why are aircraft white?
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 149
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From: Australia
Conan, the comment "Sailplanes - glass or carbon - only come in one colour." still stands, the SGS 2-32, it is of all metal construction.
Refer the Sail Plane directory at http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/Pl...fm?planeID=313
tipsy
furball
Refer the Sail Plane directory at http://www.sailplanedirectory.com/Pl...fm?planeID=313
tipsy
furball
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: Australia
OK, Sailplanes made of (fibre)glass or carbon (fibre) come in only one colour.
The use of the SGS 2-32 being an all metal airframe as an example of a coloured airframe is the same as comparing apples with oranges.
Who cares anyway
tipsy
furball
Don't lie, cheat or steal, the Government hates competition.
The use of the SGS 2-32 being an all metal airframe as an example of a coloured airframe is the same as comparing apples with oranges.
Who cares anyway
tipsy
furball Don't lie, cheat or steal, the Government hates competition.
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 402
Likes: 0
From: Wilmslow and North Yorks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,267
Likes: 36
From: uk
In the past American and Northwest aircraft had no paintwork at all, they just had the shiny bare metal with a stripe along the side. Just think of the weight of paint required to cover the likes of a 747 or a 767, and multiply this by the number of flights in its lifesapan and a lot of fuel would be saved. Also looked quite good too.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: PARIS, France
nd that Hind helicopter is truly magbnificent. THAT IS cutom xwork
Doesn't white paint also makes the work of detecting cracks due to metal fatigue easier?
It's a question. I don't know but I vaguely remember something about this. Maybe I'm totally misguided..
I was told that planes are white (generally) because they were invented before the advent of color photography.
I doubt it but it's worth mentioning...
And that Hind helicopter is really great. THAT is custom painting.... 15 coat lacker maybe? Chrome plated turbine casing?
A pair of big, pink, furry dice hanging on the rear view mirror?
It's a question. I don't know but I vaguely remember something about this. Maybe I'm totally misguided..
I was told that planes are white (generally) because they were invented before the advent of color photography.
I doubt it but it's worth mentioning...
And that Hind helicopter is really great. THAT is custom painting.... 15 coat lacker maybe? Chrome plated turbine casing?
A pair of big, pink, furry dice hanging on the rear view mirror?
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 250
Likes: 0
From: USA
Smith
The unpainted plane is a lot lighter, and you do save on fuel. However the savings are offset by added costs of maintaining the polished surface. (anti-corrosion, polishing etc)
A fully painted 747-400 weighs about 500kg more than the polished, and the fuel savings for a full year are approx. $132,000. With fuel prices going up, maybe it will be profitable in the future.
The unpainted plane is a lot lighter, and you do save on fuel. However the savings are offset by added costs of maintaining the polished surface. (anti-corrosion, polishing etc)
A fully painted 747-400 weighs about 500kg more than the polished, and the fuel savings for a full year are approx. $132,000. With fuel prices going up, maybe it will be profitable in the future.
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 53
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte and NYC
I tend to agree with Flightluuvr-
On those aircraf that are white, cost is likely one of the deciding factors.
A few years ago the NYPD changed the livery of its patrol cars from the old Blue base with white lettering, to the current white base w/ blue lettering. The reason given was the cost of the custom blue paint was too high, and much less is required to do just the lettering.
Now imagine how much more paint goes into an aircraft, and the cost of the basic paint, being that its formulated to withstand the rigors of aviation.
Im not an airframe or paint guy, or an accountant though, so its just my opinion.
A lot of money by the time your done, no matter what color you paint the things!!
On those aircraf that are white, cost is likely one of the deciding factors.
A few years ago the NYPD changed the livery of its patrol cars from the old Blue base with white lettering, to the current white base w/ blue lettering. The reason given was the cost of the custom blue paint was too high, and much less is required to do just the lettering.
Now imagine how much more paint goes into an aircraft, and the cost of the basic paint, being that its formulated to withstand the rigors of aviation.
Im not an airframe or paint guy, or an accountant though, so its just my opinion.
A lot of money by the time your done, no matter what color you paint the things!!
See and avoid
Joined: Mar 2003
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 757
Likes: 131
From: USA
Eagle helicopter paint job
http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/eaglecopter.asp
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Red paint is a bad idea because it tends to absorb the shorter wave length light (e.g., blue and ultraviolet) and fade faster.
http://www.snopes.com/photos/military/eaglecopter.asp
----------------
Red paint is a bad idea because it tends to absorb the shorter wave length light (e.g., blue and ultraviolet) and fade faster.
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 104
Likes: 1
From: Oz
Here's a few others that aren't white:
Virgin Blue
Virgin Blue #2
Freedom Air
Origin Pacific The top is grey.
Korean Air
Virgin Blue
Virgin Blue #2
Freedom Air
Origin Pacific The top is grey.
Korean Air
Last edited by Sqwark2004; 31st August 2005 at 05:14.
Hmmmyeah
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 652
Likes: 0
From: Leopardess.
White paint:
Lighter for a given coverage.
Shows up cracking/defects in the structure.
Looks smart, inviting and safe when clean.
Makes advertising stand out.
Beats the cr@p out of rapidly oxidising bare aluminium.
Not prone to bleaching/colour degradation when stood in the sun... hence longer duration between re-paints.
Guess at the answer....
Lighter for a given coverage.
Shows up cracking/defects in the structure.
Looks smart, inviting and safe when clean.
Makes advertising stand out.
Beats the cr@p out of rapidly oxidising bare aluminium.
Not prone to bleaching/colour degradation when stood in the sun... hence longer duration between re-paints.
Guess at the answer....
