WARNING TO PILOTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26659, 3 January 1948, Page 6

WARNING TO PILOTS

Sir in answer to " Interested I would say that the Highcliff 4YA steel fabricated pylon has probably been coated aluminium primarily because of the rust inhibitive and leafing qualities, together with the lengthy exposure service it assures thereby lessening costly repaint periods, but nevertheless notwitooutsome regard to the reflective value of aluminium in dull atmospheric and ottli&M . periods. Due to the altitude of oyer 500 ft, also to the small transverse surface area presented, it would I feel sure be a moot point as to what combination of colours would give maximum visibility against the ever changing colours of the sky background. Sky colours frequently embrace practically the whole of the chromatic range, and there are periods when no matter what combination of colours were used, they would blend into this range, rendering the pylon more or less invisible. The colour which has been described as brick red, which I presume to be a reddish orange, would be used because of its strong contrasting, warm, energising and advancing characteristics, also because orange in close proximity to white looks brighter and deeper, and against cold receding blue becomes more brilliant. Reliable colour technologists have definitely established that out of 13 two-colour combinations black on a yellow chrome ground gives maximum visibility against normal surface backgrounds, and that orange is the most readily observable colour viewed from the air. Probably an improvement could be made by having the pylon central with a large circular concrete area of flat dome formation, coated aluminium and the base of the pylon coated for one-third of its height (thereafter in alternate bands) in a shade of reddish orange known as Princeton Orange composed of two parts cadmium orange and one part cadmium lemon. This would give the most brilliant hue with freedom from reaction or decomposition when applied over or mixed with other pigments. Then if the roofs of all buildings (if any) in juxtapostiion to this flat dome base were of hip gable design having a .45 degree pitch’ and painted in orange surface visibility and the radiated reflectivity of both orange and aluminium would have reached maximum limits. These remarks are not submitted as the actual reasons, but merely as a brief personal opinion supported by many years of colour association. The query, however, will be submitted to known colour scientists. —I am, etc., W. J. Newman. Lawrence. .