By Ken Jarosch

1. Take 5 minutes to clean the plane. Get the Cleaning Kit from the baggage area.

2. Spray the dilute detergent on the leading edges of the wings, tail, struts, wheel pants and cowling.

3. Let this soak while you fill the cleaning kit container with 2”-3” of water (empty the contents first). If water is not readily available, use the water bottle in the kit. Refill it.

4. Wash all leading edges with wet sponge(s) from kit. Rinse. Repeat.

5. Place the sponges in the mesh bags and hang from tie-down lines to prevent moisture and mold from developing in the plane.

6. To avoid steps 1 through 5, simply maneuver around all bugs in flight.



During the non-winter months, bugs form a rather strong and prolific attachment to our aircraft. If left for any length of time, they seem to form a real bond to our leading edges. After several flights, our wings will begin to look like a warm fuzzy, what with all the bonding going on. And, with all these extra little passengers hugging our wings, the weight and balance will be all screwed up, not to mention the erosion of lift and the increase in drag.

Besides all that, it looks really ugly. Not a good impression to make on passengers.

The path to a bug-free aircraft is a simple 5-step process. Simply put, each of us owners needs to wipe off the leading edges, wheel pants, cowling and struts after each flight during bug season. It will only take about 5 minutes, but will make a huge difference in looks.

Cleaning kits have been placed in each aircraft. The plastic container holds sponges, towels, dilute detergent (Fleet Wash), clean water, window cleaner and leather cleaner. A sheet of instructions is included. Scrubbing pads and stiff brushes should not be used. The container can double as a bucket to carry water to the airplane if necessary. If water is not available at your destination, the small spray bottle of water should be used. Please refill it when you return.

The wet sponges should be placed in the mesh bags. The bags have rings through which the tie-down line can be threaded and used to suspend the bag beneath the wing to dry. During preflight, the next pilot will put the bag of sponges back into the cleaning kit.

Please follow these guidelines to help keep the planes clean. This is a first attempt at this type of approach. Suggestions for improvements are certainly welcome, and will surely come as each of us gains experience at this task. Periodic cleaning/waxing days will still be necessary, but at the very least after EACH flight, the leading edges should be wiped off with a wet sponge to prevent the bugs from getting baked on.

If you need some inspiration, look at the arrow parked next to 334SA – it’s spotless.