Why Are Aircraft Tails Painted Before Being Attached To The Fuselage?

Whenever you see aircraft being built, you might have noticed that their tails are fully painted in the future owners’ livery. Why is this the case?
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[@PSTekbear]

The issue I have with this theory is that over time, wear and tear will cause the paint to chip which according to the theory, would throw the tail out of balance. Also, I’ve never seen the tail removed when the aircraft is repainted.

[@rockets4kids]

Came here to say this. If this is the real reason then there should be special considerations given to repainting the rudder. And if this is the case then you should be able to find out what those special considerations actually are.

[@benjaminh.7698]

I wanted to write the same. After watching this video I have more question marks then before...

[@6z0]

Paint chips aren’t throwing the 5,000lb vertical stabilizer out of balance buddy

[@thatguyalex2835]

Lemme get this straight. Simple Flying went to a forum, and then to Quora to get their answers. Laughable at best... They should have contacted the manufacturers directly, or used a science article. :(

[@WhiskeyGulf71]

@@6z0 so neither is the paint then “buddy”

[@ghost307]

Ever think of calling Boeing and asking instead of guessing?

[@AnarchyEnsues]

Lol,. You make a video, without a real answer.

[@ryan0157]

The rudder is the control surface, what’s commonly called the tail is actually called the vertical stabilizer

[@gvudrt8266]

No the tail includes the back of the aircraft, rudder, and elevators

[@robertrawley1115]

So, are you saying the tail is never repainted on a plane without removal and rebalancing? And, what about whitetail aircraft? Even after details in this video it seems like there's more to the story...

[@b127_1]

it probably is possible to balance a rudder while it is still on the airplane, but having the people that made it do the balancing is likely more efficient.

[@thatguyalex2835]

Yeah, don't rely on Simple Flying as an authoritative source for aviation information. They get their info from message boards, and not actual aircraft companies. ツ

[@MPflugga]

Aeroscopia (a museum in Toulouse, France) offers tours of Airbus' assembly lines. If I remember correctly what the guide said, the main advantage of painting the tails early on is that airline reps visiting the facility like to see the logo of their company on the plane. Also you said rudder but probably meant stabilizer, as already pointed out by a million comments

[@alyssanini9469]

i've ever visit the Airbus factory(FAL of the a350) and the guide sayd us that it was for the managers of the compagny who receive the aircraft , when they visit the factory and show there aircraft , to have a better view on there aircraft with the tail of there compagny

[@thekiltedprivateer3724]

I currently work in the empanage shop for the 737. The entire tail isn’t painted during weight and balance, just the actual rudder. Same with the stab assembly; the elevators are painted by the rest waits until the entire bird is done.

[@gpaull2]

Came here to say the same thing.

[@mrtucey]

I currently work in final assembly on the 777 only the leading edge of the 777 rudders are painted before they're installed. 787s are fully painted but it may be a matter of protecting the composite from ultraviolet light.

[@PiefacePete46]

I notice during the video that most of the tail/rudder assemblies shown are totally painted. I guess it just makes sense to do the whole thing at once, rather than just the rudder... you would get a rap on the knuckles if the back part of the customer's logo didn't line up with the front!

[@thekiltedprivateer3724]

@@PiefacePete46 it’s not an issue at a half decent paint shop.

[@PiefacePete46]

@@thekiltedprivateer3724 : No, of course. It's more likely to have come from a "Bean Counter" whose spreadsheet told him he could save 73 cents. :o)

[@aston-martin-internationalist]

When they repaint planes following sale or return to a lesser, this method is not employed and the plane is simply repaint all in one piece.

[@jimhal5553]

The part is called the vertical stabilizer. The hinged airfoil on the aft end is the rudder. You claim to be aircraft engineers. If true, you should use the correct terms. The only portion of the assembly that requires balancing is the rudder. I have seen all sizes of airplanes being painted and the moveable control surfaces (ailerons, elevators, and rudder) are removed to be painted separately, AND THEN rebalanced.

[@americanrambler4972]

I suspect the tails are painted prior to installation has more to do with cost, ease of production and efficiency than anything else. Often other parts like engine cowlings, flaps, landing gear, nose cone/radar domes, antenna’s, doors, wings and other common parts are also often completely painted prior to installation.

[@YSLaurens]

1:44 The "tail" is not «also known as the rudder». The tail assembly comprises a fixed element, the vertical stabilizer; and a control surface, the rudder.

[@gpaull2]

I don’t need to guess the real reason. The maker of this video either guessed or doesn’t fully understand what they are talking about though.

