Marking Antique Aircraft (our 170s)

[c170b53]

Why use paint? I had 3M decals made for my beast. And I also had the club's logo made up ( research prototypes ) from the same material and they've stood up to the elements so far.

[GAHorn]

George, I consider the side of the engine cowl part of the side of the fuselage. I can also understand the view that it is not.

I'm not considering the cowl but might consider under the horizontal stabilizer which is where war birds put it.

The rule is fairly specific: " A small U.S.-registered aircraft built at least 30 years ago or a U.S.-registered aircraft for which an experimental certificate has been issued under § 21.191(d) or 21.191(g) for operation as an exhibition aircraft or as an amateur-built aircraft and which has the same external configuration as an aircraft built at least 30 years ago may be operated without displaying marks in accordance with §§ 45.21 and 45.23 through 45.33

if:

(1) It displays in accordance with § 45.21(c) marks at least 2 inches high on each side of the fuselage or vertical tail surface consisting of the Roman capital letter “N”

I'm thinking that a "vertical tail surface" does not include a fuselage surface such as beneath the horiz stab. (I think the warbirds are operated under the "exhibition" rules.)

Of course, since YOU are the paint shop...it's probably not a big deal if you have to move it later on if the "fuzz" don't like it, but perhaps the best answer will be in writing from the FSDO.

Why use paint? I had 3M decals made for my beast. And I also had the club's logo made up ( research prototypes ) from the same material and they've stood up to the elements so far.

Jim, I'm thinking that decals/stickers aren't as permanent as paint. Such things MAY be used if the airplane is being sold abroad, etc..

FAR 45.21 (1) Except as provided in paragraph (d) of this section, be painted on the aircraft or affixed by any other means insuring a similar degree of permanence;....

(d) The aircraft nationality and registration marks may be affixed to an aircraft with readily removable material if—

(1) It is intended for immediate delivery to a foreign purchaser;

(2) It is bearing a temporary registration number; or

(3) It is marked temporarily to meet the requirements of § 45.22(c)(1) or § 45.29(h) of this part, or both.

[HA]

decals, vinyl or whatever they are made of now, are what comes from the Cessna factory on all their new airplanes. same with their "paint jobs" on the simple striped birds.

[GAHorn]

Come to think of it, I know of several cases wherein the registrations were painted on... with water-soluble latex....for washing off at destination. I guess that meets the paint rule, heh?

[hilltop170]

Small numbers on the vertical stab and 20" numbers on the wings is how Cessna did it on our 170s, both still perfectly legal.

[paulbritton88]

Martha Lunken wrote on the subject in an article a while back. She, as well as I, am in favor of 2" letters. The harder to read, the better! If you must use 12" letters, place them in a paint scheme that makes them difficult to read
You never know when some busy-body will want to read the numbers and call the fuz for some perceived infraction.