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    $\begingroup$ You say "a substantial weight savings" - Do you have a reference for how much the paint weighs for a given plane? $\endgroup$
    – Richard Miskin
    Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 6:08
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    $\begingroup$ @RichardMiskin It obviously varies depending on how much surface needs to be covered, and to a lesser extent on the type of paint used (urethane paints are pretty much the standard in aviation these days). This Daily Apple article has a table from Boeing, which puts the weight of a full paint scheme on a 747 at 555lbs (versus 55lbs for polished skin & a logo). $\endgroup$
    – voretaq7
    Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 6:25
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    $\begingroup$ @vortaq7 There was an article in the seat pocket magazine years ago on an American Airlines flight. Their former livery - polished aluminum accented by a stripe of multicolored paint - saved 200 pounds. that is from memory and applies to the MD-80 series. So they save the weight of one passenger on each flight. I wish I could remember the fuel savings they claimed, but it was substantial on an annual basis. $\endgroup$
    – Skip Miller
    Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 13:09
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    $\begingroup$ "Ugly shade of green"... you do realize it's St Patricks Day, and you've just antagonized everyone of Irish descent? ;) I seem to remember a story about interned B-29s that landed in Russia during WWII due to battle damage over Japan, and the Russians copied them exactly, down to the exposed green primer in the aft portion (the factory had run out of interior white paint, or something). $\endgroup$
    – Phil Perry
    Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 18:48
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    $\begingroup$ @RichardMiskin Check out this YouTube clip from Megafactories, with Boeing painting a new 747. This would concur with voretaq7. $\endgroup$
    – Danny Beckett
    Commented Mar 17, 2014 at 23:52