I would guess that the
best color might be different when viewed against the sky or the ground.

If you have ever been in the pattern with a Piper J-3, you must know
that the best color is Cub Yellow.

I live in New Hampshire, where most of the ground is covered by white
pine. For several years there was an L-4 wannabe (a J-3 painted up as
a Grasshopper) used for training at the local airport. It was a bear
to spot in the pattern, especially if you were higher. Name of Nine
Seven Mike.

Happily someone banged up a wing, so while it was in the shop, it was
painted with invasion stripes on that wing only. You cannot believe
the difference those two? three? stripes made!

Later, someone else banged up a wing the second time, but alas it was
the same wing, so I never got a chance to see if a second set of
stripes would have improved things even more.

Nine Seven Mike has since been sold down the river, so you may see it
at your airport.

all the best -- Dan Ford
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see the Warbird's Forum at www.warbirdforum.com
and the Piper Cub Forum at www.pipercubforum.com