Prepping Earhart's Sister Plane For Seattle's Museum of Flight

In 2013, Bill the Buff Man headed to Reno’s Stead Field with a special invite to detail the restored Lockheed Model 10-E Electra, the same type of aircraft Amelia Earhart piloted on her fateful final flight. It is one of only two genuine NC-14900s in existence and the Buff Man was one of a 15-man detailing team who polished the all-aluminum beauty in preparation for her permanent home at Seattle’s Museum of Flight.

“Detailing at this level is a science, not a trade and this plane requires a special team of bright work specialists,” Quinn explains. “Because she is all-aluminum, it will have to be cut and buffed from top to bottom.”

Challenges of Bright Work

Because aluminum, known as 'bright work' on an airplane, has a grain to it similar to wood, you must polish it against that grain or it won’t shine up like it should. The problem was, you can't always see the flaws until the light changes!

“The aluminum also has microscopic pores and although you polish it to a shine, an hour later after the sun heats up the metal, it begins to outgas the polish and has to be wiped down and buffed again, sometimes several more times. We will use a professional-grade polish made specifically for bright work and metals.”

Earhart's Replica

Lockheed Model 10-E Electra NC14900 at Stead Field, Reno, NV 2013

The Lockheed Electra, built for Northwest Airlines, began passenger service in 1935 before serving in WWII. In 1996, it was restored to replicate Amelia Earhart's Electra. The plane was honored in 1997 when pilot and aviation historian Linda Finch flew it around the world, reenacting Amelia's flight.

The plane had been washed but never detailed since it was restored sixteen years ago and parked on the airfield at Reno Stead Field. “Even if they spray it down with soap and water a couple of times a year, and then polish it like you would a car, it will not be enough to bring out the natural shine of that bright work,” Quinn said. “It took a lot of elbow grease to make her mirror-perfect like she was designed to be!”

This meticulous eye for perfection and commitment to precision is why the Buff Man is one of the top detailers in the country!