Instrument Panel Color

What is the reason that most instrument panels are black ? is it to reduce reflection ? I have a white panel I want to use.
Dan

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 3:05:03 PM UTC-5, wrote:
What is the reason that most instrument panels are black ? is it to reduce reflection ? I have a white panel I want to use.
Dan

Perfect way to have a heads up display when everything is reflected in the canopy is to use white.
Reflections are the reason for black mostly.
UH

I hate it when someone paints the panel white. Don't do it. It is dangerous. There is a reason panels and instruments are black and also the noses of fighters.

Boggs

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 4:55:43 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote:
I hate it when someone paints the panel white. Don't do it. It is dangerous. There is a reason panels and instruments are black and also the noses of fighters.

Boggs

Ok, I'll bite.

Most panels in US military jets are gray, not black. Most current fighter noses (I assume you mean radomes) are also gray. Many early radomes had black rubber/plastic coatings that couldn't be painted - newer ones come in matching colors.

Oddly, panels in the latest F-15K (for Korea) and F-15SG (Singapore) are black - and trust me, it's ugly.

Russian jets tend to have an odd turquoise color panels. And Boeing airliners are an odd brown.

My panel is gray (primer color) and works just fine.

Kirk
66

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 5:43:35 PM UTC-6, kirk.stant wrote:
On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 4:55:43 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote:
I hate it when someone paints the panel white. Don't do it. It is dangerous. There is a reason panels and instruments are black and also the noses of fighters.

Boggs

Ok, I'll bite.

Most panels in US military jets are gray, not black. Most current fighter noses (I assume you mean radomes) are also gray. Many early radomes had black rubber/plastic coatings that couldn't be painted - newer ones come in matching colors.

Oddly, panels in the latest F-15K (for Korea) and F-15SG (Singapore) are black - and trust me, it's ugly.

Russian jets tend to have an odd turquoise color panels. And Boeing airliners are an odd brown.

My panel is gray (primer color) and works just fine.

Kirk
66

And having read your post a little closer, I assume you are talking about the anti-glare panels on unpainted or white planes. Good point. The key is that the paint be flat - a glossy black can be just as reflective as glossy white!

Kirk
66

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 3:46:12 PM UTC-8, kirk.stant wrote:
On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 5:43:35 PM UTC-6, kirk.stant wrote:
On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 4:55:43 PM UTC-6, Waveguru wrote:
I hate it when someone paints the panel white. Don't do it. It is dangerous. There is a reason panels and instruments are black and also the noses of fighters.

Boggs

Ok, I'll bite.

Most panels in US military jets are gray, not black. Most current fighter noses (I assume you mean radomes) are also gray. Many early radomes had black rubber/plastic coatings that couldn't be painted - newer ones come in matching colors.

Oddly, panels in the latest F-15K (for Korea) and F-15SG (Singapore) are black - and trust me, it's ugly.

Russian jets tend to have an odd turquoise color panels. And Boeing airliners are an odd brown.

My panel is gray (primer color) and works just fine.

Kirk
66

And having read your post a little closer, I assume you are talking about the anti-glare panels on unpainted or white planes. Good point. The key is that the paint be flat - a glossy black can be just as reflective as glossy white!

Kirk
66

Ok I'll bite . Not sure if Boggs was making the distinction between black and grey... Anyway, wouldn't a "flat white" panel be much worse than a flat grey or flat black? I can't think of a single airplane that has a white panel of any kind. I can't even wear a light colored shirt in my non-tinted canopy glider, the glare drives me absolutely nuts. I now wear black, grey or dark blue or similar.

Go for it, and enjoy!

I've had panels that were black, grey, and sky blue and all were just
fine. The overhang of your glare shield will block most, if not all of
the reflections. If it doesn't work out the way you like, simply
repaint it. Ignore the safety nazis who want you to do everything their
way "in the name of safety".

On 11/23/2015 1:05 PM, wrote:
What is the reason that most instrument panels are black ? is it to reduce reflection ? I have a white panel I want to use.
Dan

--
Dan, 5J

On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 4:43:46 PM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
Go for it, and enjoy!



I've had panels that were black, grey, and sky blue and all were
just fine.* The overhang of your glare shield will block most, if
not all of the reflections.* If it doesn't work out the way you
like, simply repaint it.* Ignore the safety nazis who want you to do
everything their way "in the name of safety".




On 11/23/2015 1:05 PM,
wrote:



What is the reason that most instrument panels are black ? is it to reduce reflection ? I have a white panel I want to use.
Dan





--

Dan, 5J

The original post was inquiring whether or not to use a white panel, is anyone actually recommending that he go ahead and do that?

I do! If it doesn't work out for him he can always repaint it. If
that's too much trouble, simply cut out a panel shape from white paper
and tape it in place. Sit in the glider with the canopy down on a sunny
day and have a friend rotate the glider around a complete circle. That
won't account for bank beyond a wing on the ground, but will give him a
good idea if it will work for him.

BTW, in the summer, I only wear white shirts and it's never been a
problem. I wear darker clothes in the colder months and glare is more
of a problem then, but it's the lower sun angle, not the color of my
clothes. Check the ramp at a contest and tally what everyone's
wearing. I'm not suggesting that contest pilots know what's best to
wear, just that there are more of them in one location at one time so
you'll have a better sample.

My personal opinion of a white panel is that it will be too bright with
the sun over the pilot's shoulder and will make it harder to read the
instruments. Softer, non-gloss colors will provide better contrast, I
think.

On 11/24/2015 7:43 AM, wrote:
On Monday, November 23, 2015 at 4:43:46 PM UTC-8, Dan Marotta wrote:
Go for it, and enjoy!



I've had panels that were black, grey, and sky blue and all were
just fine. The overhang of your glare shield will block most, if
not all of the reflections. If it doesn't work out the way you
like, simply repaint it. Ignore the safety nazis who want you to do
everything their way "in the name of safety".




On 11/23/2015 1:05 PM,
wrote:



What is the reason that most instrument panels are black ? is it to reduce reflection ? I have a white panel I want to use.
Dan





--

Dan, 5J
The original post was inquiring whether or not to use a white panel, is anyone actually recommending that he go ahead and do that?

--
Dan, 5J

On Monday, 23 November 2015 22:05:03 UTC+2, wrote:
What is the reason that most instrument panels are black ? is it to reduce reflection ? I have a white panel I want to use.
Dan

New glider panels are mostly with grey matte Nextel paint (with exceptions, of course).