First, the iXBT.com user explained why planes are not just polished and painted. In general, unpainted liners have one advantage: less fuel consumption due to lower weight. For example, if you apply a layer of paint only 0.1mm thick on the Boeing 737-700, it adds 81.2 kg to the mass of the aircraft and 251.7 kg on the Boeing 747-400.
However, painting the primer is in any case more profitable than varnishing. The fact is that the paint on airplanes is updated every 4-10 years, and on polished cars a similar procedure should be carried out up to three times a year. Boeing experts also calculated that, overall, the operating cost of painted liners is 0.06-0.3% less than varnished ones.
What are the advantages of white color?
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Ease of maintenance. Various cracks, dents etc on white. can be seen better.
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Cost reducing. When painting an airplane in a bright color, the total cost of this painting increases by 50-200 thousand dollars. Also some airlines sell their planes and the white plane is more profitable in this regard. It can be sold faster and at a higher price.
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Reduced thermal stress. White color reflects sunlight more than other colors, so it is more useful to use and reduces the heat of the case.
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Simplifying the detection of aircraft wreckage during a collision. The easiest way to see the wreck from the air is in white. True, this does not apply to the polar regions. But the shirts flying there are specially painted orange or red.
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The white color is clearly visible in the sky. This gives the birds more time to escape from the plane.
Source: Ferra
