Why nose art/names are mostly found on left side?

[steve dickey]

This question came up at work the other day and I couldn't really answer other than most names and artwork are on the left. Not saying it wasn't on the right too and I know some times it was on both sides. Just curious if anybody has a reasonable explanation. Thanks.

[Matt Gunsch]

that is the side most aircraft are boarded from.

[Obergrafeter]

Cause you get on your horse from the left side Steve! Heck a Texas boy ought'n to know that.

[Tom N]

On some of the fighters the pilot had the option of decorating the left side and the crew chief could decorate the right side.....

[steve dickey]

Cause you get on your horse from the left side Steve! Heck a Texas boy ought'n to know that.

Probably shouldn't admit this but I wuzn't bern here, eyes transplanted

Good answers so far thanks.

[Matt Gunsch]

Cause you get on your horse from the left side Steve! Heck a Texas boy ought'n to know that.

Does that mean P-38 pilots climbed onto the south end of a north bound horse ?

[Obergrafeter]

That ought to get a rise out of Mudge.

[The Inspector]

Must be why they came with a handle and a kick step........'that's an odd way to get on a horse'

[Django]

I would say at least on the bombers, because that is the pilot's side.

[JDK]

I think Matt's got it - most aircraft are boarded from the left/port side, and so that's the side people are going to look at. Django's point that it's the pilot's side in two-pilot bombers is an interesting one; in the RAF heavies (Lanc, Stirling, Halifax) none of them were designed as two-pilot bombers, but the single pilot's seat was on the left in each case, so it's true both methodologies.

The reason most aircraft are boarded from the left does seem to go back to horses - certainly I've never heard a credible alternative explanation.

[airnutz]

Yup that's what I thought too. Left side is where the largest ego resides and can have it's picture taken...can't have
the noseart getting all the attention!

[Mgawa]

Enter in the aircraft from port side was introduced from the WW1. In that time many thing was invented including how to enter in airplane. Reason why port side lay in the fact that many pilots was formerly served in the cavalry, including some aces, so that was straitforward choice.

Off course there was samples of art or inscriptions on starboard side, with port left "blank" but in almost all cases starboard side is much more decorated then port side.

Cheers

[T33driver]

I thought it was because artists are right-brained.

[Second Air Force]

A couple of us were discussing this subject the other day as well, but there were exceptions to the "left side" rule. Sgt. Sarkis Bartigian painted many of his masterpieces on the right side. Several B-24, F-7 and B-29 units in the Pacific theatre primarily used the right side for personal artwork--the 315th Wing B-29Bs comes to mind.

Scott

[Jack Cook]

Lots of Pacific Theatre aircraft rec'v nose art of the right side only.
BTW real men may board the Corsair from the left but pilots board from the right

P-38L 44th FS PI 1945

F4U-1D VMF-121 1945