Lazarski Aviation Academy
Airplanes, both those we see waiting at airports and those flying over our heads, are usually painted white. This is neither a requirement nor solely a matter of aesthetics. Physics and decades of aviation industry experience are behind it. However, it is worth remembering that this is not always the case. We can find aircraft paintings that are the exception that proves the rule.
The world’s largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380, requires as much as 3,600 liters of paint. Three layers weigh as much as 500 kg in total. And it’s no coincidence that most aircraft in the world are covered with white paint. Contrary to Internet myths, however, it’s not that it’s lighter, much cheaper, or allows you to spot the plane against a blue sky. This is decided by physics.
Most aircraft are painted white. Why?
Airplanes are mostly painted white for the same reason we apply sunscreen on a hot hot day and would rather not dress head to toe in black.
– “Most airplanes are painted white because the color reflects sunlight, so the airplane’s fuselage doesn’t heat up, and it minimizes the risk of heat damage,” Dan Bubb, a former pilot who is now a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, explained to Travel+Leisure magazine.
Passenger jets fly as high as 11-13 km, that is, high above the clouds, which stop some of the UV rays from reaching the planet’s surface. For the same reason, on the roads in the United Arab Emirates, most cars have heavily tinted windows and bodywork in white or silver.
However, nothing prevents an aircraft from being painted in other colors. Examples include the airline Southwest, whose Boeings are navy blue, or the Icelandic carrier Play, whose planes are painted red. You can also find black planes – in the fleets of Air New Zealand and Air Canada.
How long does it take to paint an aircraft?
It’s worth knowing that before they leave the factory, most planes are first painted green. The distinctive color can be seen in photos from the factories of Boeing, Airbus or Embraer. It’s an anti-corrosion paint that is supposed to protect aluminum parts. Interestingly, however, green is not painted on, for example, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, whose fuselage is largely made of lightweight and durable composite materials.
The process of painting an aircraft can take two to three weeks. Re-painting of an airplane takes place on average every 7-10 years. The degree of paint wear depends on the climate of a particular region of the world, among other factors. Aircraft are exposed to extreme temperature changes and harsh environmental conditions.
We encourage you to explore the intriguing world of modern aviation by reading our blog and enrolling in aviation majors at Lazarski Aviation Academy at Lazarski University.
Aviation at Lazarski University
We encourage you to explore the intriguing world of modern aviation by reading our blog and enrolling in aviation majors at Lazarski Aviation Academy at Lazarski University.
