Why Boeing Metal Finish And Airbus Yellow? — Tech Ops Forum

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Why Boeing Metal Finish And Airbus Yellow?

Stephen007 From Singapore, joined Mar 2000, 154 posts, RR: 0
Posted (10 years 8 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1529 times:

hi all, have this enquiry why is it that newly manufactured Airbus a/c are in this yellow colour (as if unpainted) and new built boeings are in bare metal finish?

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Photo © Erik Frikke

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Photo © AirNikon

can someone tell me why the difference and the purpose? thanks

14 replies: All unread, jump to last

CYKA From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 1, posted (10 years 8 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1446 times:

The "yellow" is actually a protective coat of resin or paint(I think) and both Boeing and Airbus planes recive it. It just so happens that some airline flying Boeing decided to polish their planes by sanding down that coat. I could be wrong, but i remember seeing the Boeing plant on tv and the unassembled hulls were yellow as well.

Stephen007 From Singapore, joined Mar 2000, 154 posts, RR: 0
Reply 2, posted (10 years 8 months 3 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1412 times:

so i guess when they started out, the metal pieces came like that? is it standard, i remember watching the B767-400 manufacturing video on www.boeing.com but it seems like they were more like normal aluminum-colour.

The "yellow" are Non-standard issue, are they? and what are they supposed to protect the a/c from?

777236ER From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2001, 12959 posts, RR: 55
Reply 3, posted (10 years 8 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 1406 times:

The Boeing unbuilt-fuselages are bare metal, but they're covered with a protective layer of vinyl to prevent stratches. Don't know about Airbus...

Your bone's got a little machine

Bio15 From Colombia, joined Mar 2001, 1088 posts, RR: 11
Reply 4, posted (10 years 8 months 3 weeks 13 hours ago) and read 1384 times:

I haven't seen Boeing's new aircraft in bare metal finish. When they are assembled, they look shiny dark green, or something like that, and some other parts of the fuselage are in the yellowish color airbus has.

-bio

IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6049 posts, RR: 50
Reply 5, posted (10 years 8 months 3 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 1361 times:

I admit this is just a guess, but the Airbus looks like it just has Alodine on it. Possibly they don't use AlClad? Alodine also comes in clear, so perhaps the Boeing has that.

I think a test for people to live in the southwest US should be no A/C in the car for a summer.

L-188 From United States of America, joined Jul 1999, 28959 posts, RR: 66
Reply 6, posted (10 years 8 months 3 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 1347 times:

They are just different corrosion proofing processes used.

The same process can cause turn out different shades of color also depending on what Alloy of metal it is applied too.

BTW Daussalt Falcons come out of the factory in various shades of gray.

OBAMA-WORST PRESIDENT EVER....Even SKOORB would be better.

Jwenting From Netherlands, joined Apr 2001, 10213 posts, RR: 24
Reply 7, posted (10 years 8 months 3 weeks ago) and read 1338 times:

Boeings are made of metal, Airbusses of plastic Smile

I wish I were flying

Aircanon From Austria, joined Aug 2000, 238 posts, RR: 0
Reply 8, posted (10 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1323 times:

That may be the reason why Airbusses, even after years in service don´t look rotten! Big thumbs up

Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20144 posts, RR: 57
Reply 9, posted (10 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 1294 times:

Aircanon: That may be the reason why Airbusses, even after years in service don´t look rotten!

Oh, come on!
Aluminum doesn´t rust, either! Wink/being sarcastic

(And plastics are subject to other ways of aging, if I´m not completely mistaken...)

HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 30166 posts, RR: 61
Reply 10, posted (10 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1273 times:

The Yellow or Green tint is Zinc Chromate primer, its supposed to improve the corrosion resistant properties of the metal it surfaces, in addition it provides a better adhesive surface for the paint coat that follows.
All painted surfaces have this primer below unless instead of paint the surface is polished.
regds
HAWK.

Think of the brighter side!

Srbmod From United States of America, joined Mar 2001, 16223 posts, RR: 57
Reply 11, posted (10 years 8 months 2 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 1272 times:

AIRLINERS.NET CREW
HEAD MODERATOR

Also various pieces are different colors depending upon the alloys used to build the particular section, which is why American's tails are all painted gray, because the Boeing tails use alloys that are not the same color as the aluminum used for the bulk of the fuselage.

Hello Airplanes? Yeah, it's Blimps. You win, bye....

Aircanon From Austria, joined Aug 2000, 238 posts, RR: 0
Reply 12, posted (10 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 days 19 hours ago) and read 1262 times:

Hi Klaus!

Oh, come on!
Aluminum doesn´t rust, either!
(And plastics are subject to other ways of aging, if I´m not completely mistaken...)

No you´re not mistaken at all and as you should know i love both... Airbus and Boeing (especially the 747´s and 777´s !!!).

If you study my posting exactly you can notice that i have with no word mentioned that Boeing Airplanes look rotten after years of service! I only said that Airbus don´t. Innocent

I just could´nt resist posting that after reading Jwenting´s post.... Wink/being sarcastic

Regards

Schöne Grüsse nach Deutschland

Edwin

Big thumbs up

Klaus From Germany, joined Jul 2001, 20144 posts, RR: 57
Reply 13, posted (10 years 8 months 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 1243 times:

Aircanon: I just could´nt resist posting that after reading Jwenting´s post....

I thought so. Big grin

Viele Grüße nach Österreich! Smile

ChrisHabgood From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR:
Reply 14, posted (10 years 8 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 1190 times:

All look like that. They have protective coating on them until they get to the paint shop. Go to any boeing/gulfstream/whatever manufacturing facility and you will see this.

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