Purple Rolls Royce

Mark Harwood · Post by **Mark Harwood** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 1:56 am

A couple of months ago I was taking a friend on a scenic tour of the Champlain Valley. We landed in Middlebury VT to get some fuel. There was a a 170 B siting near the maintenance shop. The paint was in really bad shape. This FBO does a lot of paint work so I asked if they would being doing paint work on the 170 B. He said they would be doing a complete repaint. I hoped to be able to see the plane with the new paint job as I enjoy seeing great looking planes with nice paint jobs. Well today I was taking a different friend on a tour and we stopped at middlebury for fuel. I could not believe what I saw. It was disappointing but comical. I am still tickled. It was painted light purple almost a pink-purple. To each his own! I spoke to the mechanic and informed me that it had a "Rolls Royce" Engine. He said it was an 0300 with Rolls Royce Valve covers. Something to do with having sold 170's in Europe with RR having their name on the engines. I found that interesting? The paint color would not have been my choice, but at least the aircraft is being preserved. I am sure the rainbow sticker will dress it right up!

blueldr · Post by **blueldr** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 3:07 am

Rolls Royce built various models of Continentl engines under license.

doug8082a · Post by **doug8082a** » Thu Dec 27, 2007 3:02 pm

Here's a shot of a Rolls Royce O-200 on a Hatz CB-1:

http://www.weebeastie.com/hatzcb1/560.html

russfarris · Post by **russfarris** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:27 am

Mark; can you post a picture of that hideous sounding 170?

Grotesque paint schemes are usually the result of a well-intentioned guy
getting the family involved in the airplane project - I'm all for that, but
if and when it comes time to sell, it can really hurt the value of the airplane big time. I remember a bright green and PURPLE Stinson 108
at Sun-N-Fun years ago that was a really nice machine that the owner
lamented he couldn't sell - his eight-year old daughter had picked the colors and layout. Nightmarish! Russ Farris

doug8082a · Post by **doug8082a** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:32 pm

russfarris wrote:Grotesque paint schemes are usually the result of a well-intentioned guy...

I've got a directory on my PC of "bad things that happened to good airplanes". I sometimes think of posting the pics somewhere, but I'm afraid I might insult someone I know... Some people actually like those paint jobs and sometimes it's surprising when you find out who those people are.

In the mean time... YEAH post that pic! I'll add it to my collection!

bradbrady · Post by **bradbrady** » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:49 pm

I painted a 175 in 1997....I thought it was the most hideous thing that I ever did (just following the owners orders)....yet the next year it won best of type at Airventure.....I guess my taste is just in my mouth.....
brad

Mark Harwood · Post by **Mark Harwood** » Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:30 am

I did not have my camera the day I was in Middlebury. I am hoping to get back up there this week with my camera. Hope it is still there. I can not imagine what this guy was thinking. Maybe his kids picked out the colors. It is strikingly similar in color to that singing dino my 3 year old watched on TV when she was younger.

If I get a picture I will learn how to post pics. Mark

Post by **GAHorn** » Tue Jan 01, 2008 1:25 am

I'll never forget the Beech Baron with the new (and increcibly ugly) $15K dollar Piper paint scheme that the owner couldn't sell.... until an old Aztec pilot saw it....

bradbrady · Post by **bradbrady** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 12:59 am

Is that a slam aginst Aztruck drivers?....

blueldr · Post by **blueldr** » Wed Jan 02, 2008 8:34 pm

You have to take into consideration that George is an old Baron type that doesn't mind "slandering" an Aztec type.

Post by **GAHorn** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:17 am

Hey! I got my multi in a 150 hp Apache and my ATP in a D-model Aztec! I LOVE Piper Twins! (Lots of Navajo and Cheyenne time.)

But I have to admit, it drives me nuts to see the wrong mfr's paint scheme on an airplane. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings over what is a personal preference, however, so I won't mention the worst C-170 paint jobs I've ever seen painted up like a ....well... it's horrible.......(but it belongs to one of our best-loved members!)

Haydon · Post by **Haydon** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 3:23 am

It ain't purple, but it shore is pretty.....check out the avatar..

Hilltop...I saw your 170A at Randy Longs place a couple of weeks ago....nice airframe and panel.....Randy is a great guy with a great reputation...crossing my fingers on your crank issue....hold out on the IO-360 swap....

flyguy · Post by **flyguy** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 7:55 pm

Haydon wrote:It ain't purple, but it shore is pretty.....check out the avatar..

YEH RICH- U HAV BIN TALK ABOUT BEHINE URE BAK. SUM ORIGINITY NUTS SHORE ARE GELOUS AN WISH THEY CUD PAINT A "GO FASTER" PAINT SKEEM ON THEYR SLO BIRDS!

hilltop170 · Post by **hilltop170** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:14 pm

Haydon-
Thanks for the compliments. Continental is still "thinking" about what they are going to do about the crank plug issue. I just hope nobody gets hurt while they are dragging their feet on a documented safety of flight issue.