Being in the private aviation business for decades, we’ve noticed something you may have thought about yourself; most private jet charter aircraft are painted in white. Is there a reason why? Lots of them, some of which we’ll highlight below.
Why is Private White?
They may have a colored pattern or stripe here or there. However, while it’s perfectly possible to paint an aircraft blue, orange, or pink all over, a white base color is very appropriate for private jets – as it is for most airliners.
They are usually green when aircraft come off the manufacturer’s assembly line. Green is their undercoat of zinc phosphate primer. That’s why you see green aircraft during their flight test program stages. While there’s no huge reason they can’t stay that way, they are normally finished in white before being delivered to customers. Here are some of the reasons why.
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Thermal Advantage
White is a great reflector of sunlight and reflects almost all the light that strikes it, compared to other colors, which absorb some of the rays. It means the cabin stays cooler – which can be a great advantage on the runway in hot seasons. And while it’s not the case, some airframes require the use of white paint on upper surfaces to maintain the limit of their airframe temperature.
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Perfect Base color
There’s no perfect base color to show off a company logo. An expanse of the white fuselage creates a blank canvas for the marketing efforts of owner’s or manufacturers’
Honda uses bold sections of color to illustrate Hondajet’s point of difference from other small jets (but hasn’t given up on white altogether). And a colorful branded aircraft makes the ultimate flying poster site for many movie launches, music tours, and corporate roadshows.
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Better resale and charter value
White aircraft and private planes have a better resale value than colored ones. It will let the new owner easily have mid-size sections repainted in their livery instead of investing a hefty amount of money in an all-over newly painted jet.
And the same goes for charter or rental. A charter aircraft painted neutrally and discreetly will have more demand than distinctive, colored ones.
Many private aircraft owners make their jet available for private charter when they’re not flying through it and want to make it pleasing to charter customers and their tastes. Charter is a way of dealing with the important costs of owning your aircraft. (Even then, buying your aircraft is not financially viable for most private jet users.
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Ages better than any other
White paint ages more gracefully than most other colors. Exposure to sunlight at high altitudes can take its toll on darker colors, yet white doesn’t fade in an instant. So a white jet may need to be repainted every four years rather than once. And when you’re paying between almost $100,000 to $350,000 for a repaint, that’s a big consideration.
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Spot leaks and cracks
Fading isn’t a safety consideration; other deterioration, such as oil leaks and cracking, is. On a white surface, they have nowhere to hide. That’s a big plus point to safety and maintenance. And while white may be hard to maintain and keep tidy, dirt adds drag. So keeping your jet clean is also more fuel-efficient.
The color white on the jets is beautiful f taken with proper caretaking while taking safety measures. Private jets owner must check any spots and leakages. The white color paint on private jets helps to identify them faster when compared to other colors.
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Seen on Sky
The reflective surface of a white plane is more easily spotted at night and in the sky. That’s why military aircraft– conversely don’t want to be spotted in the sky – are rarely white and usually come in camouflage colors of grey, green or blue.
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Economical
White aircraft paint is popular, making it more widely available and less expensive than other colors. When something is white, it is easier to notice impurities. In addition, the most common drive is to keep cleaning it, so it looks nice, bright, and shiny. Thus, the white private jet owners have a similar knack.
They, too, keep cleaning and dusting the dirt off the jet. It decreases dirt load and, in turn, less fuel consumption. Additionally, it is also not required to repaint the white jet often since it does not wear off easily compared to other colors that fade away when exposed to the sun. So, it saves a lot of money since it does not have to be repainted annually.
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Traditional Elegance
People have subconscious and deep feelings about color. According to studies, most passengers feel more comfortable and secure flying in a traditional white aircraft.
Final Thoughts
While some of the reasons stated above are practical, there are others are psychological. Now that you know, you can share what you’ve learned to your friends the next time you travel together. Planning to go on a trip? Book your next flight with us here at Jetonset!
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