L3Harris Technologies has delivered its third custom widebody paint completion in 2019 at its recently enhanced facility in Waco, Texas. “L3Harris is uniquely positioned to offer world-class aircraft paint services as part of our maintenance, repair and overhaul solutions,” says vice president and general manager Jon Piatt. “This recent delivery is just one example of how our team can seamlessly transition from austere military paint specifications to exquisite custom paint finishes to meet a wide variety of mission needs.”

Paint completions take place in a 73,000 sq ft climate-controlled hangar that can accommodate aircraft up to a Boeing 747-8. The paint facility recently received a multi-million dollar upgrade to replace its analogue HVAC system with the latest digital technology for temperature and humidity control, allowing the company to produce custom paint jobs on a variety of aircraft. The work is supplemented by multiple onsite component paint booths.

The paint services form part of a broader suite of what it describes as 'M3 solutions'; missionisation, modernisation and MRO, and the facility specialises in complex wide-body aircraft modifications. Previous M3 projects include more than 50 VVIP and head-of-state aircraft completions; a modified 747-400 aircraft to Virgin Orbit for use as an airborne satellite launch service; modified 747 aircraft for use as flying test beds for engine manufacturers; and a modified 747SP for the NASA SOFIA programme, the largest airborne observatory in the world.

The facility includes in-depth hangar, dock and line operations, and has skilled engineering and flight science expertise with work completed on more than 95 platform types and more than 55 supplemental type certificates achieved. The division is also an FAA/EASA approved repair station and has FAA Organisation Designation Authorisation.

“We have completed three highly-complex wide-body aircraft paint schemes at the Waco facility,” says José Luiz Monteiro of Studio E/Motions, programme partner for one of the recent 787-8 paint completions. “With the Boeing 787-8 and its composite fuselage, the gloss on the paint resembled more the finish of smaller corporate jets, unseen in the wide-body industry.”

BAN editor's note: Yes, we know that the dictionary says missionisation is what missionaries do. But English is a growing language, and we think this is a useful new meaning for the lexicon, short for mission customisation.