New Paintjob on East Coase

[Gary Leidecker]

HI,
My PA24-250 is in dire need of a paint job. Are there any recommendations out there. I am Located in CT and VA.

Thanks,
Gary

[David Pyle]

There is a very expensive painter in Maine. Work in the NE tends to cost more.

There are three good painters who compete for business in Mena AR.

There are choices depending on the condition/value of your Comanche and your budget. A 250 at my base was painted here (TX) for $15K. Looks real nice. That expense was half the value of the airplane prior to painting. If "metal work" is needed that will increase the cost. Get bids and references before and plan on six weeks down time.

Sand and paint saves a few bucks and does not risk improper chemical paint removal which can lead to future corrosion.

[N3322G]

Gary, in 2008 my Tribe chief requested I do a blog on the twin's paint job - it goes on for 5 pages and the work was done in far, far eastern Ohio, close to Pittsburgh at DESAPI - ICS member and 180 owner Dick Guenther's shop. I would recommend them.
See http://www.comancheflyer.com/forum2/vie ... sted+paint fro more details than you may want to know.

[Wayne Haristy]

My partner in our Comanche 250 here in Eunice, LA operates an aircraft painting facility at the Eunice Airport (4R7). His prices are quite a bit less expensive than the $15,000 quoted in the previous post. His work includes removing all control surfaces, complete stripping of old paint with a non-acidic stripper which removes the corrosion issues, a set time for corrosion control ( every aircraft I have ever seen stripped has always had a lot more corrosion than the owner would have ever imagined. Even if the old paint job is still in decent shape) and then a new weight and balance of the aircraft is performed after assembly, using certified scales.

The painting is performed in a pressurized paint booth thereby eliminating almost all trash in the paint job since filtered air is being blown into the booth to remove overspray instead of sucking the overspray out in a negative pressure booth which also sucks in dust, dirt and other debris through any little leak in the painting hanger. His website is http://www.aircraftinteriors-la.com Check it out and request a quote. It will probably worth a flight down here rather than spend that much up North.

[David Pyle]

How much for a 250 at your partner's shop?

[Wayne Haristy]

Each plane is quoted on an individual basis. Most of the paint jobs I have heard him quote has been anywhere from $5,500 to around $8,500. It all depends on the amount of work that he budgets to the job based on complexity and condition of the aircraft. He has painted everything from experimentals to floatplanes and helicopters. His website has his email address to request more info.

[David Pyle]

IMO excellent prices for quality work.