 1968 Piper PA–28-140 through the process.

We started with a freshly washed airplane inside a hangar. “You want to apply the products when the airplane’s surface is cool,” Hall said.

For step 1, we used a dirt, grime, and black streak remover and microfiber towels to go over the Cherokee. This product preps the paint and gives it a nice surface, Hall said.

The cleaner plowed through oil and exhaust stains on the nosewheel fairing and got rid of that grime on the right aileron. It could not remove a blue dye stain on the wheelpant from a drippy fuel valve, nor could it blast away old, hardened adhesive left behind by a decal on the fuselage.

Step 2 involves applying a paint cleaner, which deep-cleans the surface. The residue is wiped away with a microfiber towel.

For step 3, we applied Superbird’s paint restorer. During this phase Hall predicted I would start to see the paint surface’s luster and color improve. Sure enough, while wiping off the restorer, I could see my reflection in the now-glossy surface of the stabilizer.

The final step involves applying a paint sealant, allowing it to set for between 15 and 30 minutes, and wiping off the residue with yet another clean cloth. The sealant gives the paint a protective clear-coat finish and helps to preserve it from ultraviolet rays, Hall said.

You can hand-apply all products, but Superbird recommends using an orbital buffer for steps 2, 3, and 4. The buffer reduces the likelihood of swirl marks and makes the entire process a bit easier. When using the buffer, clean foam pads are needed for those phases, as well as clean microfiber towels for all four steps.

Superbird products are made in the United States and consist of no- or low-volatile organic compounds (VOCs are gases that can cause allergic reactions and other health issues). You’ll still want to wear protective gloves.

Two people working two days yielded tangible results: The white base coat was glossy. The previously flat gray accent paint and black stripes now had a depth and shine. Superbird customers say bugs come off more easily, Hall said. “If you hangar the airplane, all you have to do is give the airplane a good wash and reapply the sealant every six months,” he said.

The Superbird process can’t work miracles; it won’t restore missing paint or cover up scratches (and it doesn’t make any such claims). Completing all four steps is not a task for an idle Sunday afternoon. But if you are curious about whether your airplane’s existing paint can look better, it’s worth the elbow grease and the nominal cost to find out.

Cost: $99.99 (basic kit, four products); $199.99 (includes microfiber towels, buffing pads); $499.99 (includes orbital polisher)
Contact: www.superbirdclean.com

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