Did you ever wonder why planes are painted white color ? Well, we are sure many of you don’t know the reasons! When planes come off the factory’s assembly line, they are green, but then they are painted white due to several practical reasons.

Sure, some have stripes, decorations, and names in different colors, but the base color behind those add-ons is almost always white. It seems a bit strange but is there a real reason for it.

Reasons Behind White Paint:

#1. White Doesn’t Fade:

White color doesn’t fade away like other colors do. Moreover, maintaining and cleaning is pretty easy. Usually, colored paints fade away owing to exposure to the sun, due to more UV radiation, particularly at 30,000 feet . White looks better and when it gets old and dull, it still looks good compared to a dark colored plane. Dark colors fade faster, dull, and when paint flakes off it just look terrible.

Here is  a recent picture of a TWA L1011 that’s been parked for about 15 years. Except for the faded red stripe, the white part still looks good.

#2. Painting is Expensive:

More Paint= More Weight= More Fuel = More Operating Cost

Painting a plane can run anywhere from $50K to $200K per plane. The paint on a fully painted 747 will weigh more than 250 kgs while a polished skin will just weigh 25 kgs. EasyJet Airlines was able to reduce 2% of their operating costs by just repainting their planes with new thinner aerodynamic paints. When your annual fuel bill is $1.2 billion USD, then that 2% can mean a savings of $22.4 million USD.

#3. Thermal Advantage:

In most cases, this is probably just a benefit in terms of keeping the cabin slightly cooler. A white object reflects all wavelengths of light, so the light is not converted into heat while a colored object absorbs more wavelengths of light and converts them into heat, so the object gets warm. This could be the main reason how white became the standard color.

#4. Visibility Factor:

“Easier inspection of cracks and dents on the fuselage”

One good reason for a white coat is visibility. Not being able to see it in the sky, but the visibility of corrosion, cracks, leaking oil and suchlike on the ground. In the event of an airplane crash, white color can be easily spotted on both water and land. It is also easy to spot a white plane in the dark.

#5. Lower Resale Value:

Painting an aircraft in a color other than white can negatively affect its resale value. Owners don’t need to repaint the aircraft while selling. Only changing the company name and logo is enough when sold. Moreover, this option is economical too.

#6. Lease Terms & Conditions:

The majority of airline companies don’t own any aircraft. Nearly half of the passenger airplanes flying today are leased by the airlines from big plane leasing companies. It is easier and cheaper to lease a standard white airplane and then just change its logos than repainting the entire plane (which some leasing companies may not even allow).

Watch Repainting Of Boeing 777 Airplane:

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