Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/26/83; site ihnp4.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!floyd!whuxlb!pyuxll!eisx!npoiv!npois!hogpc!houxm!ihnp4!cfiaime
From: cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Aircraft Colors
Message-ID: <373@ihnp4.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Jul-83 14:26:59 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihnp4.373
Posted: Fri Jul  8 14:26:59 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Jul-83 17:01:20 EDT
Organization: BTL Naperville, Il.
Lines: 38

Years ago, when airplanes were covered in REAL COTTON, rather
than in flattened beer cans, the normal colors of yellow, white,
red, and silver were used to help reflect the ultra-violet rays 
of the sun.  Red fades quickly, so was not used as much a yellow.
Darker colors tended to rot the fabric quicker than lighter colors.

Today, with aluminum airplanes, color is not as important to the 
life of the airframe.  However, the life of the paint color itself
is quite important.  White is probably the most durable color for an
airplane.  Also, a light color top to the cabin will help keep the
interior cooler in warm weather.  Matter of fact, airlines started
painting the top of the cabin white just for that reason.  Then 
airline companies came up with bright colors for advertising purposes.
It hit the height of insanity when Braniff painted their airplanes
everything but normal colors.

Light plane colors are based on tradition and cost.  Cessna will, 
if you want, paint your new 152 tan with dark brown trim (and it 
looks GOOD).  Most people want standard red/green/blue/yellow and
white.  It is a shame.

There is a bit of a ray of hope, however.  Varga will paint their
aircraft however you want, up to about 4 colors.  Grumman offered
the T-Cat in a pseudo-milittary scheme which looked good on the
ground, but was difficult to see in the air.  The last Grumman 
Cougar (GA-7) that was built was chrome yellow (and loaded with
goodies) for collision avoidance reasons.

Sometimes, aircraft colors are based on other socialogical factors.
That is why my airplane is blue.  I can now start my airplane
conversations with, "There I was in a Blue Funk..."

(Got a million bad airplane stories...this was one of them!)

Th' Ol' Flite Instructor
Jeff Williams
ihnp4!cfiaime
BTL Naperville