Former training aeroplane for cosmonauts given a new shine
Kärcher made the old aeroplane's exterior in Russian Monino glisten in brilliant white using appropriate high-pressure technology.
For the clean-up, three employees from Kärcher Russia came in with mobile, petrol-powered cold water high-pressure cleaners and surface cleaners.
Deposits caused by the weather and environmental influences, bird droppings and insects had cloaked the Tu-104 in a veil of grey.
Through the use of extension hoses, the high-pressure cleaners could stay on the ground while the team worked on the aeroplane from all sides.
40 years leave their traces
The Air Force Museum in Monino near Moscow has one of the world's first jet aeroplanes: the Tu-104. In the 1960s, participants in the Russian moon programme had their first opportunity to train at zero gravity in this aeroplane. Today the Tu-104 is one of the museum's main attractions, which Kärcher Russia took charge of in summer 2018. In just six hours, three employees made the old aeroplane's exterior glisten in brilliant white using appropriate high-pressure technology.
Around 40 years in an open-air museum leave their traces: deposits caused by the weather and environmental influences, bird droppings and insects had cloaked the Tu-104 in a veil of grey. For the clean-up, three employees from Kärcher Russia came in with mobile, petrol-powered cold-water high-pressure cleaners and surface cleaners. Through the use of extension hoses, the high-pressure cleaners could stay on the ground while the team worked on the aeroplane from all sides. Cleaning the upper aircraft fuselage, where the workers were secured with climbing equipment, was particularly difficult. Parallel to the cleaning operation, museum visitors also had the chance to try out Kärcher technology washing a former Soviet MIG-29 fighter aircraft.
The Air Force Museum in Monino
Already in 2017, Kärcher Russia had cleaned three historic aeroplanes at the Air Force Museum Monino: the An-22 "Antey", its time the largest and most powerful wide-body aircraft in the world; the Tu-114 "Russia", which was once the world's largest long-haul passenger aeroplane; and the IL-62, the first Soviet jetliner for intercontinental flights. With such actions, Kärcher Russia is following the corporate philosophy and making a contribution to the preservation of symbols and historical technical achievements.
Facts at a glance
Country: Russia
City: Monino
Material: Aluminium
Soiling: Residues, bird excrements, insect substances
Cleaning technique: Cold water high-pressure cleaning
Execution: Summer 2018
