Air New Zealand New Aircraft Livery

[tuppaware]

Air New Zealand black livery | New jet to turn the sky black

The skies are set to turn black after Air New Zealand revealed its new design for the first aircraft in its new domestic jet fleet.

The new all black design was unveiled in Sydney today by Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe, in "recognition of the airline's long time support of the nation's favourite game".

Fyfe said: "In celebration of Air New Zealand's long running support of rugby in New Zealand, our first new A320 will arrive in January sporting a sleek black livery complete with silver fern motif and Koru on its tail."

 

[samh004]

I can see why it's a one off. Would have to see it in person but it's just a little too black at this stage.

 

[wtolmie]

IMHO. Stunning.

 

[rtyuiop]

Love it!

Not sure why so many airlines use basically white on most of the plane (ease of maintenance? Painting cost, temperature characteristics?)... Regardless of the horror of UA Y across the Pacific, I like their grey and blue paint scheme too!

Danny

 

[mannej]

The heavier the paint the more the fuel costs are. That is why I am guessing you are seeing less special liverys out there (no MH etc)


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly

 

[drewbles]

IMHO. Stunning.

+1

Gotta agree here that looks sensational. I wonder how much extra weight the black paint adds over white. I know that Boeing mentioned Red was the most expensive to have applied (apparently contains gold) but would the black paint weigh that much more than white?

It's stunning though. Very classy!

 

[notzac]

It's stunning though. Very classy!

+1, I love it. Wouldn't look nearly as good if the colours were reversed.

 

[Keith009]

Love it! V striking.

 

[Flying Fox]

Looks great. Lucky its flying around cool/cold NZ cos the black paint would get super hot around the middle east!

 

[Flashback]

I'm a fan of the design! I can't imagine white paint would weigh any more or less than black, though?

 

[mannej]

I'm a fan of the design! I can't imagine white paint would weigh any more or less than black, though?

I am no expert on the matter (I am not sure whether or not different coloured paints weighed more). But I have read somewhere in the past that the special liveries did use more fuel. From memory it could have been that it is because extra paint has to be used I am not so sure. IIRC they also mentioned that is the reason behind AA's flash livery

 

[docjames]

I am no expert on the matter (I am not sure whether or not different coloured paints weighed more). But I have read somewhere in the past that the special liveries did use more fuel. From memory it could have been that it is because extra paint has to be used I am not so sure. IIRC they also mentioned that is the reason behind AA's flash livery

ISTR that a fully painted 744 has about 3 tons of paint on it.

AA (and AM) have used polished aluminium for exactly that reason (weight penalty saved can go into payload/decreased fuel burn) but I also recall that there is significant maintenance required to keep the aircraft looking good and protected from the elements (ie. some sort of special treatments required to maintain polished aircraft). The cost of the "treatments" ongoing to maintain the polished aircraft tens to eat up most of the (weight) savings.

Typically, special liveries often have to be applied over base coats, requiring more paint, and thus more weight. Whether NZ did this as part of the "base" or over the top of the base, I guess only they know at this stage. Looks cool either way. Maybe QF and SAA should consider doing the same (and Aerolineas Argentinas).

QF sponsor the Wallabies and the Socceroos so the potential is there.......

 

[MrHyde]

QF sponsor the Wallabies and the Socceroos so the potential is there.......

QF did change livery on one of their 747 for the socceroos World Cup. Found a few images on airliners.net - Photos: Boeing 747-438 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Also, did similar for Rugby World Cup - Photos: Boeing 767-338/ER Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

And they also got a special livery for the World Cup bids - Photos: Boeing 747-438 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Also, don't forget about the full body aboriginal art livery that QF have.

However, NZ livery is spectacular and I would love to see that plane on the tarmac somewhere.

As for the paint weight and cost questions, here is a text file I found on the Boeing website - Painting versus Polishing of Airplane Exterior Surfaces which says that it is pretty much even in terms of cost on whether to paint or polish.

 

[docjames]

Also, don't forget about the full body aboriginal art livery that QF have.


As for the paint weight and cost questions, here is a text file I found on the Boeing website - Painting versus Polishing of Airplane Exterior Surfaces which says that it is pretty much even in terms of cost on whether to paint or polish.

Those sports ones are pretty minor "specials" really. The Wunala Dreaming a a more "special" livery to the extent of the NZ one - and QF could do something more like this in line with their sponsorships rather than the pretty minor ones.

And that must hae been where I read the cost bit. Thanks for the links.

 

[codash1099]

I'm a fan of the design! I can't imagine white paint would weigh any more or less than black, though?

Black paint should weigh less than white. White pigment (titanium dioxide) is heavier than black (carbon black) and in general more white paint is needed to give "coverage" than black. Bright colours would be more expensive since they use pigments that are themselves expensive - at least the versions that provide colour stable to sunlight are.

My major doubt would be that black objects tend to absorb and radiate heat more readily than white ones, which may add cost to climate control within the aircraft.

 

[kamchatsky]

Great looking plane!

 

[apophis21]

Great looking plane, would like to see a few more of them. I'm thinking a big black 744

 

[adampenrith]

Sweet!!

That plane looks choice eh!!!

Awesome Bro - those All Blicks .....

 

[UP4014]

ISTR that a fully painted 744 has about 3 tons of paint on it.

AA (and AM) have used polished aluminium for exactly that reason (weight penalty saved can go into payload/decreased fuel burn) but I also recall that there is significant maintenance required to keep the aircraft looking good and protected from the elements (ie. some sort of special treatments required to maintain polished aircraft). The cost of the "treatments" ongoing to maintain the polished aircraft tens to eat up most of the (weight) savings.

I think a plane has more like 300kg of paint and savings in fuel from using polished skins tend to be outweighed by the fact they need more external cleaning than a painted plane.

Matt

 

[NM]

I think a plane has more like 300kg of paint and savings in fuel from using polished skins tend to be outweighed by the fact they need more external cleaning than a painted plane.

Matt

Perhaps the airlines need to take to the airframe with a big hammer and "install" lots of dimples over the fuselage to take advantage of the lower drag like a golf ball. Mythbusters proved it works on a car, so why not an aircraft. They get about 10% fuel economy improvement with a "gold ball dimple" car over the same clean car.