Speed tape
Temporary aluminium tape for high-speed aircraft repairs.
Speed tape is a type of aluminium tape with a pressure-sensitive adhesive, designed for temporary fixes on aircraft and racing cars. It holds until a permanent repair can be made. While it looks a lot like duct tape and is often confused with it, the adhesive is strong enough to stay attached to a plane’s fuselage or wing at high speeds—hence the name.
The idea of using aluminium tape for splicing wires, like communications cables, dates back to 1959. By 1960, it was already being used inside aircraft, such as the Convair 880, for soundproofing.
Depending on the adhesive layer, speed tape can resist water, solvents, and even flames for short periods. It also reflects heat and UV light and can expand and contract across a wide temperature range. The tape itself may be made of soft aluminium with an adhesive layer, or a multi-layer laminate that includes aluminium, cloth, and adhesive.
In practice, speed tape is used to protect sealant while it cures or to patch non-critical parts of an aircraft. It can also patch bullet damage on combat planes. Airlines generally avoid putting it where passengers can see it, to prevent worry, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. In 2022, some Boeing 787 Dreamliners had paint adhesion problems on their wings from UV damage; Boeing’s temporary fix was to apply speed tape to stop peeling while they worked on a permanent solution. Any use of speed tape must be approved by engineering teams and follow specific rules—airlines can be fined for using it in improper repairs.
- First suggested use
- 1959 (for splicing wires such as communications cables)
- Early aircraft use
- 1960 (internal sound proofing in aircraft such as the Convair 880)
- Common misidentification
- duct tape
- Typical materials
- soft aluminium with an adhesive layer, or multi-layer laminate including aluminium and cloth
Lore & Background
Aluminum tape has been suggested for splicing wires, such as communications cables, since 1959. It was used for internal sound proofing in aircraft, such as the Convair 880, as early as 1960. Depending on the adhesive layer used, it can be resistant to water, solvents, and, for brief periods, flames, and will reflect heat and UV light. It is also able to expand and contract through a wide range of temperatures. Speed tape may be formed of soft aluminium with an adhesive layer, or a multi-layer laminate including aluminium and cloth in addition to an adhesive layer.
Reader's Guide
Speed tape is notable as a temporary repair material for aircraft and racing cars, capable of adhering at high speeds. Its use is authorized by engineering teams and must comply with certain requirements; fines can be levied against airlines that use it to make improper repairs. It is sometimes used to protect sealant while curing, or to patch non-critical components of an aircraft, including bullet damage to combat aircraft. Typically, airlines avoid using speed tape on parts visible to passengers to avoid causing concern, but its usage is unavoidable in some instances. In 2022, there were reports that some Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplanes had issues with paint adhesion on their wings due to UV damage, and the temporary solution recommended by Boeing was to apply speed tape to prevent paint peeling while the company was developing a permanent solution.
Did You Know?
- Speed tape is sometimes mistaken for duct tape due to its similar appearance.
- In 2022, Boeing recommended speed tape as a temporary fix for paint peeling on some 787 Dreamliner wings.
- Speed tape can be resistant to water, solvents, and brief flame exposure depending on the adhesive layer.
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