RE: Custom Checker pattern steps?
The last option that is easy, find a vinyl sign shop in your area that can cut sheets of the squares for you.
That way you get perfect alignment, size, and if your lucky a nice solid color with the ease of sticking them on. They have a wide veriety colors.
As far as colors for the checks, your lime green and white would be a nice contrast as opposed to silver and white. You want to make sure though that the top and bottom look entirely different because at altitude you want to know what is what.
Jason