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