F-100 jet should not be sandblasted

Re “Spring Sprucing” Thursday:

I was reading that the aircraft in Warbird Park were being spruced up or TLC as it was stated. I was fine reading the story that the A-10 and Corsair were getting a touch-up but I was appalled to read that the F-100 was being repainted after it was sandblasted.

First of all, you don't sandblast the aircraft. The old paint and markings are stripped off by chemical means. The aluminum will end up getting pitted and in the long run destroy the skin. I should know because this was my job in the Air Force.

I repainted and camouflaged more F-100s than I care to remember. Mark Kreua, I beg to differ about using a specialty paint. Enamel is a paint that is commonly used on aircraft surfaces. These paints are sprayed over epoxy primer after being thinned to proper consistency using enamel thinners. I'd like to know who was hired and what is their background.

This story was originally published April 27, 2016 at 10:42 AM with the headline "F-100 jet should not be sandblasted."