Filipino Canadian helps to preserve historic American jet

Crisanto Aquino of Dr. Shine PHD in Winnipeg was one of 35 automotive detailers selected to assist in an annual project to preserve some of the most historically significant aircraft at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, this past July 10 to 15.

This is Aquino’s third year with the Air Force One Detailing Team tasked with the preservation of the first presidential jet that served as a flying Oval Office for U.S. Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon. He is the first and only Canadian to work on the plane.

“It has been quite an experience, being a part of this team,” Aquino said. “I’m just a small automotive detailer who never dreamed when I got into the business that these kinds of opportunities existed, much less that I would have the opportunity to be a part of them. The technology, the products, the equipment, and the team’s dedication have helped us save this deteriorating plane that many people did not believe could be saved, and I am honoured to be preserving aviation history.”

Aquino and other team members are successful detailing business owners who pay their own way to Seattle and donate their time and skills to the project. And this is not Aquino’s only prestigious detailing project. He also served on the McCall’s Motorworks Revival and The Quail Motorsports Gathering teams at Monterey Car Week.

This year is the 20th anniversary of the prestigious aviation project led by the “Detailer of Air Force One,” Renny Doyle. His team consists of the most experienced and proven members of his elite “Detail Mafia” who have been caretakers of the historic jet, preserving and protecting its exterior since 2003.

“Cris is an amazing and talented professional detailer … [and he] is a fantastic man,” said Doyle. “His spirit and willingness to help fellow team members is a significant draw of why he has been selected for this year’s team.”