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Old 05-22-2008 | 07:08 AM
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Default What colour?

As a new learner I have trouble with seeing the plane.

I usually get a chance very late afternoon when the brease drops to nothin.

So What colour is easies to see?
Old 05-22-2008 | 07:19 AM
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Default RE: What colour?

Black and White.

When the plane is at a distance from you, the cones in your eyes, which are sensitive to color, are not a effective as the Rods, which are sensitive to black and white. Therefore, you should be concerned not with a specific color, but with the size and type of pattern on the plane. The pattern needs to be easily differentiated between top and bottom, front and back. Thats why you see lots of broad stripes, sunbursts, and checkerboard patterns. These shapes can be easily distiguished. For example, if you use a Sunburst on top, go with a solid color or a single wide stripe on the bottom.

Also consider the background you'll be flying against, particularly on landing. If you have trees behind the plane (green), use a light color on the leading edge of the wing so you'll be able to easily determine attitude.

Planes with a lot of white disappear quickly in a cloudless sky.

Good luck.

Brad
Old 05-22-2008 | 07:22 AM
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Default RE: What colour?

Due to the fact that white disappears on a cloudy day, I think yellow is a better choice for the light color. A dark blue contrasts nicely with yellow.
Old 05-22-2008 | 07:22 AM
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Default RE: What colour?


ORIGINAL: bkdavy

Black and White.

When the plane is at a distance from you, the cones in your eyes, which are sensitive to color, are not a effective as the Rods, which are sensitive to black and white. Therefore, you should be concerned not with a specific color, but with the size and type of pattern on the plane. The pattern needs to be easily differentiated between top and bottom, front and back. Thats why you see lots of broad stripes, sunbursts, and checkerboard patterns. These shapes can be easily distiguished. For example, if you use a Sunburst on top, go with a solid color or a single wide stripe on the bottom.

Also consider the background you'll be flying against, particularly on landing. If you have trees behind the plane (green), use a light color on the leading edge of the wing so you'll be able to easily determine attitude.

Planes with a lot of white disappear quickly in a cloudless sky.

Good luck.

Brad
My Kadet senior is mostly red but has white on the leading edge of the wing. I can see that white at quite a distance away and can easily tell if the airplane is flying toward me or not.
Old 05-22-2008 | 07:38 AM
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Default RE: What colour?

i would use black red or florecant yellow
Old 05-22-2008 | 07:40 AM
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Default RE: What colour?

"Planes with a lot of white disappear quickly in a cloudless sky. "

That is the problem, the whte just disapears

Old 05-22-2008 | 08:15 AM
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Default RE: What colour?

I like to use contrasting colors and designs to help the plane stand out .
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Old 05-22-2008 | 11:09 AM
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Default RE: What colour?

Good color schemes. They should stand out well.

Golf-lake, we fly in a valley and there is a lot of bird activity. The birds that stand out the most are the white ones. On a cloudy day, the opposite seems to be true, the vultures stand out first.

I've got a new plane with only two flights on it, both white knuckle ones. It is a Pheonix Fun Star. The plane is covered in yellow transparent covering. Before it goes in the air again, it gets a fesh covering of either white with Marron or black bars on the lower wings or Yellow with the same. Also the rudder and vertical will be contrasting colors.

When I first started, my instructor pointed out that if you flew with the sun behind you, your ability to see the plane was better. This isn't because the sun is in your eyes, but the cloudless sky is a different color away from the sun. If you are going to fly in close, that isn't to much of a problem, but flying high and away, it is very important.

I've lost three planes due to becoming disorentated and two of them were on cloudy days with the sun at my back, the other was a clear day with the sun in my face. I wasn't sun blinded, but I lost contrast on the plane and after that, it was pick up the pieces.

Cloudy days are a real problem for me. As is the foggy mornings we have. If I don't have a mostly sunny day, I don't fly.

Don
Old 05-22-2008 | 11:57 AM
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Default RE: What colour?

The best thing to do is contrast vs colors.

Solid darker colors on the bottom of the plane with white stripes, and the top can be any design...but should have lots of contrast.
The best thing to do is lighter colors on the inside, and darker colors on the wingtips, and horizontal and vertical tips.

There are also patterns that help with recognition. Checkerboard, stripes, stars, etc. Just make sure to make them large enough to distinguish at a distance. If you make the checkerboard too small, when it gets far away it just fuzzes out.



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