Heritage aircraft get fresh coat of paint

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Larry Schneck
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Restoration crews continue the periodic repainting of the historical aircraft at the air park, located just across the Gilbert Memorial Bridge from the commissary.

The nine airplanes on display are examples of the air frames that have flown at Luke Air Force Base over the last 70 years.

"Approximately every six years the aircraft are repainted," said Tech. Sgt. William McClannan, 56th Maintenance Group quality assurance inspector and historical property custodian.

Airmen and Defense Department civilians usually spend two weeks on each plane. However, recent work on the F-4E Phantom II took three weeks due to it being the second largest aircraft in the air park.

"The F-4 has a unique camouflage paint scheme," Sergeant McClannan said. "It takes longer to complete the job, especially after baking in the hot Arizona sun for six years since its last repainting in 2004."

The 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron corrosion control section spearheads the care of and improvements to the park aircraft. The cost of repainting the Phantom jet cost approximately $2,500.

The paint is the first to fade, crack and peel. This affects the metal underneath where the corrosion takes place.

"Once the metal starts corroding, it must be completely removed before a new coat of paint is applied," said Staff Sgt. Andrew Yonkers, 56th Maintenance Group quality assurance inspector. "Corrosion control crews scuff and sand away the old paint job, then apply primer and a brand new paint job,"

The final step is to return the aircraft to its location in the air park.

"Painting aircraft like the F-4, which contained five color schemes, made us realize that we were working on something different," said Tech. Sgt. Allan Cubarrubias, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, fabrication flight corrosion control NCO-in-charge. "Our section of nine military members and one civilian were able to perform maintenance on part of history that gave them a way to contribute to our Air Force heritage."