Nose Art: Difference between revisions
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** Likewise the [http://i.imgur.com/nBYiO.jpg distinctive paint job] of the FW-190Ds of Jagdverband 44, which were tasked with providing protection for Me-262 jet fighters during take-off and landing. As such they operated only in the close vicinity of their airfield and avoiding friendly fire from AA guns was more important than being difficult to see.
* During [[The Vietnam War]], it wasn't unusual to see [http://farm5.staticflickr.com/4126/5092256785_f8ae531916_z.jpg shark faces] painted on Huey Cobra helicopter gunships.
* Up till quite recently, most prototypes of new fighter aircraft were painted in bright colours not too dissimilar from those that might be found on the title mecha of a [[Humongous Mecha]] series. Example [https://web.archive.org/web/20111104071343/http://www.sci.fi/
* Aircraft belonging to the United States [[Home Guard|Air National Guard]] typically feature a tail flash with their state's flag, and aircraft in active duty wings will often have [[Color Coded for Your Convenience|color-coded tail flashes]] to distinguish jets from separate squadrons within the wing.
* A US Navy tradition is for one or two aircraft per squadron to be brightly painted with the squadron's colors and emblazoned with its emblems, while the rest are the usual haze-gray low-visiblity paint scheme. These aircraft typically "belong" to the squadron's commanding officer or executive officer, who being more senior fly less often and are not as likely to see direct combat. This allows the squadron to show off its traditions and pride while remaining maximally combat effective. The planes are [[Awesome but Practical|still fully functional and deadly]], however.
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** Here is a list of [https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Aerobatics Civilian and Military] aerobatic teams via [[The Other Wiki]]
* Milestone anniversaries are popular occasions to break out the paint for military aircraft. Squadrons from across the world will paint one (or all) of their aircraft to honor the anniversary of the founding of their nation, their branch of service, or even their specific unit. Anniversaries celebrating when certain aircraft were first introduced are also common, as are anniversaries of certain battles. Some examples:
** During the United States' bicentennial, a number of squadrons celebrated with a custom paint scheme for one (or all) of their aircraft. The Florida Air National Guard's 159th Fighter Squadron [http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n143/fsmbw3945/F106/159FISBicentennial.jpg used this paint scheme]. Other aircraft were painted in schemes resembling those used by the Thunderbirds, such as [http://i178.photobucket.com/albums/w260/tomcatterf14/159616.jpg this F-14]{{Dead link}} and [http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f139/jabrad/F-15B71-291.jpg this F-15].
** In honor of the centennial of Naval Aviation, the United States Navy has adorned various jets with [[World War II]]-era [http://parrotheadjeff.com/blog/archives/16027/retro-cool-plane-pr0n/ paint jobs].
** During the 50th anniversary of [[World War Two|D-Day]] (the invasion of Normandy), a number of NATO squadrons painted invasion stripes on their aircraft. [http://www.f-16.net/gallery_item284506.html Here's an F-16] from Belgium, [http://www.mindspring.com/~salted1/images/34/34_thomastye_2.jpg and a few U.S. Navy] A-6 Intruders painted up.
* NATO squadrons have an annual tradition known as the "[http://www.natotigers.org/ Tiger Meet]," which involves [https://web.archive.org/web/20131103020713/http://www.natotigers.org/tigerunits/index.php any squadrons that thematically involve tigers] or other kinds of big cats (either in their name, or their unit patch/coat of arms). In addition to being a joint military exercise, Tiger Meets also involve a Nose Art painting contest, in which the squadrons compete to make the coolest tiger (or big-cat) themed paint job they can. These schemes [http://www.haf.gr/media/a7_tiger_meet_1.jpg run the gamut of types], from [http://h7.abload.de/img/d101001as1180_tcm46-17zu1p.jpg nose art or tail fin flashes] to [http://www.milspotters.nl/forum/userpix/2053_J015__kopiekopie_1.jpg full-body paint jobs].
** Since they are only Honorary Members of the NATO Tiger Association, American and Canadian tiger-themed squadrons have their own [http://www.tmota.com/ Tiger Meet of the Americas] for the purpose of hosting the event on their side of the pond. Like with the European-based Tiger Meet, paint job competitions are a central event.
* Averted during [[World War II]] for some American planes which were never painted at all. The plane was sent out of the factory in bare aluminum alloy without paint (except for the national insignia). The reasons were that it was cheaper and quicker to skip the paint job; and the plane, being somewhat lighter without paint, was also slightly faster (and used slightly less fuel). This was continued for several decades with certain planes.
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