[@joecrammond6221]

i always assumed it was to help different one airlines plane from another

[@davec8921]

Sounds like something the tail manufacturer came up with to double the price 😂

[@Siract]

Why waste 2 minutes on theories of questions, instead of just getting straight to the point & answer the question

[@cr10001]

... and then fail to come up with a credible answer anyway... :)

[@chrispontani6059]

I call BS. If it’s SO crucial that the tail be perfectly balanced, then how can you ever have 3-2 seating? By design, one side is heavier…a lot more than a single coat of paint on the tail can fix.

[@cessealbeach]

One of the reasons the Tail is Painted first is , so that customer airline reps know their aircraft in the assembly line, but the Rudder is given a final Paint because its balanced surface.

[@terencestanton1870]

what about if they change owners or owner changes livery

[@mstrmren]

I always assumed its to differentiate the aircraft

[@WhiskeyGulf71]

So what happens when the aircraft gets re-painted then ? Do they remove these pieces to paint them ?

[@johnpatrick1588]

How about more convenient to prep and paint tail when not high up in the air. Repainted planes don't remove the tail because that would be inconvenient probably but the rudder possibly comes off after or prior to painting to be balanced before placed into service. Same with ailerons since they need to be balanced to prevent flutter.

[@DavidPruitt]

It won't be for balancing. First off, the paint just doesn't weigh all that much, maybe 20 kilos at the most. So you're weight imbalance due to paint is just going to be a few kilos. That's not enough to cause problems. If it were then they would be balance all the nuts and bolts too. Second, like everyones pointing out, they don't remove and rebalance vertical stabilizers when the plane gets repainted. Different materials also doesn't make sense. Before you paint any surface it has to be prepped. So it could arrive to the plant prepped and then painted afterwards. More than likely its just ease of manufacturing.

[@benwilson9150]

The issue I have with this theory is when an aircraft has paint stripped for a major check and/or application of a new livery from what I have seen they don’t remove the tail, if it was the case of weight and balance they would need to remove the tail to be ab;e to weigh it. I find the it is just easier and help identify the aircraft theories more plausible.

[@dodoubleg2356]

Interesting 🤔, wouldn't have thought of that. 😉👍✌️

[@gooner72]

The rudder is part of the tail section and the whole tail section is actually called the "empennage". This includes the vertical stabiliser, the rudder, the horizontal stabiliser and the elevators.

[@ghost307]

By them making this type of fundamental mistake I now question everything that this channel says.

[@thatguyalex2835]

@@ghost307 Yep. See my other comment, under the most popular one. Don't trust this channel anymore

[@ghost307]

@@thatguyalex2835 Check out Mentour Pilot. He seems to be on the ball and knows what he's talking about.

[@thatguyalex2835]

@@ghost307 Yep, I love his stuff. Mentour > Simple Flying

[@Disco_r1]

So how do u explain the repainting process when this balance is supposed to be taken into consideration?? If it can be done attached during repainting then it can be done during the original painting

[@slyowusu99]

Got it wrong. I thought it was an aviation law requirement for all aircraft to have tail identifiers when in flight for ATC etc - whether test flights or passenger flights

[@freemusictiltheend]

Painting it beforehand is mostly to gain time, considering that would be the logo of the company you need to be as accurate as possible. You can paint it in the paint shop with the rest of the plane no problem, but it’s way easier to do it when on the ground. Allowing you to gain up to a day in the paint shops. Always a good point when you paint different widebodies in the same shop

[@OladipupoAdaraloye]

I thought it was for identification purposes (to know what airlines owns what plane) for the guys during manufacturing & assembly phase.

[@jfmezei]

In 2001, not long after 9-11, an American Airlines A300 or A310 (forget) crash in New York. I recall reading NTSB report on this (no time right now to find it) and they discovered that some tails had delamination problems which weakens them. I suspect that report might have some analysis of the painting process. (That crash was caused by pilots operating rudder to try to stabilize aircraft in the wake of a widebody in front of them and doing it too much caused tail to break, plane to fall).

[@wdefghjuefhdegtfthtgf1351]

Some parts may be painted off the plane for the same reason as a car for a better quality paint job making it easier to get to some spots and not have runs

[@dw104]

Looking at the previous comments, it seems that the weight/balance answer is not convincing. I wonder if this is actually the wrong question and it might instead be better to ask why the rest of the plane, particularly the fuselage sections, are not painted before assembly. Could it be that Airbus would prefer to have all of the sub-assemblies arrive fully-painted, but some aspects of the final assembly procedure might mean that this is not possible/practical? Or does painting the fuselage after final assembly create some kind of seal against water ingress between the fuselage sections?

[@get2dachoppa249]

You guys have a podcast and a KZbin channel, and the best you could come up with is theories from a bunch of websites as opposed to querying the manufacturers themselves though their PR department?

[@DavidMarfe]

Haven’t watch the video yet my guess is the height of the tail makes it easier to just paint it before am I right ?

