Paint scheme or color for safety

[helitim]

We are making plans for new paint.  My question to the group is,  what do you think is the safest paint color (aside from blaze orange or something exotic like that) scheme design, or combination to make an aircraft the most visible inflight and on the ground?  Or, does it really make that much difference? Just because I might have a favorite in mind doesn't necessarily mean it is a good choice from a safety perspective.  Your thoughts please?

Thank you,

Tim 

[aviatoreb]

Neon Pink

[M20F]

Anything that isn't white, I love flying in the winter when there is snow on the ground.  Makes white airplanes so easy to see when they are lower than you.

[helitim]

15 minutes ago, aviatoreb said:

Neon Pink

Like I stated " or something exotic like that".  Yes, those types of colors stand out almost anywhere but maybe Burning Man.  We know not to use light pastels or blues that would blend in with the sky but were hoping someone here had access to some research that might show color combinations and patterns that enhanced visibility.  I just called AOPA and spoke with a counselor but they were no help.  I'm sure there is good information out there somewhere, just have to locate it. 

Edited January 22, 2016 by helitim

[aviatoreb]

6 minutes ago, helitim said:

Like I stated " or something exotic like that".  Yes, those types of colors stand out almost anywhere but maybe Burning Man.  We know not to use light pastels or blues that would blend in with the sky but were hoping someone here had access to some research that might show color combinations and patterns that enhanced visibility.  I just called AOPA and spoke with a counselor but they were no help.  I'm sure there is good information out there somewhere, just have to locate it. 

I used to have a bicycle of exactly that color.  It was a sponsor bicycle back in my racing days and at first I hated the color but I grew to love it.

[DonMuncy]

Dayglo orange

[cddrescher]

Great question.  I would love to repaint a plane in a post-WWII RNAF Seafire scheme...but then it'd be REALLY hard to see in the haze.

The M20C I fly has red wings and underbelly, white and red stripes on top.  More visible than all white, I would think, but not sure. 

If I did a repaint I would consider putting orange tips on wings and vertical stabilizer? Almost like the old Air Force test scheme?

[David Mazer]

What's wrong with orange?  It turns out that orange really is more visible than most other colors except for the yellow/green color they use on fire trucks.  Even though I hear a lot of pilots say I have the red traffic, the point is they have the traffic.

 

[gsengle]

Something like this is pretty *and* visible..

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[carusoam]

OrangeMTL had an optic orange BMW scheme on his Acclaim.  Selected for it's easy to find color.  It has been sold since...

Best regards,

-a-

[bonal]

I would think the canary yellow of the Piper cubs would be quite stand out ish..  Its true most of the paint colors and graphics on our airplanes really blend in rather than stand out.

[M016576]

take a look at fighter jets.  Pick something that is not that color (matte gray).

white, red and orange are all great picks for other people to see you.  There's a reason that most airliners and almost all general aviation aircraft have a base color of white: it's very easy to see when airborne: it's a highly reflective color.  Really- if you're worried about people seeing you, better, higher power recognition and strobe lights are more the answer, not necessarily paint colors.  The next easiest way to pick out an aircraft is its perceived line of site rate across the ground/horizon/clouds... And paint has nothing to do with that.

source: on the job experience as a fighter pilot for 14 years, trying to pick out jets painted so that you can't see them from 15 miles on in to the merge....

[kpaul]

I grew up building and flying RC aircraft.  We tried pretty much every color combination and honestly most made very little difference in the ease of visibility.  We generally went with bright orange/yellow in large blocks on the bottom of the wing just so we could tell if the plane was in a bank toward or away.  Even then in low light situations (winters in Montana) or low sun angles it was impossible to perceive any colors.

I would pick a scheme and colors that you enjoy to look at and go that route.

[Andy95W]

Seems to me all airplanes look like a colorless speck to me until they are really close.  When they are close enough to actually see the color I'm too busy trying to avoid it.

[Yetti]

Black.  Growing up racing small sail boats with a permanent course mark in a circle.  There was a big discussion between dayglow orange or Black.  The black marks (PVC plastic pipe with concrete int the bottom foam in the top) were much easier to see against a blue sky and grey water.

[ArtVandelay]

Forget the paint color, you want lights, lots of them and bright. Pick a dark color around the underbody to hide the dirt,oil.

