Engineering:NIVO
| NIVO | |
|---|---|
 Colour coordinates | |
| Hex triplet | #404735 |
| Source | Federal Standard 595[1] |
NIVO, abbreviated from Night Invisible Varnish Orfordness (or "Night Varnish Orfordness"),[2] was a dark grey-green overall finish applied to United Kingdom night bomber aircraft in the inter-war period (1918-1939).
Developed in 1918 by the experimental station at Orford Ness, as a low-visibility colouring for the Royal Air Force it had a sheen to match that of open water on a moonlit night.[3]
It was applied to aircraft from 1918 and was used on the Vickers Virginia, Handley Page Hyderabad, Handley Page Hinaidi, Handley Page Heyfords and Fairey Hendon bombers.
By the mid-1930s, tests had determined that the varnish was too reflective when searchlights were shone on it.[3] NIVO was phased out in the late 1930s, and had been discontinued by the time of the arrival of the new British medium bombers - the Vickers Wellington, Handley Page Hampden and Armstrong Whitworth Whitley.
NIVO is covered by Federal Standard 595 colour FS:34096[4][5]
References
- ↑ "Federal Standard 595 Color FS 34096". IPMS Stockholm. http://www.colorserver.net/showcolor.asp?fs=34096.
- ↑ Kinsey, Gordon (1992-03-01). Boulton & Paul Aircraft. Terence Dalton Limited. p. 172. ISBN 978-0861380855.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Richardson, Doug (2001-10-11). Stealth Warplanes: Deception, Evasion, and Concealment in the Air. Zenith Press. pp. 15–16. ISBN 0-7603-1051-3.
- ↑ "Urban's Colour Reference Charts". IPMS Stockholm. http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/colorcharts/stuff_eng_colorcharts_fs.htm.
- ↑ "British Military Colours 1940 to date". http://www.vicflintham.co.uk/lists/britcols.html.
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