[@sainnt]

So what's the explanation for white tail aircraft? Do those tails get removed and sent off to be painted, then reattached to the aircraft, or are they painted on the aircraft? How does that affect the rudder?

[@zloinaopako]

How is the tail balanced when the plain is repainted, or changes owner?

[@ponchonegro2834]

For almost 20 years I worked in Boeing Co. (Long Beach California ex McDonnell Douglas plant)… I saw the painted tails and never…never occurred to me that answer!!

[@ronaldcuieii4775]

I don't understand. How does one know that the aircraft is balanced with the tail attached if it's painted? Isn't the paint equally dispersed all over the tail?

[@agimibraimi96]

It could make sense but when planes go in for repaint they get it stripped from all surfaces so how's the balance worked out then?

[@MrKockabilly]

I have doubts about this explanation. Sure the paint materials may introduce some imbalance but the net effect could be negligible considering both sides of the tail have similar design and thus would entail practically the same amount of paint. I can also assume painting the tail would be much convenient while still detached from the plane.

[@nuucha]

But then how it is balanced when the finished aircraft needs to be repainted?

[@CJBrookes]

So, what about when an aircraft is repainted? They don’t remove the tail/winglets when a new livery is applied do they?

[@user-fr3hy9uh6y]

Are you trying to tell me, when a plane is repainted the tail is removed to rebalance it? Hard to believe it.

[@salvatoregambone2873]

Who paints the tail when the plane is sold to another airline. I can’t see why those who paint the fuselages couldn’t paint the tail as well.

[@skip123davis]

so what happens when the lease ends or they sell the plane? if they have to paint new livery, doesn't that affect the overall handling of the plane?

[@chh4516]

What do you mean a different theory? Different from what an expert stated and that makes total sense?

[@cynettacynclaire9594]

Before you post a video, you need to learn the proper terminology before you do so! You obviously have NOT!! Once you know the correct names of components st, stop switching them around to demonstrate you ignorance. Learn to correctly identify Empennage, Vertical stabilizer and Rudder. In the context of this video, the word 'Tail' does NOT belong.

[@ant2312]

who made you the boss, pipe down and stop barking out orders ansd don't come back here

[@gerrymccartney3561]

I didn't know that and I didn't know that I wanted to know that but I'm glad I know it now.

[@azmike1956]

My guess was for adequate corrosion protection. Guess not.

[@Poultusspare]

All of the control surfaces are painted and balanced before they are installed

[@mohammedgt8102]

The flag of the terrorist organization occupying Palestine. 😒. Don't show symbols of hate and murder in your video.

[@ant2312]

Palestine is terrorist

[@aidanzacharyguzman1676]

I kinda thought it will identify which airline will the plane go to once the tail is attached.

[@absarishraqwasi1070]

Please, make a video on how a fighter jet is delivered.

[@geek9642]

So it's not because the painter is scared of heights? 🤣

[@juniorcampbell2980]

The explanation makes total sense

[@cmtransportvids]

I never knew! Thanks for the informative video!,

[@MichaelApproved]

You still don’t “know”. They’re just speculating in this video.

[@gfuterfas]

Wait, what happens if the plane changes hands to another company? Is the tailed pulled off, repainted and balanced? And what about these Leasing companies that lease their jets to airlines?

[@ludivinecarmensarahaichapa3507]

I honestly had no clue, and guessed it was more if an identification status, as to what aircraft goes to what airline.

[@paulvanobberghen]

The balance explanation was the one I heard some years ago.

[@TheGadgetbadger]

The full vertical stabiliser can’t be painted before hand just for weight and balance. They seem to paint them with ease when an aircraft is getting a new livery or refresh

[@petesterio]

This is new, great stuff!

[@cheesyooo]

I'm early :0

[@oadka]

whoooo there's a vistara dreamliner at 0:37 Pretty unexpected, given that they are a small customer with only 3 787s

[@JBS319]

Airplanes are repainted either on regular cycles or if they change operators or if the operator adopts a new livery. The tail is not removed during repainting to be rebalanced.

[@josephbugaj8149]

I was thinking both balancing and differentiation of the planes to their respective customers on the assembly line.

[@grgr3074]

My opinion is that when Airbus is manufacturing 50 airbus 350, it's easier to make the difference between the customers, at the first glance you can immediatly locate Air France or BA, aircarfts on the production line.

[@eds.4815]

Seriously? Simple Flying didn't actually do any research to simply answer the question‽ You just list random ideas and call it content!‽ Lazy and lame!

