Originally Posted by
FlyingRon
Cutting a hole is a valid test, but it's not what the manufacturer recommends. The recommendation is to keep the finish service in good order and as long as you do so the underlying weave will last forever. If you allow the surface to deteriorate the underlying weave is suspect and you can punch it all you want and there's no guarantee of anything.
All this punching and other fabric lore dates from the old cotton/linen days. Polyester is a different beast. As already pointed out there are underlying differences from surface prep of whatever parts of the airframe that you are going to apply this to, to how you stick it down, to how you apply the UV protection coats, it's only once you get above these functional layers that you can even begin to think about safely deviating from the manufacturer's recommendations with regard to the color coats.