2022 Air Force One Elite Detailing Team: What it truly means to preserve and protect.

2022 Air Force One Elite Detailing Team

The Museum Of Flight, Seattle, Washington July 11th-15th, 2022

During the week of July 11th, 2022 Tucker Mathieson joined an elite, handpicked group of professional detailers from across the country to volunteer their time and talents preserving some of our nation's most historical aircrafts as part of the 2022 Air Force One Detailing Team. He was one of only 10 “rookies” chosen to participate this year.

This will be the 19th year that Renny Doyle and the Detail Mafia has done this project which includes protecting and preserving many noteworthy aircraft at the Seattle Museum of Flight. This year, the renowned detailers continued the preservation of multiple significant and historic aircraft that they have been restoring and preserving over the past two decades, including, but not limited to:

Boeing VC-137B SAM 970 "Air Force One" (the centerpiece of the week)

Boeing B-29 Superfortress "T-Square 54"

Concorde G-BOAG "Alpha Golf"

Boeing 727 "Serial No. 001"

Lockheed 1049G Super Constellation "Connie"

Doyle chose his team members very carefully from The Detail Mafia, a group of some of the most prestigious and highly skilled detailers in the world that he has certified over the years through his Detailing Success training program. Many of them are senior members of the team that go back to the original restoration project in 2003, while he also tries to bring in at least 10 first -time team members or "rookies" every year who have proven themselves meticulous paint correction and polishing craftsmen.

All Air Force One Team members are volunteers, successful detailing business owners who pay their own way to Seattle and donate their time and skills to the project, as they consider it is their patriotic duty.

The group was divided into teams of 4 or more and assigned sections of the aircraft to work on. Technique, timing and communication were key as they need to work to stay in the same rhythm and pattern so as not to cause irregular patterns on the aircraft’s exterior.

Why is this project so important? It’s because without their volunteer efforts the historical aircrafts in this museum would, at this point in time, have been lost to the elements. What really brought the importance of this project to life during Tucker’s time there was being able to meet Captain Dick, 99, who flew in combat the B-17 bomber Tucker had been working on. He shared stories with some of the team about what it was like going into battle, losing friends overseas and even shared a piece of shrapnel that was removed from the pilot’s seat headrest upon his return from a mission that missed him by just inches. That shrapnel, that bomber…they represent real heroism, bravery and tragedy. They are a part of our history, but for Captain Dick it’s a part of his personal memory.

The piece of shrapnel from the headrest of the helicopter Capt Dick keeps as a reminder of how close he came to loosing his life during battle in WWII

Tucker and his team in action

Tucker on the wing of Air Force One

Tucker with Captain Dick in front of the aircraft he flew in WWII.

Capt Dick comes every year to thank the team for what they do to preserve these historic aircraft and to share stories from his time flying one of them.

Proudly representing our local Sponsor, Route 1 Barbershop

On an individual level, Portsmouth, NH business Route One Barber Shop stepped up to become Revive Auto Detail’s first local sponsor. 

Their support helped take some of the financial strain off of Tucker so he could focus on the task at hand and for that we were honored to hold their flag in front of Air Force One!

DETAILS MATTER

Views from inside the museum pavilion.

The 2022 Air Force One Detailing Team could not exist without its sponsors. Their support and sponsorship of this enduring project not only ensures the preservation of these important pieces of American history, but makes a positive impact on the growth and success of the entire detailing industry. Some of the team sponsors include:

Platinum Sponsor: @psdetailproducts

Gold Sponsors: @flexpowertoolsna @buffandshinemfg

Silver Sponsors: @theragcompany @iksprayers @roadfs @gritguard @angel_wax @dynabrade_auto @autofiber

Bronze Sponsors: @wolfsteinsproseries @autogeekcom @iglcoatings @drcolorchip @urableapp

We are truly humbled and grateful to be a part of such a talented and generous group of professional detailers.