[@gilbertfranklin1537]

There is a psychological reason for the tail to get special handling. You see, the tail is at the rear end of the aircraft. And rear ends have always been important, in many ways. For example, if you have a dog then you know that the tail wagging shows the dog's happiness. And when you see the caboose at the end of a long train while waiting in line at the railroad crossing, that makes you happy also. Then, quite obviously, a good looking lady walking down the street always gets attention with her rear end as well. So that is the tail end of this theory, which no other commenter even thought about... HA! 😏👌

[@andycross3783]

Being an aircraft mechanic I see aircraft being stripped and repainted in new livery almost weekly. The vertical stabiliser (the non moving part of the tail section) is always painted in situ. The rudder itself (the moving part at the rear of the vertical stabiliser) can be painted while fixed or removed but often has to be removed for a manual balance. After a full strip the whole aircraft is then weighed to confirm its new centre of gravity.

[@AaronShenghao]

Maybe instead of speculating, you as the media, should ask Boeing and Airbus why...

[@fahood350]

I always wanted someone to answer this, and no one does it better than you!

[@123JDA123]

To prevent flutter, the moveable part / rudder must be balanced around the hinge line after it has been completely built and painted. The easiest (and probably mandatory) way to balance it is using gravity, and for this to work the center-line of the hinge needs to be horizontal - something that is not possible after the rudder has been installed on the fuselage.

[@franzplayz2437]

I thought its the indication to know which airline owns it.

[@cf6282]

What if the aircraft is sold to another airline? And a full respray is done? I have a hard time with your story than. Does the tail get removed and repainte somewhere else…I don’t think so…but I have no proof of it.

[@123JDA123]

The balance of an installed tail can be maintained during repainting by stripping off the old paint and replacing it with paint of the same density and thickness. Thickness is easily measurable after it has dried. Density will likely already be documented, but can be verified using coupons painted at the same time.

[@mphRagnarok]

It's completely ridiculous to think that the margin of safety for flutter is as narrow as the weight of paint on a tail.... What about certain liveries that require more layers of paint? That theory is plain silly. The reason is because the tail is so much taller than the rest of the aircraft when attached. Notice how the platforms and scaffolding built around the fuselage run the length of the body, and nothing other than the tail is taller than the fuselage. To paint the tail while attached would mean a huge platform twice the height of the one for the rest of the body. It's just easier to paint the tail before it's attached to the rest of the aircraft rather than build that extra cumbersome platform for such a simple task.

[@liuydennis]

Maybe its beacuse they know which plane is going to which airline? so they which changes to make if an airline requested for something special like a different seating plan or something

[@thermitebanana]

I think that "Just to be sure you know which plane you're working on" would be more than sufficient

[@PiefacePete46]

Well... this should produce some interesting comments! ;o) Here's one... the tail and the rudder are not the same thing. The rudder is the hinged component.

[@donaldstanfield8862]

That's fascinating, great point, I didn't consider!

[@AaronShenghao]

That last theory makes little sense, because they do repaint the tail from time to time in a third party painting shop. It's not like airlines don't repaint their aircraft...

[@alandrewgibson]

If balance at manufacture is critical what happens during l repaint ….. Can a Paints shop censure and guarantee the tail be repainted with this critical balance maintained?

[@nadeemchaudhry6585]

Doesn't make sense!! When aircraft are repainted, later in its lifetime, the whole plane is done in the same paint shop. The tail is not taken off and done elsewhere by a specialist.

[@waelwael4783]

It's just for marketing ... same a/c can be saled several times, thus tail re-painted

[@tihspidtherekciltilc5469]

For ease of identification in the car park. Something about advertising but I forgot.

[@KaitouKaiju]

It's probably just easier on the ground. No reason to leave it sitting around to make the job harder later

[@EddieMorsVlogs]

I think for easier Identification of the aircraft they are working on

[@chunheiso5806]

Actually thought it was a film instead of paint for weight distribution sake

[@jstriggsr]

my guess was so they just look and see ok... that's where I'm working today...

[@davidheinzmann4403]

I’m calling this one a stretch. I say ease of production flow

[@rocketdyneF1]

I thought the manufacture bought as used tail to reduce time and construction costs.

[@Logicalstu]

That doesn’t explain white tails or aircraft that change owners.

[@SambhasanBiswas]

What happens when its repainted? Does that mean old / 2nd hand repainted planes not as safe as new plane?

[@SambhasanBiswas]

What happens when its repainted? Does that mean old / 2nd hand repainted planes not as safe as new plane?

[@stevengeorges9046]

It's not so they can tell who the plane is going to as they build it? ;-)

[@unggrabb]

Will make the customer happy to get the checkbook ready

[@sparqqling]

Doesn't make sense, in this case you never can repaint the rudder.

[@mmartin4978]

I thought that unsold planes were known as whitetail planes is this true

[@jackmidd123]

I always thought it was so they knew who owned it. Like a name tag.