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Aviation

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    $\begingroup$ @oakad This is the reason for the word "generally" in the title :) $\endgroup$
    – Danny Beckett
    Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 3:58
  • 26
    $\begingroup$ It's not a primary reason, but hiding dirt is NOT what you want. 1. It increases drag. 2. It often indicates problems - leaking seals, internal pipe leaks, corrosion in exposed flap tracks etc. $\endgroup$
    – Simon
    Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 19:49
  • 3
    $\begingroup$ Ok, I do not find references to underpin that statement, but a gifted car mechanic once told me, that white lacquer is harder than other colors. (Well, most craftsmen in Germany have white cars...). $\endgroup$
    – loveNoHate
    Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 20:24
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    $\begingroup$ The Concorde was painted with a special type of white paint because any other color would cause the airframe to heat up way beyond its design limits at Mach 2 cruise. The Pepsi Concorde was painted blue, and was hence not allowed to fly at Mach 2 for more than 20 minutes at a time: concordesst.com/history/events/pictures/pepsi6.jpg $\endgroup$
    – shortstheory
    Commented Mar 19, 2014 at 10:53
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    $\begingroup$ I would be asking why Air France planes are so dirty based on your findings! $\endgroup$
    – Jamiec ♦
    Commented Aug 14, 2014 at 13:38