Bolaji Adeleke

Even if you've never been on an airplane before, you most likely have seen a couple in the sky or in movies.

And one thing is peculiar to them, <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/food-travel/this-is-why-airplane-windows-are-round/ctgehen">especially commercial airplanes</a> - they are usually primarily white in colour.

If you have ever wondered, there are some practical reasons aviation companies do this.

Airplanes and the colour white are a match made in heaven [BI USA]

Airports are designed with specific specs for everything from the width of the runways and taxiways to the gate ramp space, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The above picture shows the space needed for an Air New Zealand Boeing 777 compared to a Lufthansa Airbus A340.

The airplane has a longer wingspan to generate more lift, reducing its fuel burn by 10%. However, this means its full wingspan cant fit into current 777 gates.

<h3>1. Heat reflection</h3>

Aircrafts are prone to prolonged sunlight, especially when parked on ground for an extended period of time. The use of white paint, which reflects sunlight and absorbs less heat compared to darker colours, is crucial for maintaining cooler interiors. This is particularly important <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/fashion/windrunner-largest-plane-in-the-world/bdtms3s">for the aircrafts' engines</a> and sensitive electronic equipment.

<h3>2. Protection against UV radiation&nbsp;</h3>

Planes fly at high altitudes, hence, are exposed to harsh UV radiation. The colour white, due to its reflective property, reflects some of the incident UV rays, thereby minimising the impact of prolonged exposure on&nbsp;airplanes.

White, as a highly conspicuous and visible colour, painted on an airplane makes it easier for ground crew and other aircrafts to see. This enhances safety during ground operations and in-flight, as it increases the chances of spotting the aircraft from a distance.

ALSO READ: <a data-link-role-code="open_new_tab" href="https://www.pulse.ng/lifestyle/how-to-sleep-on-plane/9qkkre0">These tricks will help you sleep soundly on the plane</a>

Research has also shown that white paint on airplanes help to contribute to fuel efficiency. The relative cooling of white paint is great for the aerodynamics of the plane, thereby relatively minimising fuel usage. This effective concept allows airlines to cut cost in the long run.

Nevertheless, airlines include other specific colours on their airplanes for branding and marketing purposes, but the overall colour scheme still usually includes a significant amount of white.

Now you know the practical reasons why these planes are white [Getty Images]

Planes wait in line on a runway for take-off.PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images

Now you know it's not a coincidence that most airplanes are painted white. The colour's highly-reflective and conspicuous nature combined with the nature of airplanes operation, makes them a match made in heaven.

Most airplanes are painted white [Britannica]

Even if you've never been on an airplane before, you most likely have seen a couple in the sky or in movies. And one thing is peculiar to them, especially commercial airplanes - they are usually primarily white in colour.

3 reasons most airplanes are painted white

<h2>The events that make a year good or bad are often traced to personal experiences through the course of that year.</h2>

However, some years in history were so chaotic that the whole world felt the impact.

History has recorded many terrible years that saw brutal wars, unimaginable natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, and pandemics that wiped populations, but these three years take the cake for the worst years in history.

Europe, the Middle East and some parts of Asia were plunged into darkness (night and day) for a period of 18 months. Yes! The sun was totally blocked out for a year and six months. This darkness was later traced to a volcanic eruption in Iceland.

If&nbsp;you thought blocking out the sun was already bad enough, the eruption also led to a serious decline in summer temperatures, which resulted in crop failure and serious famine for over a year that left millions of people starving to death.&nbsp;

Medieval historian, Michael McCormick, referred to 536 AD as “the beginning of the worst periods to be alive, if not the worst year,” as the events of this year set the ball rolling for more miseries that followed for mankind in that decade.

You have probably heard of the Black Death (bubonic plague), the most fatal pandemic in human history. Well, it started in 1347 and continued till 1353, causing the death of 75 million to 200 million people.&nbsp;

The disease, caused by bacteria known as Yersinia pestis, caused victims with unbearable pain, high fever, severe bleeding and pus-filled boils before eventually killing them.&nbsp;

Bubonic plague caused the death of about 75 - 200 million people [Hospitalfield]

The plague stirred up religious and economic crises that immensely affected history, making it one of the worst times to be alive.

In 1815, a volcanic eruption on Mount Tambora in Indonesia (then the Island of Sumbawa) caused the immediate death of over 11,000 people. Ejecting tons of sulphur dioxide into the atmosphere, several thousands of deaths occurred in the following months. It is known as the most powerful volcanic eruption in history.

Also, the eruption caused the average global temperature to drop, leading to crop failures and famine around the world. The effects of this eruption lasted for years, and many people starved to death during this period.&nbsp;

Many more years like the spans of the world wars and historical genocides are honourable mentions of the most terrifying years to be alive.

The extent of the catastrophic events in these years leaves one wondering how humans lived through them, and also, grateful for not being alive in those years.

Mount Tambora eruption - Year without summer [ArcGIS Map Story]

The events that make a year good or bad are often traced to personal experiences through the course of that year. However, some years in history were so chaotic that the whole world felt the impact.

We found the 3 worst years to be alive

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Bolaji Adeleke

Articles written by the author

3 reasons most airplanes are painted white

We found the 3 worst years to be alive