Judging Vintage Aircraft
To reward those who maintain and restore vintage aircraft to high standards, the Vintage Aircraft Association has set forth requirements for the classification for aircraft that will be judged at Fly-Ins.
Official EAA Judging Standards Manual
Here are two articles reprinted from Vintage Airplane magazine that explain the intricacies of judging at EAA / VAA events.
The Judging Presentation Book by H.G. Frautschy
Antique, Classic and Contemporary Judging Standards by H.G. Frautschy
Antique
An aircraft constructed by the original manufacturer, or its licensee, on or before August 31, 1945, with the exception of certain pre-World War II aircraft models that had only a small postwar production. Examples: Beechcraft Staggerwing, Fairchild 24 and Monocoupe.
Aircraft Winners
Classic
An aircraft constructed by the original manufacturer, or its licensee, on or after September 1, 1945, up to and including December 31, 1955.
Aircraft Winners
Contemporary
An aircraft constructed by the original manufacturer, or its licensee, on or after January 1, 1956, up to and including December 31, 1970.
Aircraft Winners
Other definitions that apply to vintage aircraft include:
Continuously Maintained
An aircraft with proof of construction by the original manufacturer, or its licensee, which has received periodic maintenance, repair, recover, and/or replacement of parts, but which has never been completely disassembled and rebuilt or remanufactured to new or better-than-new condition.
Restored
An aircraft with proof of construction by the original manufacturer, or its licensee, that has been disassembled into its component parts which were then either replaced, refurbished, or remanufactured to new or better-than-new condition.
Customized
An aircraft with proof of construction by the original manufacturer, or its licensee, which has been obviously modified from its original appearance. Such modifications could include airframe structural changes, paint schemes, interior and upholstery, instrument panel, or engine and cowling, etc.
Replica
An aircraft constructed exactly to the original manufacturer’s plans, full size in scale, but not constructed by the original manufacturer, or its licensee.