[mdlug-discuss] [mdlug] [Fwd: [opensuse-offtopic] And now the Manchurian microchip]

[Aaron Kulkis]

Garry Stahl wrote:
> Aaron Kulkis wrote:
>> Here's my theory on how "black helicopter" paranoia began.
>>  
>> Having seen a LOT of helicopters, (painted all sorts of colors,
>> even mostly white)they all APPEAR BLACK when viewed from the
>> ground, because all you really see is a shadow against the sky
>> which is far brighter than whatever light is reflected off the
>> aircraft itself.  Most helicopters are painted with "flat"
>> points rather than glossy -- especially those owned by
>> government agencies.  Flat paints tend to be more durable than
>> glossies (or at least they don't show minor wear as much).
>>
>> And at night, they appear even "more" black than in daytime.
>>
>>
>> When is the last time you saw a helicopter flying in the
>> sky and it did NOT appear to be black?
>>   
> 
> Haven't been watching choppers much lately.
> 
> However there is one point.  Gloss paints wear better.  The slickness
> rebuffs damage better than the pitted surface of a flat paint.  Dirt and
> wear can get a better grip on flat paint.

Probably generally true... but glossy paint that gets damaged
tends to look like hell to the same people you're trying to
impress with the glossy paint job.

> 
> My understanding that militarizes prefer flat paints because they don't
> reflect light as strongly.  Your not going to get a flash of reflected
> light off a flat green Blackhawk

True.

> The paint will wear faster.

But it seems to be rather thick, for reasons I'll explain below.

>  I can;t
> recall ever seeing a civilian aircraft painted in a flat paint.  Even
> non-combat military aircraft get glossy paint for the wear factor. 
> Recall Air Force One and Marine One.  Every airliner you have ever seen,
> all glossy.
> 

Fixed wing aircraft generally don't beat their own paint jobs
with dust kicked up by their engines or propellers.

Helicopters, on the other hand, every time the land or take
off, basically do some sand-blasting of their body surfaces.
Glossy paint on a helicopter doesn't stay glossy for long.