EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — El Paso native and business owner Anthony Aguilar has been selected to be part of the 2024 Air Force One detailing team at Seattle’s Museum of Flight this month.
Aguilar says this Sunday, July 7, he will be going to Seattle’s Museum of Flight to detail Boeing VC-137B SAM (Special Air Missions) Air Force One, the first presidential jet-powered aircraft which was delivered in 1959 and has carried former presidents such as Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon.
Eisenhower became the first U.S. president to fly on Boeing VC-137B SAM (Special Air Missions) Air Force One on August 26, 1959, according to the Museum of Flight.
Aguilar says those who are chosen to be a part of this project receive a phone call from Renny Doyle, who holds the title of “The Detailer of Air Force One” and has been leading the project for over 20 years.
Anthony Aguilar is seen working on Air Force One in 2023. Photo: Anthony Aguilar
Aguilar says this is his second year on the Air Force One team, and has been chosen to be a team leader this year.
“The first year it was incredible, second year even better because they selected me as a team lead for this project which is kind of unheard of being a team lead your second year in the project, so it was very very exciting. I’m honored to be a part of this project and to be selected as a team leader,” Aguilar said.
The candidate selection for this project is very limited and along with the phone call from Doyle, those who are chosen receive an official letter and a certificate.
Aguilar says the detailing process for the historic aircraft can be very long and is only done once a year.
“It’s a very very long process. We’re going to be out there from Monday to Saturday. We’re the only authorized detailers for the Seattle Museum of Flight and since we have people coming from all over the country you know they just make it a yearly project,” Aguilar said.
Aside from the first presidential jet plane, Aguilar says the team will also be working on five other historic aircraft.
The 2023 Air Force One detailing team
Anthony Aguilar and the 2023 Air Force One detailing team work on other historic aircraft Photo: Anthony Aguilar
Aguilar also says he’s currently the only person in the region to be eligible for this type of project.
“And that’s because I’ve taken professional training, I’m part of a networking group that’s affiliated with that training, and once you’re in that group, after two years you’re eligible to apply for this project but they’re not only looking for your detailing skills. They’re trying to see what type of person you are,” Aguilar said.
The networking group that Aguilar is a part of is called the Detail Mafia which has expanded worldwide and was founded by Doyle.
Aguilar says when he’s not doing special projects, he’s running his automotive detailing business, Revive Auto Solutions, which was started in January 2021.
Aguilar says he takes pride in helping El Pasoans keep their vehicles looking like new by providing long-term protection for their vehicles.
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