Orange markers on the glider. Paint or stickers?

On Friday, May 29, 2015 at 3:30:32 AM UTC-4, Philip van de Donk wrote:

At the refinish I want to have the orange markers back on.

This would be a good opportunity to leave the orange markings off. Many years back, there was a study in the UK by the Cranfield Institute that confirmed that the orange "anti-collision" markings so popular actually made the glider LESS conspicuous!

At 10:21 05 June 2015, Jim Kellett wrote:
On Friday, May 29, 2015 at 3:30:32 AM UTC-4, Philip van de
Donk wrote:

At the refinish I want to have the orange markers back on.

This would be a good opportunity to leave the orange
markings off. Many
years back, there was a study in the UK by the Cranfield
Institute that
confirmed that the orange "anti-collision" markings so
popular actually
made the glider LESS conspicuous!


But wasn't this Cranfield study done with dumpy motor gliders?
Falke, Grob 109, which are (relatively) easy to see? Without
anti-collision markings you cannot fly at any French gliding
site. Hard to imagine that many Alpine pilots think they would
be more visible without their day-glo orange markers!

On Friday, June 5, 2015 at 12:21:57 PM UTC+2, Jim Kellett wrote:
On Friday, May 29, 2015 at 3:30:32 AM UTC-4, Philip van de Donk wrote:

At the refinish I want to have the orange markers back on.

This would be a good opportunity to leave the orange markings off. Many years back, there was a study in the UK by the Cranfield Institute that confirmed that the orange "anti-collision" markings so popular actually made the glider LESS conspicuous!

This is not an option as I often fly in France where orange markers are mandatory. I also believe if it improves visibility by only 5% then it is worthwile to put them on.

Had such an experience only yesterday when a glider approached me head-on. It had the markers on the wings, and I had just spotted it in time to perform evasive action. It was already a little too close for comfort. Without the markers on its' wings, I would have spotted it later and I rather don't like to think of what might have happened then.....