# any practical benefits of high-gloss paint on aircraft?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-practical-benefits-of-high-gloss-paint-on-aircraft/693095>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 14, 2014, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-practical-benefits-of-high-gloss-paint-on-aircraft/693095 "2014-07-14T19:34:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-practical-benefits-of-high-gloss-paint-on-aircraft/693095/21 "2014-07-16T03:00:46Z")

</div>

Matte colors on cars are becoming more popular, but instead of paint, they are often done with vinyl wraps. I’m going to be doing mine soon, I just can’t decide on a color. But it’ll be matte, I like it much better than gloss.

Examples [here](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0117/9972/products/1080-M26_-_MILITARY_GREEN_car2_1024x1024.jpg?v=1361051158), [here](http://c767204.r4.cf2.rackcdn.com/5f227dd8-caa7-4b0e-807b-eb11c32a9960.JPG), [here](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONshE6Bx6DM/UAcH7qwen0I/AAAAAAAAJFI/ysIJBf-7kqo/s1600/Fire+Breather+Camero+2.jpg), [here](http://www.restyleit.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/IMG_6280.jpg)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![dstarfire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dstarfire/32/5762_2.png) [@dstarfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dstarfire)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2014, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-practical-benefits-of-high-gloss-paint-on-aircraft/693095/22 "2014-07-16T19:02:31Z")

</div>

> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> You can’t really have smooth finish without it being gloss. Clear semi gloss or matte are not as smooth microscopically as high gloss. As with all things engineering, there are trade offs.

Thanks for that. I didn’t realize that even microscopic imperfections could affect performance. I’d have thought surface tension would make variations at that scale meaningless

> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#):
>
> Like early stealth aircraft. To keep the aircraft stealthy required a huge amount of maintenance. Every access panel had to be sealed smooth lest the panel edge reflect radar back. So any time you opened up a panel it was a couple hours getting the finish right again.

Great, now I’m going to have to go read up on maintenance practices for stealth aircraft. Feel free to jab away at my curiousity button. 😕

> [@Fubaya](#):
>
> Matte colors on cars are becoming more popular, but instead of paint, they are often done with vinyl wraps. I’m going to be doing mine soon, I just can’t decide on a color. But it’ll be matte, I like it much better than gloss.
> 
> Examples [here](http://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0117/9972/products/1080-M26_-_MILITARY_GREEN_car2_1024x1024.jpg?v=1361051158), [here](http://c767204.r4.cf2.rackcdn.com/5f227dd8-caa7-4b0e-807b-eb11c32a9960.JPG), [here](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ONshE6Bx6DM/UAcH7qwen0I/AAAAAAAAJFI/ysIJBf-7kqo/s1600/Fire+Breather+Camero+2.jpg), [here](http://www.restyleit.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/IMG_6280.jpg)

Wow, those “paint” jobs do look awesome. I was also a little curious about the purpose of high-gloss for cars\*, myself.

\*\* But I figured the reasons would be either “aesthetics” and/or very similar to the reasons for it on aircraft. \*

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-practical-benefits-of-high-gloss-paint-on-aircraft/693095.md?page=1)