CPTP Paint Scheme

[Blade]

Since I have a 1940 BL-65 similar to what John Glen flew I'm interested in what the paint schemes looked like for those airplanes that were used for the CPTP. According to the records for my airplane it was originally purchased and used by a couple flight schools. Records indicate that the first three owners were Danville Flying Service, Dayton Public Schools and Fall City Flying Service; all in Kentucky. Most likely it was used as a CPTP trainer at that time. Therefore it would only be appropriate to restore the paint scheme to one of that period. So far I've been unable to find a single photo on the Internet showing any Taylorcraft CPTP paint schemes. If anyone has any color photos of one of those paint schemes I'd love to see it.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

I found out my 41 was in the CAP in WW-II too. I have pictures of the markings they were using on "acquired" airplanes. From what I have found they did NOT repaint them. They added the 3 blade prop logo in a triangle to the fuselage sides and the wings on the opposite sides from the NC numbers.
I will try and scan them and post what I have. The local CAP here asked me to put the markings on my plane to promote the CAP and their guys said they had more information but I haven't gotten back with them yet to look at what they have.
On the side, my wife does NOT like the looks of the CAP markings and I think she wants me to use the thin vinyl stick on types so I can put them on when there is an airshow or event and take them off when she wants to go along. Haven't decided what I will do yet. Maybe put the markings on till I recover with the promise that if she REALLY doesn't like them I won't put them on the final finish "permanently" ;-)
Hank

[M Towsley]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

Mark,

I am not sure if the CPTP program repainted the planes. They were pretty much civilian aircraft used for training. This is my father and his friend who were in CPTP and CAP. As you can see from the pictures the planes look stock. I know the airport where they flew from also had an L-2, though I am not sure what the scheme was. Probably stock military.

Here is the link to my photos on this site: http://gallery.taylorcraft.org/main.php?g2_itemId=26888

[skipilot]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

How do you find out all this history. I have a 1941 i am rebuilding and paint will be an issue real soon.

[Blade]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

Those were neat old photos Marty. I had heard that there was a CPTP scheme that was a silver fuse with red band on the back that had number in it and yellow empenage. It may have been a Western US scheme. It seems like I've seen something like this before but not sure what airplane. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

[M Towsley]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

Mark,

What is even neater is I live about 1/2 mile from that airport. It is surrounded by subdivision now, but the major buildings are still there. Many famous people visited, including Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart. There are pictures of Earhart standing in front with a WWI ace, the governor, etc. I'll try to find the photos and post them later.

[3Dreaming]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

I restored one of the airplanes that was at the Southwest Airport in Springfield. I spoke with one of the old instructors and he told me the airplane was metalic blue with a yellow stripe and silver wings and tail. This was confirmed when stripping the layers of paint off the boot cowl. Tom

[M Towsley]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

And that is what the airplane in my dad's pictures looks like it could be.

Tom, who did you talk to? It wasn't Johnny Marsh, was it? He is long since gone, now.

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

YEOW! That was a REALLY pretty color scheme! The yellow almost looked like GOLD against the blue. REALLY nice!
Got to have a really nicely detailed engine to go with it since it shows so well but a spectacular package.
Love to see a picture of Glenn next to the original when he soloed and try to get another of him next to a restored one now. I have one of him next to his F-8 after the record flight, another by the Mercury capsule and one of him with his F-86 "Mig Master". Adding two with the Taylorcrafts would make a set I would want to keep forever! (OK, I would like one of him as a Senator too) All my other pictures are just copies, but they mean a lot to me. I was supposed to brief him on my aviation program at NASA but he couldn't make it and his aide came instead. I was really disappointed. I didn't always agree with everything he voted for, but I always respected his character and morals. He is an American treasure.
Hank

[M Towsley]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

Mark,

This is strictly just information I brought up earlier, but if you go down about halfway on this web page you will find information on the old Springfield Municipal/Southwest Airport.

http://members.tripod.com/airfields_freeman/IL/Airfields_IL_SW.html

And if you go to this web page you will find a bunch of old photos including the ones of Amelia Earhart I spoke of. Those photos are in the second row. They are standing in a grass field which is still there today. It is situated southeast of the main buildings that also still stand today. It is strange to think as I pass by there everyday going to work that Amelia Earhart once stood there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/imlsdcc/sets/72157622842546196/

There are also photos of the old Taylorcrafts. The last one in the last row is a picture of Johnny Marsh, who was one of my dad's instructors. He lived at the end of our street and rebuilt Ercoupes in his rather large garage/workshop. It shows a good picture of one of the Taylorcraft on skis. There are a lot of good photos of the pre-war Taylorcrafts on this page.

Tom,

That last picture is good in showing the color scheme you restored yours in. Definitely silver wings, dark fuselage, etc....

For those who have trouble with the above link, you can go here and search through the different photos: http://www.idaillinois.org/cdm4/brow...SOROOT=%2Flinl

[NC36061]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

Mark,

The old timer who taught my dad to fly was a CPTP instructor before becoming a civilian instructor for the Navy in B-26 Maurauders. Growing up, flying over to his place and looking at his extensive photo collection and hearing his stories was a highlight of my youth.

He had lots of pix from his CPTP time, and all of the airplanes (Taylorcrafts, J-3s, Porterfields) were stock factory paint scheme, except for a large contrasting fleet number (1,2,3,etc) painted on the fuselage.

Possibly individual CPTP locations put a uniform paint scheme on their airplanes, but I'm sure the vast majority were left in factory finish.

Good luck with your project,

Dave

[3Dreaming]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

And that is what the airplane in my dad's pictures looks like it could be.

Tom, who did you talk to? It wasn't Johnny Marsh, was it? He is long since gone, now.

It was Johnny. I bought the project a little over 20 years ago, and started doing research on it. I can't remember who put me in touch with him, but it might have been Ron Anderson. If I remember right the Moody brother used an airplane from there to set their endurance record. Lycoming gave them an engine for setting the record, and I always wondered if it was used on my old T-Craft. Tom

[Hank Jarrett]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

I found these while I was sorting drawings. One is from a 1941 or 42 magazine and the other (with the "prop" emblem) was in a 1944. The round logo didn't last long. I need to find some other pictures I have of the "prop" logo.
Sorry about the lousy quality. Hey, there was a war on!
Hank

[M Towsley]

Re: CPTP Paint Scheme

Tom,

Ron is still around at his airport west of Springfield.

Yes, I remember reading about the Moody brothers doing the endurance record. I think there were pictures of their plane. I will check the Sangamon Valley Archives sometime at our library for those. They have a lot of pictures that have never been scanned onto the website.

I saw your old T-Craft up for sale a couple of times, would have loved to have owned it due to both my parents flying her. Just a little too much for me at the time. I will have to see where she ended up at.