Most planes are of gray metal (aluminum, steel) and livery is painted on them.
However, some planes, like Dreamliner, Airbus 350 et cetera are made of plastic cast into the shape of the plane.
Are they also supposed to be painted over with livery, or are they to be cast of coloured plastic so that the livery is integral to the airframe?
By: ~gb~ - 20th July 2005 at 14:08
Hmmn, not sure.
Having visitted both the Toullouse and Hamburg Airbus factories, the aircraft components are in various shades of ? anti corrosion ? primer from an early stage. Some of these componets are composites already, so a few 100kg’s of paint is still required.
AAL have always argued that they reap benefits from the reduction in weight (no paint) and the reduced maintenance costs of keeping the aircraft looking good compared to the majority of airlines who claim savings on reduced corrosion and airframe protection of being covered in a few mm of paint.
Q? Are passengers affected by solar radiation more on AAL aircraft due to no anti-radiation paint or does the shiny metal reflect the rays ?
On a similar note, if AAL manage to survive long term, they may be forced into having a livery change, because Boeing as well as Airbus will be making aircraft with composites. AAL will not be able to have the polished bellies that they have always sported.
Having said that, tha AAL A300 fleet have sported both white and grey painted bellies in an attempt to sort of replicate the polished metal look of the Boeings.
~gb~
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July 20, 2005 at 9:31 am