On Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 2:29:58 AM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
I searched this thread and did not see an actual study referenced, only urban legend, that bright colors not found in nature somehow act to "work as camouflage because they erode the edge of the plane's outline/silhouette". ..

The study you mention that disputed the effectiveness of day-glo patches on the wings was reported in Sailplane and Gliding Magazine for December, 2000. The tests conducted for the report were conducted during June, 2000 at RAF Bicester.

Another study, on mirrored surfaces, was "Glider Conspicuity Trials Held at RAF Bicester in June and October 2002", carried out under the direction of Dr. Tony Head, then of the Human Factors Group, School of Engineering, College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University. It as this study that, to some degree, suggested that mirrored control surfaces did improve conspicuity. although the report does include several dislaimers, based on weathser conditions during the testing. I have a copy of THAT report (but not the 2000 study) if anyone's interested (jim at kellett cot com)