Wash day at a flying club usually looks the same: a few members, a couple of the club’s airplanes pulled out of the hangar, and a shelf of half-empty bottles that nobody remembers buying. The trainers get the worst of it. Lots of short flights and pattern work mean lots of engine starts, and the bellies collect oil mist and exhaust soot week after week.
Clean bellies help everyone who flies those airplanes. A new oil streak or a hydraulic weep stands out right away on the next preflight, instead of blending into months of grime. The hard part is keeping enough cleaner around that the job actually gets done.
A 5-gallon container is the middle ground between a quart bottle and a 55-gallon drum: enough to refill the spray bottles for a whole season of wash days without taking over the hangar.
Quick answer: Aero Cosmetics Belly Soap 5 Gallon is a 5-gallon supply of Belly Soap, a heavy-duty spray-on, wipe-dry cleaner for aircraft bellies and engine areas coated with dried or baked-on hydraulic fluids and oils. It removes grease, oil, hydraulic fluid, and exhaust soot, is safe on wet or dry surfaces, and meets the Exterior BSS7432 specification. Aero Cosmetics part number: 789G5. Available on Skyfarer and at Skyfarer Shop.
What Belly Soap does
- Handles the dirtiest bellies. Including dried or baked-on hydraulic fluids and oils on bellies and engine areas.
- Removes grease, oil, hydraulic fluid, and exhaust soot. The usual buildup on the underside of a working airplane.
- Spray on, wipe dry. Safe on wet or dry surfaces.
- Meets Exterior BSS7432. As listed by Aero Cosmetics.
- Works beyond the hangar. Also suited to RVs, cars, boats, and motorcycles.
Setting up a club or hangar cleaning station
- Decant into labeled spray bottles. Fill a few bottles from the 5-gallon container and label them clearly so nobody grabs the wrong product. Empty spray bottles are listed on Skyfarer.
- Keep greasy towels separate. Stock towels just for belly and engine work, such as Aero Towels On A Roll, so they don’t end up on a windshield.
- Add a scrubber for the tough spots. Aero Cosmetics recommends pairing Belly Soap with the Aero Scrubber for maximum cleaning power on heavy buildup.
- Store the container with your other hangar chemicals. Keep it closed and away from the airplanes.
Pilot tip: Make a belly wipe-down part of the club’s post-flight routine, then add a quick look underneath to the preflight. On a clean belly, members can spot a new oil or hydraulic leak early and squawk it before the next person flies.
Other sizes
Individual owners may prefer the 16 fl. oz. or 32 fl. oz. bottles, and large fleets and maintenance shops can step up to the 55-gallon drum.
Where to buy
Aero Cosmetics Belly Soap 5 Gallon is sold by Skyfarer Shop. Find it on the Skyfarer marketplace or order directly from Skyfarer Shop. Either link shows the current price. In-stock items ship in 1–3 business days with tracking, U.S. orders over $70 ship free, and most items can be returned within 30 days of delivery.
Frequently asked questions
What does Belly Soap remove?
Grease, oil, hydraulic fluid, and exhaust soot, including dried or baked-on hydraulic fluids and oils on aircraft bellies and engine areas.
How is it applied?
Spray it on and wipe it dry. It can be used on wet or dry surfaces.
What specification does it meet?
Aero Cosmetics lists Belly Soap as meeting the Exterior BSS7432 specification.
What sizes are available?
16 fl. oz., 32 fl. oz., 5 gallon, and 55 gallon.
