Painted Canopies

[Dave Lindauer]

The recent Palm Springs jets post (great photos!) brings up one of my pet peeves -- painted canopies on outdoor static displays! While I can understand why may be necessary in some cases, they always bother me regardless of whether they're black, silver, gold, white, baby blue, or whatever.

Question for the group: If we accept the fact that a particular canopy must be painted or similarly finished, what's the best choice? Are there any semi-opaque finishes that would accomplish the objective in a more presentable/realistic manner?

[warbird1]

The reason they are done that way is to preserve the aircraft. Sunlight is very damaging to an aircraft's interior, as well as the plexiglass itself. Also, but I don't know if it's accurate, but I've heard that putting that protective coating on helps give the canopy more strength and integrity. Can someone verify that?

There must be good reason to painting the canopies, as MASDC does that for all of the aircraft in the U.S. Military's boneyard at Davis-Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona. Perhaps WIX member, "jamesintucson" can reply to this, as he is right there in Tucson and deals with this stuff all the time.

This wouldn't be a factor if the airplanes weren't outside in the first place, but that is probably the best "compromise" with protecting the aircraft vs. making it look somewhat aesthetically pleasing.

[Dave Lindauer]

Yes - I'm not well versed in such matters, buy my understanding is that the military apply specialized coatings to the "glass" of stored airframes in order to reduce deterioration.

I believe that outdoor static display canopies are often painted due to existing deterioration and/or ongoing maintenance issues, and in some cases to obscure stripped interiors.

[jamesintucson]

The process used by the miltary is somewhat more complex than just painting the canopies. I'm stealing this from the AMARC Expericence site at: http://www.amarcexperience.com/AMARCProcesses.asp. He explains it very clearly:

"Seal Aerospace Vehicle for Storage
Most of the aircraft at AMARC are protected by a vinyl compound called Spraylat which is sprayed on as two coats. The first coat is black in colour and seals the aircraft to protect its systems from dust, moisture, animals and insects. The second coat, which is white in colour, helps to reflect sunlight and heat to protect the aircraft from excessive internal temperatures. Before the spraylat is applied the engine intake and exhaust areas have desiccant material installed into them, and other openings are filled with barrier material of barrier tape. All access panels, doors, plates and other small openings are sealed using tapes. Brushable spraylat is used in conjunction with the barrier materials and tape to ensure a complete seal. Cockpits are vented and glass and acrylic surfaces are cleaned before the spraylat is applied to them."

In the museum we compromise between effectiveness and attractiveness but we have to do something. If you don't the canopies eventually turn yellow and look far worse than any coat of paint ever could. Those museums that haven't done it are eventually going to regret it when they go looking to have a new canopy made for their F-15 to replace the one that looks like it has cataracts.

James

[tom d. friedman]

it gets pretty darned hot in a cockpit in a long term outdoor display / storage!! the plexi just crazes to the point of being opaque.