170 Accessory Price List

[GAHorn]

I think it's two girls (one of them very ugly.) Clearly this was depicting a BarBie-Q in California.
And perhaps that's not a Fairchild. Perhaps it's a poor artist's conception of a Lysander with a Gypsy. (or a Fairchild with a Gypsy.)

[170C]

AAAH, you guys are just jealous that that is Cowboy Bob & not you in the photo. You are supposed to look at the young lady, not the airplane. She is cute isn't she. Wonder how their picnic went

[hilltop170]

Frank-
Looks like a little more than a picnic with that tent in the background!

I'm not jealous either, assuming she was just barely legal in 1946 she's about 82 years old today.

George-
The cover has Fairchild F-24 at the bottom.

If the factory didn't do it, why would anyone re-paint a brand new airplane? I could see someone (like me) special-ordering a painted plane. I'm not a polished aluminum kind of guy. I like them, just wouldn't want to keep one polished.



The strut shadow is correct, as well as the other shadows, IMHO.



Looks like the Barbi Q Ranch got more popular in 1947 after they switched to a family theme! And the cowgirl heard blonds have more fun.

[russfarris]

George thinks this is a painting, while I happen to think it's a genuine photo with some airbrushing.

It's like the famous home movie taken of "Bigfoot" back in the 1960s.
People who think it's fake claim to see the zipper, while the true believers
think it is incontestable proof of the Big Guy's existence.

I still say the radio antenna trailing behind the vertical fin says a lot about
this being a photo, of course I believe Cessna did, on occasion full paint
airplanes for 275 dollars, per the accessorries list.

I wonder if anyone working at cessna now might put us in touch will an old timer from back then we can ask if they actuallly paited airplanes right at the factory

[hilltop170]

Russ-
I don't really know if Cessna painted any them or not, I was -1 year old in 1950, but it stands to reason SOMEBODY would have wanted one.

That one pictured sure looks nice. I think it's a photo also, with the reflection in the bottom of the wing, maybe some air brushing but I'd bet not any.

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

First let me say that I believe it is more likely they painted some from the factory than saying it never happened. It's pretty obvious that IF it did happen it was very rare.

And then If Cessna did paint a one of plane for a customer I don't think we could call that a production plane but one they customized after production.

Now we have this shred of evidence that I think might indicate that Cessna would paint a plane for $275. It's not irrefutable as George has pointed out he thinks it was for the stripes they reportedly all came with. I can't say but it just makes me think "hmmmmmmmm".

Now as for the cover picture I think it was a photo of a 170 taken on the ground and airbrushed into a flight position The antenna is just a detail added to the picture to help viewer feel the aircraft is is flight. Aluminum would be difficult to print in color as the printing process just doesn't do it very well. At best the plane probably looked white and so what better than to change the color to a bright flashy yellow for the cover.

But lets suppose for a minute this is a real untouched picture. It by itself wouldn't prove that Cessna painted it. Only that it had been painted.

The kind of evidence we need is to change this thinking is a unrefutable report or evidence. Such a report might come from an official source at Cessna but so far our records show that Cessna or something or person says they didn't paint any. Another source could be someone who couldn't speak for Cessna but was there and says they saw it happen.

The best we might hope for is a report from a trade publication that actually says they tested or flew a brand new 170 that was delivered painted. A picture of a painted 170 by itself even taken in front of the Cessna factory would not prove that Cessna painted it.

Now a dated picture of a 100 painted Cessnas outside the factory or one with a painted 170 halfway out the door might do it.

[hilltop170]

In any case, it's fun to speculate.

[GAHorn]

...Now a dated picture of a 100 painted Cessnas outside the factory or one with a painted 170 halfway out the door might do it.

That would only prove that the front half was painted.

IMHO - It most likely is a colorized version of a photo that has been creatively retouched. (Colorized photos were very poplular in the late 40's/early 50's.)
They show a trailing antenna in detail, but can't see the tailwheel steering chains? or door handle? or door hinges? or venturis? trim tab? fairing mount plates? (at least at this resolution)
And the issues of this magazine we've seen so far has only shown a tendency to use artist's renditions? Not an actual photo seen yet? (Anybody have a copy of this mag that is definitely an unretouched photo?)
And what is that little "smile" just below the prop and above the filter?
I have a contact at the factory that once worked the original assembly line. I'll try to get some sort of comment from him.

[N2865C]

It also has a Scott 2000 tailwheel. They must have been standard equipment back then as that is what was shown in many old sales brochures. Anyone know of anyone with a Scott 2000 on a 170?

[Bruce Fenstermacher]

George that would be great. One of the really neat things in the Piper world for aircraft made a Lockhaven, PA is the Sentimental Journey Fly-in.

While there is only few of them left, in the early days of the fly-in many of the volunteers worked the Piper assembly plant and built the planes we are now flying to the fly-in. It was not unusual at lunch to sit across the table from a guy who built your plane.

In many cases the floor workers knew more about what really went on and how things where really made than the front office.

[bsdunek]

IMHO - It most likely is a colorized version of a photo that has been creatively retouched. (Colorized photos were very poplular in the late 40's/early 50's.)
They show a trailing antenna in detail, but can't see the tailwheel steering chains? or door handle? or door hinges? or venturis? trim tab? fairing mount plates? (at least at this resolution)
And the issues of this magazine we've seen so far has only shown a tendency to use artist's renditions? Not an actual photo seen yet? .

I think you're right here, George. It looks like a colorized photo to me. I thing the original photo was taken with the plane in level flight banking to the right. The picture is then rotated to look like the plane is climbing. I note, from looking at Skyways magazines on eBay, there are several like this. The tailwheel chains probably go lost in the process.

[russfarris]

Actually, the tailwheel chains are there - just not visable at the 600 dpi
I scanned the picture at.

Russ Farris