What would you use to paint a plane?

Question

What would you use to paint a plane?

Answer 1

You want to spray it, not brush it on.

My airplane is painted with automobile paint - Lexus White Pearl - with accents using Dupont Chromalusion Purpleen, which shifts from purple to green as you view it from a different angle.

Answer 2

Make sure you use paint specifically for aviation.  A lot of the lower end shops use car paint which looks great but doesn't always have the flexibility and strength of aviation paint.  Think about it this way:  You take off in 100 degree weather in Phoenix Arizona and minutes later you are at high altitude near or below freezing.  With temperature swings like that you want to make sure you have a paint that will expand and contract well and still maintain its integritiy.

There are many great aviation paint products out there but I recommend that you use a system of products (surface prep, primer, base coat, top coat, etc) that are designed to be used together.  If you stay within one manufacturers family of products your warranty on the product will be much more reliable.  If you use product A primer and company B paint and then wind up with a problem you will probably get two manufacturers pointing their finger at the other one.

Lastly, let me put this plug in for DuPont Aviation Finishes.  They have some excellent products for both small aircraft and larger jet aircraft.  They come in both single stage (spray the color on and that's it) and base coat clear coat (spray color, then spray clear for protection).  They also have specific series to address general aviation planes with a lot of rivet heads where you don't want the paint to run from buildup on the rivets or a more smooth skin plane where you need the paint to flow out a little more as it goes on.  For planes that use skydrol in their hydraulic systems, some of the DuPont series are skydrol resistant so if that fluid gets on your plane it doesn't ruin the paint job.  To give you an idea of what skydrol can do to a plane; if you have ever watched break fluid eat through paint on a car, it's a similar experience.  The DuPont product might cost a little more but it typically takes less steps and fewer coats to cover so you make a lot back on labor and time.  Plus it sprays really well and looks great once it is on.  Ok, that's the end of my DuPont plug.

Lastly, if you have never painted a plane think about having a professional do it.  If you are a do it yourselfer please do your homework.  A good paint job is all about surface perparation and the actual spraying will be the least of your concern.  I see a lot of first time painters that can't wait to spray and skimp on the surface prep and they wonder why they have problems later on.  Also, consult the FAR/AIM on what you can and can't do to your own airplane with and without the signature of a licensed aircraft mechanic.

Answer 3

Jet-Glo is the best for GA planes...I had mine painted with it...it is a Sherwin Williams paint...or maybe PPG...I can't remember...

Answer 4

Airplanes are painted with paint that is specifically formulated for use on aluminum.  A number of different manufacturers have aircraft product offerings.

You can find all sorts of information on the internet under "aircraft paint."

If you are asking about the method of painting, airplanes are spray painted, just like cars.

Answer 5

There are different types of paint - depending on what the airplane is made of.

Fabric planes use a different paint than composites or aluminum skinned planes,

Answer 6

paint!

Answer 7

gee i dont know, paint maybe?