[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.

You see the same effect with fixed-wing aircraft, too.

If it's up in the sky, and you're down on the ground, from
most angles, it will look "black"...the only exception
being when the sun is at your back, and the plane's
angle of elevation, relative to you, is below 60 degrees
or so, AND close enough to be more than an irregularly
shaped dot.