Quickie Q2 Lite Construction Manual - page 66
potential source for this heat. In still air, on a hot sunny day it
is possible to obtain surface temperatures that approach 250°F. The
color of the surface determines how much solar heat it will absorb.
White surfaces absorb very little (10%) of the sun's heat while a
black surface (95% absorption) will heat up tremendously.
The accompanying graph shows the relationship between color and
surface temperature. White has been chosen as the standard color for
fiberglass sailplanes to preclude any possibility of excess
temperature due to solar heating. The same criteria apply to the Q2,
and white is recommended. Trim colors in less-critical areas such as
the fuselage, vertical tail, and the underside of wings and canard,
can be other than white. Dark trim colors are definate1y not
recommended on the upper surface of wings and canard! If you would
like further information on the subject read the September 1975 issue
of Soaring magazine.