Vez From Canada, joined Nov 2001, 85 posts, RR: 0 Posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 4266 times:
I just came across these 2 photos that depict almost the same view of the very same aircraft, but 20 days apart. Take a look! We see the paint peeling off, and I was impressed to see that it peels fast!
It made me wonder how often do airlines paint their aircraft? I guess that once the paint begins to peel, it peels exponentially... but then by now this Luftansa 747 must be naked!!
Are there paint schemes that are tougher than others? Do some airlines repaint more often than others?
Whiskeyflyer From Ireland, joined May 2002, 224 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 22 hours ago) and read 4195 times:
How often you repaint is up to the operator and image they wish to have. Freight aircraft can really look bad, but then again cargo boxes don't get worries if they get on a bad looking aircraft.
During D Checks or major checks, particularly if they involve removing a lot of panels and/or structural mods, it is advisable to strip aircraft down to the skin and after check repaint, as paint gets damages, bare fuselage enables easier inspections, applied structural mods are applied and primed (green paint to avoid corrosion).
Application of the paint is critical, surface must be prepared properly and also best if hanger is climate controlled. I have seen an aircraft where not correctly applied paint came off in sheets.
You can paint aircraft outside (I seen B727s being painted in the fresh air, freighters) but you can see the difference also guys with small aircraft e.g. C172 put car paint on their fuselages (dulls very quickly). Use aviation paint, its more expensive but it keeps it looks for longer.
The pic you included maybe only a touch up paint job because somebody replaced a window or resealed area etc (touch up paint not always applied in the best conditions.
You are allowed to paint overexisting paint work (the fun comes when you have top strip all the layers away).
We lease aircraft and one aircraft we had was painted completly four times in one year by different operators.
For more info on aircraft paint click on http://www.mankiewicz.de
Site is in English also, I believe they also supply Luftansa, in addition to yachts, cars etc. They have a special aviation paint division.
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 2, posted (8 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 4175 times:
There are certain Areas that tend to shed off paint more than others,because of ther location to Airflow & contamination from Hydraulic Fluid.
Out here An Aircraft is Repainted [not stripping to the primer but just smoothened to the lowest level of paint] every CheckC or approx once a Year either partially or totally.
regds
MEL
TimT From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 168 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (8 years 4 months 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 3958 times:
One thing that was not mentioned in the other replies.
If an airline is having real money problems and on the edge of bankruptcy, you can just about always count on them coming out with a new/improved paint scheme. I think the feeling with the upper management types is that a new paint job will increase revenue. TWA- new paint - gone. BA- new tail paint cost $1,000,000.00- no help. Delta- redesigned- went to blue/red/white from black/white- did it help? NW- new paint- mass layoffs.
Go figure.
Whiskeyflyer From Ireland, joined May 2002, 224 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (8 years 4 months 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 3952 times:
TimT you are so right. If in trouble change the logo.
I have a Dilbert strip that is about if your company logo starts to look like a coffee stain the company in trouble.
Soon after I got it, a BAE SYSTEMS guy visited me and give me his business card and guess what...its all coffee logo stains in the corner (needless to say he took a copy of the strip back to BAE). Then soon after the BAe146 (or whatever they renamed it) production stopped, so end of UK civil aircraft production (not withstanding wings and a few Islanders)
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