What is the color of the 'Black Box' that houses an airplane's voice recorder?

Jack Flash

The 'black box' does not have to be black in colour and is normally orange or some other vivid colour, to facilitate recovery in the case of accident. I have a feeling that the word 'black' may come from the inventor of the device. Feb 20 02, 2:25 AM

Stevo

There is a very good article at www.howstuffworks.com/black-box.htm, which confirms they are orange and gives suggested reasons for the name 'black box.' 'Although they are called 'black boxes,' aviation recorders are actually painted bright orange. This distinct color, along with the strips of reflective tape attached to the recorders' exteriors, help investigators locate the black boxes following an accident. These are especially helpful when a plane lands in the water. There are two possible origins of the term 'black box': Some believe it is because early recorders were painted black, while others think it refers to the charring that occurs in post-accident fires.' I favour the first explanation. In instrumentation companies, they usually call equipment by the colour of the casing, thus black box and white box. (Rather like 'white goods' as a generic term for washing machines etc.) Feb 20 02, 2:46 AM

Fosse4

For the colour see - http://www.rannoch.com/FlightRecordMain.html Called a Black box after the Dr. Black who developed it. Feb 20 02, 12:57 PM