Classic & Old Time Finish

[john e. holliday]

While looking at the post on pictures and sizing them, there was the picture of a "Pow Wow".   Wish mine had looked half that good.  It got me to thinking(yes it hurts) that back in the 60's we had several really decent pilots flying aerobatics in copetition that had decent looking planes, nothing like what you see a the NATS  or VSC.  Anyway as he was wiping down his plane he turned it over to wipe the oil off the bottom.  Was not even close to what the top looked like.  I mean it was dull.  I mentioned it to him and he responded with, " The judges don't look at the bottom".  At that time in my life I had only been to one NATS and seen a couple of planes up close.  I beleive in todays environment they would have been lucky to have gotten a 12 for appearance.  Of course I think this was back when appearence was still 40 or more points.  But, think back to that period of time of how many gorgeous planes there where at the old grass circles.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[Ron King]

At the 1966 Nats (my first real flying Nats), we were dealing with 40 appearance points and the judges DID look at the bottom. 

Each plane was judged individually as it was presented for processing. Everyone stood in line and carried their plane up to the table for registration and judging. IIRC, that's pretty much how they did it during the Navy days.

PS - Jim Silhavy's plane was the talk of the line. I have a photo and hope to get it posted in someday. Awesome finish. 

Ron

[Tom Niebuhr]

My first NATS at Willow Grove 1962, Jim Silhavy's "Nobler" had a finish that matched today's finishes! The bottom was just as good, and even the INSIDE of the cowl would put many us to shame.

And yes, they did look at the bottom of the airplanes.

Sadly Jim's pushrod broke at that NATS and the airplane was lossed.