Big Island Detailer Joins Team to Restore Original Air Force One

John Paul. West Coast Detailing and Cornerstone Mobile Detailing courtesy photo.

A Big Island detailer will be part of a team that has been selected to restore and preserve the original Air Force One presidential jet.

John Paul of West Coast Detailing and Cornerstone Mobile Detailing was named to the Air Force One Detailing Team and will assist in preserving the jet.

The Boeing 707-120, known also as Special Air Missions (SAM) 970, flew Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, as well as international VIPs Nikita Khrushchev and Henry Kissinger.

Paul was selected from hundreds of detailers across the country to be a part of the detailing team, which will help in the celebration of Boeing’s 100^th Anniversary and the opening of the Seattle Museum of Flight’s new Airpark Pavilion.

The two-week long mega-detailing event starts Monday, April 11 and runs through Saturday, April 23 and includes the team’s continued preservation of the original Air Force One presidential jet, polishing the all-aluminum fuselage of a legendary WWII Boeing B-29 Superfortress bomber, and cleaning and preserving the paint and bright work on 14 additional  Boeing aircraft.

The new Airpark Pavilion now has on display over 15 of these icons of American aviation history.

Paul was picked for the team by master detailer, trainer, and mentor Renny Doyle of Attention to Details & Detailing Success.

“After five years, she isn’t in nearly as bad shape as she was when the team first cleaned her up,” said Doyle in regards to the Boeing 707-120. “But that pure aluminum fuselage gets chalky with time and we will have to use a heavy metal polish to bring back that perfectly mirrored surface. Boeing wants all of its historic planes in top condition for their Centennial celebration.”

Paul attended detail training with Doyle last year, where he received his advanced automotive detailing business certification.

“I have carefully selected my team because there is no room for mistakes in detailing these multi-million dollar airplanes,” Doyle said. “I need people who will accept nothing short of perfection and John is one of those people.”

“I am honored to have been chosen to be a part of such a significant project as preserving Air Force One, a beautiful icon of our country’s aviation heritage and history,” said Paul. “How many chances do you get to work on preserving a piece of our country’s history and here we are cleaning and restoring more than fifteen of Boeing’s most prestigious vintage aircraft. It is a privilege to be a part of this team and to share in this unique opportunity.”

The work is being conducted on a volunteer basis. All AFO team members pay their own expenses and donate their time and skills to the project.

Local artist Tiki Shark and his family-owned business, West Coast Detailing, will sponsor Paul and his efforts to take part in completing the restoration.