At 09:01 27 January 2016, Justin Craig wrote:

"France mandated high vis markings for a reason, they saw a
statisticall
significate difference. France mandated Flarm for the same
reason, i
works."


FRANCE mandated hi viz marking to help see gliders in the snowy
backdrop o
the alps.

They also mandated FLARM for the alps as FLARM can see round
corners in th
mountains and the eye can not.


Bright colour markings do nothing. If you wish to improve visibility
pu
silver reflective tape on each of your control surfaces.

The "Big Sky" theory only works if all aircraft are evenly distributed
over the airspace. The restrictions and requirements of gliding
means that they are far from evenly distributed.

High vis markings (dayglo) do work with gliders against some
backgrounds if they are above or below. In the most dangerous
area, the same level they do not work too well at all as the area is so
small that the "benefit" is cancelled out.

Silver reflective tape, or mirror tape only works in sunshine. Gliders
spent a lot of time in shade, under clouds, and again at the same
level the effect is minimal. Something that requires the sun to shine
is not likely to be too effective for most of the time in the UK.

The Royal Air Force did a study which concluded that the best
colour to provide the best chance of being seen was black, which is
why all RAF training aircraft, except the GRP ones, are painted
black. From my limited experience in seeing these aircraft in the air
they certainly seem to be more easily picked out from most
backgrounds.

It would seem that what is needed is a colouring that absorbs
visible light but reflects ultra violet and infra red. So there is the
challenge.