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Old 3rd Oct 2012, 12:06
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Innominate
 
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Coming back to the original question...

It is difficult to trace official instructions regarding the internal colours of aircraft, but the following extracts may help:

Air Publication 2656A "External and internal finish of aircraft" Amendment 49, June 1950 "A matt finish is used, usually grey or grey-green in colour, but at any station which may be used for visual search at night, a matt black finish is applied." This was still valid in December 1953, when Amendment 65 was issued.

AvP 970 "Design requirements for Service aircraft" Chapter 100, Amendment 65, September 1957: "On all aeroplanes, a matt black finish... shall be provided for the whole interior and all items of equipment at each pilot's station, and at all other crew stations from which night visual search may be made.""

Presumably the original mention of "any station which may be used for visual search at night" would include the pilots' cockpits, to avoid reflections and so in 1950 (when the Chippy entered RAF service) cockpits would be black.
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