reply to post by watchtheashes
Have to break this to you. On a bright, sunny day when we're flying at altitude and another airplane is a few thousand feet above us, looking up at
it, it's very difficult to see the airline colors. It looks almost entirely white. Best way to see the logo is from off to the side, not directly
below.
Now, from the ground, an airplane at 35,000 feet is nearly seven miles above sea level (watch, since you're already at about 5,000 feet, then the
same jet is just under 6 miles above you).
Here's something else to think about -- a typical large International airport runway is around 10,000 to 12,000 feet long. SO, that's at least two
miles. Try an experiment: Go to an airport and, with naked eyes, try to tell the company logo from two miles away. (It's actually easier on the
ground than in the air). Of course, also depends on the size of the airplane.
Most large military jets are, of course, a light gray in color -- which would look white when at altitude.
ETA this -- Found it on the ole' utubes. THAT OP thought it was close, but it was actually about 1,000 feet beneath them. Standard vertical
separation nowadays. (RVSM certification required).
[edit on 5/12/0909 by weedwhacker]