[Hector]

Neon Pink

Someone at my airport (KCRG) has what looks like a Velocity painted all neon pink. You can't help but to look at this thing when it's taxing and flying. Don't know the owner but I asked my hangar neighbor what that was all about and apparently the guy had an engine failure in the past in another airplane (painted similarly) and had to land in the mountains somewhere under pretty tough condition (below freezing). Search and Rescue spotted his airplane quickly and they told him if not for the color he may have had to spend a few nights out there.

Navy training aircraft are all painted high gloss white and orange for visibility. I think they look pretty good.

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[carusoam]

What was the purpose, Tim?

1) To be seen while flying in the pattern.

2) To be seen while flying at a VOR at 3k'

3) To be found in the middle of nowhere after the fan has gone quiet?

4) To be seen as the most awesome Mooney at the fly-in?

 

Best regards,

-a-

[NotarPilot]

I recommend painting it how you want. Something nice and classy. If you want to stand out and be visible get yourself the Whelen anti collision beacon along with the Orion 600 and Orion 500. You can chose to synch them so all three strobes flash at once (meaning at least two are visible from any side of the plane) or don't synch them and you're probably still just as noticeable since you'd pretty much always have at lease one flashing. 

Hers a video of my plane with the Orion 500 (tail position and strobe) with the 600 (wingtip lights). I ended up syncing the rear strobe to flash wing tips. My friend was able to see me from another aircraft about 20nm away and only lost sight of me because I landed.

If I didn't sync the lights I would have 4 separate lights flashing randomly. I always get complimented on my lights. From 10miles out you might think I'm a G650 coming in to land. Yeah, don't I wish.

IMG_0769.MOV

Edited January 23, 2016 by NotarPilot

[carl]

Metal Flake !!!!!

 

 

My mock up ;dark blue bottom , the color of a Corsair , then a lighter  blue then silver all with metal flake ..Big flake , 0.015 inches

 

This was a large mock up. After I finished , I realized I don't like the scheme, and the mock up was to small.

What I learned is I need a bigger mock up . next one is going to be  on a 4x8 sheet of plywood. I'll sit it in the living room and look at it.

Oh yes , I want a large E  on  the tail. A Super E!

[Bob - S50]

I never saw the actual test data, but many, many, many years ago when I was young and in the Air Force, I was told that white was found to be the most visible.  That's why all the trainers were painted white.

With that said, I would paint it whatever color you like.  I don't know how much difference the color will really make, especially once we all (almost) have ADS-B.  Get ADS-B IN and see most of the traffic.  I personally think the scanning technique of pilots makes a bigger difference than the paint color.

 

[helitim]

" Get ADS-B IN and see most of the traffic.  I personally think the scanning technique of pilots makes a bigger difference than the paint color."

I agree that scanning is important.  No matter how good my scan is, I also want the other pilot to see me.  Based on the responses here, it appears that the paint job is not really that important other than using a white base coat for visibility.  The rest is just personal choice it seems.  

[DXB]

I've wondered about this question too but could find no real evidence on it. Does anyone know if there is any?  Otherwise it seems like after >100 years of aviation history, if there were a favorable paint scheme to be seen, this question would have a clear answer by now.  In absence of this, it seems to me like the answer is to do whatever you like other than grey or sky blue, and maybe invest in fancy lights.

[Hank]

In cruise, or even on approach, most small planes are just dark spots until we are pretty close. I find preceding traffic easier to spot when they are white airliners or small planes that are banking; in both cases it's generally the white that I see first. At close range, the colors become visible, but naturally that happens closer to a Cessna or Mooney than a 737 or Airbus.

You, your friends, passengers, many other pilots on the ground, ramp workers and plane watchers will all see the paint job up close and in detail. Pilots in The air will see a dark spot, then when they are close the white on your plane will pop out. Yellow planes pop out well, too. Low wings with white uppers and colored patches where the wing joins the fuselage are pretty visible banking, but a friend's green Champ can be tough to spot against the ground than another friend's red Citabria.

This has been my experience. Take it for what it's worth.

[Cabanaboy]

Got any cool clothes? this color scheme and a nice old school outfit would be sure to impress at the fly-ins

What ever color you choose, make sure it would be a color someone else would want to have when you sell.

Edited January 24, 2016 by Cabanaboy