VIDEO: ‘Unusual’ Boeing 747 job for cleaners
Philip, 52, runs his company, That’s Better, from his home in Storrington and works in surface rejuvenation, similar to a specialist cleaner.
He has recently been hired to clean the gigantic aircraft which sits at Dunsfold Park, more commonly known as the Top Gear racing track. It is regularly used as a movie prop in famous Hollywood productions such as Casino Royale.
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Hide AdFor the cleaning process, which has taken place over the last week, Philip has enlisted the help of his step-daughter Maria Paradise, 18.
He said: “It is a very unusual week for us.
“It is essentially like a giant patio because it doesn’t fly - it is no different to a concrete surface in that lots of algae gets on it.
“This is certainly a different job, purely because of the size and the surface area you are doing.
“Last week was a deadline for a film shoot for a music video, so we had to get certain parts of the aeroplane done so that the aircraft was clean for the music video.”
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Hide AdThe Boeing 747, which is owned by film and television production company Ace’s High, appears in most episodes of Top Gear.
It was used in the filming of World War Z, starring Brad Pitt, which was released earlier this year, and will also feature in the upcoming Ron Howard film Rush.
Philip has worked on the aircraft before, washing it before - and during - the filming of Casino Royale.
He said: “When they were filming Casino Royale we were in camera shot a lot of the time, working on the plane in the background.
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Hide Ad“It is good for business because it is a famous aircraft and it becomes a talking point for us.”
Philip and Maria have spent a week of 12 to 14 hour days working on the airline, which is said to be haunted by a Spanish woman.
Philip, who has more than 30 years experience specialising in surface rejuvenation, also works with road signs, shop signs, cars and boats.