Boeing MD-11 (N513SN)

Are they White only because of the cost of Painting, Labor, and fuel usage to haul around all that Paint on a plane?

Hi Lee- I'm not sure but that would make sense to me! I know Western Global is pretty responsive on social media, I may have to reach out and see what they say.

I doubt that white paint is any less dense than other colors... unpainted would be the only way to save weight. I imagine that all white simply saves on the cost of painting.

We have one of those that comes into the UPS facility at KCLE. Only once have I seen one in Western Global livery.

Just a Thumbs Up on the initial note here. You nicely explain the 'Why' on a picture like this. Also, the back-back story on this machine's earlier life. The branding of airliners is so automatic, so powerful, that it's just very arresting to see so large a craft completely unadorned like this.

Here at RSW, they had 2 MD11,s and a 747 parked out on the tarmac of the old terminal area for quite a while. They were all white and being worked on occasionally. I ran the N numbers and they came from a defunct carribean cargo airline. They all eventually left but I have seen them fly over my house as I live below the final for a E-W approach. Not long ago I captured one of their 747's in the early am on Ft.Myers Beach on final for a W-E landing with a giant paint job leaving no doubt.

I'm not understanding.
Why aren't there markings on this aircraft?
Kinda strange isn't it?
Then again--just in time for Halloween!

magnificent great white whale of an airliner.....

Looks like it could be a "Con air" paint job minus the fact it has been converted to a cargo aircraft haha

There are a couple of reasons. Western Global often flies subservice or additional service or ACMI for other airlines, sometimes operating under those airlines' own flight numbers. So, Reason One: Safety. If it's got a FedEx flight number and says Western Global on the side, ATC, airport ops, etc. can get confused and sometimes doesn't like it. This isn't a primary driver, but it's an issue. Reason Two: Sometimes, those airlines (say, UPS or FedEx during Peak) would just prefer that if they're using another airline's aircraft to move their stuff, it not be emblazoned with that carrier's livery. And some don't care. A white aircraft is innocuous. And that leads us to Reason Three, an important one: Western Global flies to some places in the world in which you'd be well-advised not to have Roman lettering on your aircraft, much less Roman lettering in English talking about Western, which will maybe draw somebody's eye to the little American flag on the tail. Sometimes you want to be inconspicuous. Finally, Reason Four: if you're going ACMI work, and the carrier wants its marks on the aircraft, it's easy and inexpensive to letter some reference to the carrier you're working for on an all-white aircraft.

Airfix undecorated MD-11 kit. 1:1 scale. Price upon request.

Just saw this plane flying over my house amazingly lit up bu the sunset.