martinbayer
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Presumably it depends on the combination of flight altitude, airspeed, and duration, in conjunction with structural as well as thermal protection materials and concepts, but your point is very well taken. The alternating black, white and pink X-15 paint schemes, as well as the black Oxcart/Blackbird family vs. the white XB-70, which were both pretty much intended for the same operating environment, come readily to mind.Does white paint point to anything? Perhaps operating altitude?
Then again, one can sometimes read about U-2 and rq180 being black and white, respectively, because of their high altitude mission. Which Is a bit conflicting. I mean, which one is it? Is it better to be painted white or black at very high altitude?
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