Inside the Custom Paint Transformation of Paris Hilton’s G450
When global icon entrepreneur Paris Hilton set out to personalize her Gulfstream G450, she wasn’t looking for an ordinary paint job. Working with renowned aircraft designer Sarah Mespelt Larranaga, Paris and her team turned to StandardAero’s Springfield Service Center to bring her vision to life.
According to Mespelt Larranaga:
“[StandardAero Springfield] is a preferred location for me for over fifteen years, since I consider it to be the best… for exterior paint.”
Turning Design into Reality
Designer Sarah Mespelt Larranaga worked with the paint and design experts at our Springfield facility to select colors and materials for the project. Only three exterior colors were chosen—Metallic White, Metallic Pink, and a bespoke shade now officially recognized by PPG as “Paris Pink.”
The design called for bold but elegant details, including winglets bearing Hilton’s signature catchphrases (“That’s hot” and “Loves it”) and “SlivAir” written across the undercarriage for a dramatic view from the ground.
What Makes This Paint Job Different?
The SlivAir project – covered in luxury lifestyle outlets like Robb Report – required a tri-stage pearl coat, a process far more involved than a traditional paint application. As Springfield’s Paint Crew Chief, Brian Buchanan, explained:
“Normally it’s three coats of regular white or blue paint. This one required two coats of white, a coat of pearl, and two coats of clear. That’s the difference.”
This unique, five-coat process demands more time, precision, and patience, but delivers a striking finish that shimmers with movement and light.
It was StandardAero’s paint team who translated that creative direction into reality.
“We use some lasers for the straight lines, like the waterlines on the sides,” Buchanan said. “But we hand lay it all out.”
Every pink accent on the fuselage was masked and painted by hand—no shortcuts, no vinyl decals.
“It’s all painted,” Buchanan emphasized. “No vinyl whatsoever.”
Signature Details
Some of the most recognizable elements of the SlivAir G450 are the details:
- Paris Hilton’s signature was applied using a vinyl mask. After the base coats were complete, the mask was laid over the fuselage, painted, and carefully unmasked to reveal her autograph—integrated directly into the finish.
- The stars on the fuselage and tail were even more challenging. A stencil provided the pattern, but the execution required hand-laying each star with tape, including those on the underside of the aircraft. As Buchanan put it, “Doing all that upside down is a challenge.”
These touches transformed the aircraft from a blank canvas into a one-of-a-kind flying statement piece.
Raising the Standard in Aircraft Paint
Paris Hilton’s SlivAir G450 stands as a showcase of what’s possible when creativity, engineering, and artistry meet in the paint booth. For Buchanan and his team, it wasn’t just about applying color—it was about executing a complex vision with precision and pride.
“It’s all a longer process because of the five coats,” he said.
From tri-stage pearl coats to hand-laid stars, the project underscores StandardAero’s commitment to delivering the advanced and customized aircraft paint solutions—and proves that even the boldest visions can be brought to life.
Thinking about a custom paint or full refurbishment project for your own aircraft? Connect with our sales team to discuss how StandardAero can transform your ideas into reality.
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StandardAero is a leading independent pure-play provider of aerospace engine aftermarket services for fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft, serving the commercial, military and business aviation end markets. StandardAero provides a comprehensive suite of critical, value-added aftermarket solutions, including engine maintenance, repair and overhaul, engine component repair, on-wing and field service support, asset management and engineering solutions. StandardAero is an NYSE listed company under the ticker symbol SARO.