Simviation Forums

Why is it that all modern planes are painted up like winnebagos? I never understood that, maybe its because they are roughly the same size.


Plane

Winnebago

There should be more brightly, loudly painted plains.  But I think people spending a couple mil on a fancy chunk of aluminum want some guarantee that their craft won't go out of style and look ugly in a couple of years.

It's like boats. Inless their vintage and made of wood then they're either white, or blue.

It's very expensive to have a proper full-coverage or two-tone paint job done on an airplane... just like with cars, white is the cheapest.

And white also repells heat...which is a very dominating factor.
Imaging having a black painted aircraft sitting on the ramp in the sun for hours.
Ouch.

Another big factor is white doesn't show up various bumps and scrapes as much as other colours.

also easier to repaint. Takes a 1/4 of the time an elaborate scheme might take to do.

exactly right. what is considered bold and beautiful paint in 2002 might be considered "shag carpet" in 2020.

for example - look at just about any original paint job from the early and mid 1970's. i see a lot of browns, puke yellows and tan colors on white.    :-/ and yes... many i have seen do contain some kind of "shag" like carpet!!!

of course now you have to redo the paint and interior which is never cheap. i would say a decent paint job on a General Aviation aircraft might run you about 8- 15 thousand bucks depending on the aircraft size and color scheme. more in some cases

Polished aluminum is always in style...
And I'd rather spend the time and effort buffing a plane than shelling out big bucks for a repaint.
Think of it as "sweat equity".  ;D

I have to go with rotty. I like bare metal with some accent.

oh heck yeah, bare metal all the way... of course that depends on the aircraft i suppose.  Few things in this world like a bare naked airplane.  :o